Original Word: πόλις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: polis
Pronunciation: POH-lis
Phonetic Spelling: (pol'-is)
Definition: City
Meaning: a city, the inhabitants of a city.

city.

Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size) -- city.

see GREEK polus

see GREEK polemos

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a city
NASB Translation
cities (20), city (142).

STRONGS NT 4172: πόλις

πόλις, πολισεως, ἡ (πέλομαι, to dwell (or rather denoting originally 'fullness,' 'throng'; allied with Latinpleo, plebs, etc.; cf. Curtius, p. 79 and § 374; Vanicek, p. 499; (otherwise Fick 1:138))) (from Homer down), the Sept. chiefly for עִיר, besides for קִרְיָה, שַׁעַר (gate), etc., a city;

a. universally, Matthew 2:23; Mark 1:45; Luke 4:29; John 11:54; Acts 5:16, and very often in the historical books of the N. T.; κατά τήν πόλιν, through the city (A. V. in; see κατά, II. 1 a.), Acts 24:12; κατά πόλιν, κατά πόλεις, see κατά, II. 3a. α., p. 328a; opposed to κῶμαι, Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:11; Luke 8:1; Luke 13:22; to κῶμαι καί ἀγροί, Mark 6:56; ἡ ἰδίᾳ πόλις, see ἴδιος, 1b., p. 297a; πόλις with the genitive of a person one's native city, Luke 2:4, 11; John 1:44(45); or the city in which one lives, Matthew 22:7; Luke 4:29; Luke 10:11; Acts 16:20; Revelation 16:19; Jerusalem is called, on account of the temple erected there, πόλις τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως, i. e. in which the great King of Israel, Jehovah, has his abode, Matthew 5:35; Psalm 47:2 (), cf. Tobit 13:15; also ἅγια πόλις (see ἅγιος, 1 a., p. 7a) and ἡ ἠγαπημένη, the beloved of God, Revelation 20:9. with the genitive of a gentile noun: Δαμασκηνῶν, 2 Corinthians 11:32; Ἐφεσίων, Acts 19:35; τῶν Ἰουδαίων, Luke 23:51; τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, Matthew 10:23; Σαμαρειτῶν, Matthew 10:5; with the genitive of a region: τῆς Γαλιλαίας, Luke 1:26; Luke 4:31; Ιουδα, of the tribe of Judah, Luke 1:39; Λυκαονίας, Acts 14:6; Κιλικίας, Acts 21:39; τῆς Σαμαρείας, John 4:5; Acts 8:5. As in classical Greek the proper name of the city is added — either in the nominative case, as πόλις Ἰόππη, Acts 11:5; or in the genitive, as πόλις Σοδομων, Γομορρας, 2 Peter 2:6; Θυατείρων, Acts 16:14.

b. used of the heavenly Jerusalem (see Ἱεροσόλυμα, 2), i. e. α. the abode of the blessed, in heaven: Hebrews 11:10, 16; with Θεοῦ ζῶντος added, Hebrews 12:22; ἡ μελλουσα πόλις, Hebrews 13:14. β. in the visions of the Apocalypse it is used of the visible capital of the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world: Revelation 3:12; Revelation 21:14ff; 22:14; ἡ πόλις ἡ ἅγια, Revelation 22:19; with Ἱερουσαλήμ καινή added, Revelation 21:2.

c. πόλις by metonymy, for the inhabitants: Matthew 8:34; Acts 14:21; πᾶσα ἡ πόλις, Matthew 21:10; Acts 13:44; ἡ πόλις ὅλῃ, Mark 1:33; Acts 21:30; πόλις μερισθεῖσα καθ' ἑαυτῆς, Matthew 12:25.

Word Origin: Derived from the base of πωλέω (poleo), meaning "to sell," which is related to the concept of a marketplace or a central place of commerce and governance.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H5892 עִיר (ir): A city or town, often used in the Old Testament to describe fortified cities or significant urban centers.
• H7151 קִרְיָה (qiryah): A city or town, emphasizing the built-up area or community aspect.

These Hebrew terms share a similar semantic range with πόλις, highlighting the continuity of the concept of cities as central places of human habitation and divine interaction throughout the biblical narrative.

Usage: The term πόλις is used throughout the New Testament to refer to cities or towns, often highlighting their significance as centers of population, culture, and authority. It appears in various contexts, from literal cities to metaphorical uses, such as the "city of God."

Context: The Greek term πόλις (polis) is a significant word in the New Testament, appearing numerous times to denote cities or towns. In the ancient world, a πόλις was more than just a collection of buildings; it was a hub of social, economic, and political life. Cities were often fortified and served as centers of trade, governance, and culture.

In the New Testament, πόλις is used in both literal and figurative senses. For example, in Matthew 5:14, Jesus refers to His followers as "a city on a hill," using the metaphor of a πόλις to illustrate the visibility and influence of a community of believers. In Revelation, the term is used to describe the New Jerusalem, the ultimate city of God, symbolizing divine order and eternal fellowship with God.

Cities mentioned in the New Testament, such as Jerusalem, Capernaum, and Corinth, were significant locations for Jesus' ministry and the early church's activities. These cities were often the backdrop for key events and teachings, emphasizing their role as centers of influence and interaction.

The concept of a πόλις also extends to the idea of citizenship and belonging. Philippians 3:20 states, "But our citizenship is in heaven," drawing a parallel between earthly cities and the heavenly city where believers hold their true citizenship.

πολει πόλει πολεις πόλεις πόλεσι πόλεσί πολεσιν πόλεσιν πολεων πόλεων πόλεών πολεως πόλεως πόλεώς πολιν πόλιν πολις πόλις πολις΄ polei pólei poleis póleis poleon poleōn póleon póleōn poleos poleōs póleos póleōs polesin pólesin polin pólin polis pólisInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts