πλῆθος
plēthos
G4128 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primary meaning: a great number, multitude. The term denotes a large quantity of individuals or things gathered or considered as a group. Semantic range includes an assembled crowd, a population or community, a collective quantity, or, less commonly, the full extent of something. In some contexts, it can emphasize the size or impressiveness of the group, not just its numeric value.
Semantic Range
multitude, great number, large crowd, mass, population, collective group, fullness, abundance, host
Root / Etymology
From the root πλῆθ- (related to the verb πλήθω, 'to fill' or 'to be filled'). The noun πλῆθος derives from this verbal root, signifying an abundance, fullness, or a large aggregation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, πλῆθος often indicated a crowd, a mass of people, or the majority of a group, sometimes used in distinction to a select or elite group (as opposed to ὄχλος, which can carry a more negative connotation of 'mob'). In the Septuagint, πλῆθος translates various Hebrew words denoting abundance or a multitude, not always restricted to people but occasionally to objects or even wealth. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the New Testament, πλῆθος consistently refers to a large group, whether of people (a multitude, crowd, population, company) or, in some cases, non-human entities. It can refer to general populace or specific gatherings. English translations usually render πλῆθος as 'multitude,' 'crowd,' or sometimes 'company,' but these may not capture the sense of fullness implicit in the term. Not to be confused with πλήρωμα ('fullness', in the sense of completeness, totality, or sum), though both share the root idea of fullness or abundance.
Translation Consistency
‘Multitude’ is the most common and natural English rendering of πλῆθος in the corpus (22 of 31 occurrences) and captures the primary sense of a large number/assembled crowd while remaining flexible enough to cover population, host, or mass contexts. It is concise, idiomatic, and consistent with the SILEX semantic range.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πλήθω; a fulness, i.e. a large number, throng, populace:--bundle, company, multitude.
Root Family
πλῆθος (plēthos) — fullness, abundance, great number, collective mass
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4128-03 |
πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
multitude | a great multitude | multitude | 25 |
G4128-04 |
πλήθους | plethous | N GEN N SG |
multitude | of a multitude | multitude | 4 |
G4128-01 |
πλήθη | plethe | N NOM N PL |
multitudes | abundant multitudes | abundant multitudes | 1 |
G4128-02 |
πλήθει | plethei | N DAT N SG |
multitude | to a multitude | multitude | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
31 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4128-03 |
Mark 3:7 | πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
multitude | a great multitude | multitude |
G4128-03 |
Mark 3:8 | πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
multitude | a great multitude | a great multitude |
G4128-03 |
Luke 1:10 | πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
multitude | a great multitude | multitude |
G4128-03 |
Luke 2:13 | πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
multitude | a great multitude | a great multitude |
G4128-03 |
Luke 5:6 | πλῆθος | plethos | N ACC N SG |
a multitude | a great multitude | a great multitude |
G4128-03 |
Luke 6:17 | πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
multitude | a great multitude | a great multitude |
G4128-03 |
Luke 8:37 | πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
multitude | a great multitude | multitude |
G4128-03 |
Luke 19:37 | πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
multitude | a great multitude | multitude |
G4128-03 |
Luke 23:1 | πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
multitude | a great multitude | multitude |
G4128-03 |
Luke 23:27 | πλῆθος | plethos | N NOM N SG |
crowd | a great multitude | multitude |