BIBLE GREEK WORD STUDY
Laos (λαός) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
λαός (laós) is a Greek noun meaning 'a people,' used in the NT most often of Israel as God's covenant people, and also of Christians as the new people of God.
Meaning of the word
λαός (laós) is a masculine noun meaning 'a people' in the general sense — a body of people sharing a common identity, often a race, language, or covenant bond. It differs from δῆμος (dēmos), which more specifically denotes one's own populace or citizens. In the Septuagint (LXX) it is the standard translation of Hebrew עַם ('am), 'people.'
Where δῆμος emphasizes political citizenship, λαός carries the sense of a people gathered by shared origin, language, or divine calling. This is why in the NT λαός frequently denotes the covenant people of Israel and, by extension, the Christian community as the new people of God.
Usage in Scripture
In the Gospels, λαός most commonly refers to the Jewish crowds or to Israel as a whole. Matthew uses it of the people who hear Jesus' teaching (Matt 4:23), the people whose heart has grown dull (Matt 13:15), the elders of the people who confront Jesus (Matt 21:23; 26:3), and the crowd present at the passion (Matt 27:1). The phrase 'elders of the people' (πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ) is a fixed title for Israel's lay leadership alongside the chief priests.
Beyond Israel, the NT extends λαός to the church as God's new covenant people. Acts 15:14 speaks of God visiting 'the nations to take out of them a people (λαός) for his name'; Romans 9:25–26 applies Hosea's prophecy 'not my people' to those now called children of the living God. Hebrews 4:9 uses the related phrase σαββατισμός for a 'sabbath rest' remaining for the people of God, and 1 Peter 2:9 calls believers a 'people for God's own possession.' Thus λαός functions theologically as a continuity term: the church is presented as the renewed Israel, the true λαός τοῦ θεοῦ.
The word in detail
- G2992 λαός (laós), masculine noun, nominative singular. Definition: a people, a body of people gathered by shared race, language, or covenant. In LXX overwhelmingly translates Hebrew עַם. In the NT used of the people of Israel (esp. 'the people of God,' ὁ λαὸς τοῦ θεοῦ), of the crowds, and of the church as the renewed people of God. Distinct from δῆμος (G1218), which stresses one's own populace/citizens.
Example verses
- Matthew 4:23 Here λαός refers to the general population of Galilee among whom Jesus healed and taught — 'the people' as the audience of the gospel and recipient of messianic ministry.
- Matthew 21:23 The phrase 'elders of the people' (πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ) is a formal title for Israel's lay leadership. The 'people' (λαός) is here distinguished from the ruling priestly class, showing the term's civic-religious weight.
- Matthew 27:1 All the chief priests and elders of the people plot against Jesus. λαός marks the body of Israel whose representatives act, setting the stage for responsibility borne by 'the people' in the passion narrative.
Common questions
Is λαός the same as δῆμος?
No. Both mean 'people,' but δῆμος (G1218) emphasizes one's own populace or citizens in a political sense, while λαός more broadly denotes a people gathered by shared race, language, or covenant. In the NT, δῆμος is rare, while λαός is the standard word for God's people.
Does λαός in the NT always mean Israel?
Most often it refers to Israel as God's covenant people, especially in the Gospels and Acts. However, the term is extended to the church in passages like Acts 15:14, Romans 9:25–26, and 1 Peter 2:9, where Christians are presented as the renewed people of God.