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ὀχλοποιέω

ochlopoiéō

G3792 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To form or assemble a crowd, especially in the sense of inciting or organizing a public gathering that leads to unrest, disturbance, or tumult. Typically denotes purposeful action to raise a group for collective agitation.

Semantic Range

to cause or assemble a mob; to incite or stir up a crowd; to provoke collective disturbance; to organize a public uproar

Root / Etymology

From ὄχλος ('crowd, multitude, mob') + ποιέω ('to make, to do').

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὀχλοποιέω is an extremely rare compound verb. Its only attestation in extant Greek literature is Acts 17:5, where it describes hostile action by certain individuals assembling a crowd to cause public unrest in Thessalonica. The term is not found in classical Greek, and its formation aligns with Hellenistic practice of coining verbs with -ποιέω to denote 'making' or 'causing' an entity or state. In the New Testament context, it does not simply refer to assembling people, but to initiating or instigating collective agitation or mob action. Standard translations often smooth or generalize this as 'gather a mob,' but the Greek emphasizes the deliberate causing of mob agitation rather than merely assembling a group. Related terms (such as θορυβέω, 'to cause an uproar,' or ταράσσω, 'to disturb') overlap in describing social unrest, but ὀχλοποιέω specifically highlights incitement and crowd formation for that purpose.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὄχλος and ποιέω; to make a crowd, i.e. raise a public disturbance:--gather a company.

Root Family

ὀχλοποιέω (ochlopoieō) — to make a crowd, to assemble a mob, to incite collective agitation

Root ὀχλοποι- to make (a crowd), to assemble (a crowd), to cause group agitation

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3792-01 ὀχλοποιήσαντες ochlopoiesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL formed a mob having stirred up a mob having stirred up a mob 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3792-01 Acts 17:5 ὀχλοποιήσαντες ochlopoiesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL formed a mob having stirred up a mob having stirred up a mob
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