ἀγοραῖος
agoraîos
G60 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Relating to the marketplace or public square; pertaining to what occurs or is found in public assemblies or civic spaces. In some contexts, it refers to those who frequent public places, especially the idle, common crowd, or the lower social classes who gather in such areas. Secondarily, it may acquire a connotation of being common, low, or of the 'baser sort' in terms of public behavior or social status.
Semantic Range
pertaining to the marketplace, public or common life, associated with the public square, belonging to those who frequent public places, low or base sort (of people), vulgar, connected to public legal affairs (forensic)
Root / Etymology
From ἀγορά (agorá, 'marketplace, public square') with the adjectival suffix -ιος; thus, 'pertaining to the ἀγορά.' No evidence of non-Greek origin.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀγοραῖος primarily denotes anything associated with the public square or marketplace, a central space for commerce and civic affairs in Greek cities. It applies both to events (public business or debate, 'forensic') and to people (those present in public areas, often with implication of idleness or lower status). In the New Testament (e.g., Acts 17:5), the term refers to those of the 'baser sort'—that is, people from the marketplace considered riotous, disorderly, or easily swayed—reflecting a social judgment rather than a strictly forensic or occupational category. The Septuagint usage is rare; when used, it generally retains the connotation of external, public, or common association, often with a derogatory nuance. Modern translations often render ἀγοραῖος as 'rabble,' 'loafers,' or 'troublemakers' to capture this connotation, but such renderings reflect later interpretive tradition rather than a strict lexical meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀγορά; relating to the market-place, i.e. forensic (times); by implication, vulgar:--baser sort, low.
Root Family
ἀγοραῖος (agoraios) — marketplace, public square, public assembly, common crowd
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G60-01 |
ἀγοραῖοι | agoraioi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
courts | marketplace men | courts | 1 |
G60-02 |
ἀγοραίων | agoraion | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
marketplace | of marketplace men | marketplace men | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G60-02 |
Acts 17:5 | ἀγοραίων | agoraion | ADJ.S GEN M PL |
marketplace | of marketplace men | marketplace men |
G60-01 |
Acts 19:38 | ἀγοραῖοι | agoraioi | ADJ.S NOM M PL |
courts | marketplace men | courts |