The Word "Church" in the Old Testament
An Analysis by Bob Pickle
- Introduction
- Summary of Usage
- Sunagoge in Genesis
- Sunagoge in Exodus
- Sunagoge in Leviticus
- Sunagoge in Numbers
- Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Deuteronomy
- Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Joshua
- Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Judges
- Ekklesia in 1 Samuel
- Ekklesia and Sunagoge in 1 Kings
- Ekklesia in 1 Chronicles
- Ekklesia and Sunagoge in 2 Chronicles
- Ekklesia in Ezra
- Ekklesia in Nehemiah
- Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Job
- Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Psalms
- Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Proverbs
- Sunagoge in Isaiah
- Sunagoge in Jeremiah
- Ekklesia in Lamentations
- Sunagoge in Ezekiel
- Sunagoge in Daniel
- Ekklesia and Sunagoge in the Minor Prophets
Introduction
On page one we looked at
selected verses from the Greek version of the Old Testament called the Septuagint (LXX), verses
that contain the Greek words for "church" and "synagogue,"
ekklesia and sunagoge. These verses
used "church" to refer to Israel and "synagogue" sometimes to refer
to Gentiles. On this page we present the complete list of 264 verses that contain either of these two
Greek words.
As on page one, we present each Bible verse in
English as found in the King James Version (KJV), adding notes within brackets wherever the LXX
deviates from the KJV in the relevant portions of those verses. In the eight instances
where the word in question is found in the Codex Alexandrinus but not in the Codex Vaticanus,
or in the five instances where the word in question is found in the Codex Vaticanus but not in
the Codex Alexandrinus, that too is noted in brackets. The English words that correspond to
ekklesia are highlighted in yellow, and those that correspond to
sunagoge are highlighted in turquoise.
Two verses of the 264 referred to below, Joshua 20:4 and Daniel 8:25, are not actually quoted due to
our difficulty in finding adequate translations. Proverbs 5:14 and Ezekiel 32:23 are listed twice
to keep the numbering system we used accurate. The former verse uses both of the words in question,
and which word the latter contains depends on which manuscript one uses.
Summary of Usage
One fact that jumps out at us is that in some books and at some times ekklesia was more popular,
and in other books and at other times sunagoge was more popular:
- Sunagoge is the only word used in 122 verses in Genesis through Numbers.
- Ekklesia is the clear favorite in Deuteronomy, used in 8 out of 10 verses.
- Sunagoge is used in 13 out of 14 verses in Joshua.
- Sunagoge and ekklesia, used in 5 and 3 verses respectively, are nearly on equal
footing in Judges.
- Ekklesia is used in 2 verses in 1 Samuel.
- Ekklesia and sunagoge, used in 5 and 3 verses respectively, are nearly on equal
footing in 1 Kings.
- Ekklesia is used in 40 out of 41 verses in 1 Chronicles through Nehemiah.
- Sunagoge and ekklesia are nearly on equal footing in Job, Psalms, and Proverbs, used in
15 and 12 verses respectively.
- Sunagoge is used in 25 or 26 verses out of a total of 28 from Isaiah through Daniel.
- Out of 5 verses in five minor prophets, 3 use sunagoge and 2 use ekklesia.
Sunagoge in Genesis
"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered
together unto one place [LXX reads: "one meeting"], and let the dry land appear: and it
was so." [LXX adds: "And the water which was under the heaven
was collected into their meetings, and the dry land appeared."] (Gen.
1:9) "And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful,
and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude [plural in LXX]
of people." (Gen. 28:3) "And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful
and multiply; a nation and a company [plural in LXX] of nations shall be of thee,
and kings shall come out of thy loins." (Gen. 35:11) "And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful,
and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude [plural in LXX] of people;
and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting
possession." (Gen. 48:4)
Sunagoge in Exodus
"Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the
tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb,
according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house." (Ex. 12:3) "And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same
month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall
kill it in the evening." (Ex. 12:6) "Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses:
for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall
be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger,
or born in the land." (Ex. 12:19) "All the congregation of Israel shall keep it." (Ex. 12:47)
"And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation
of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which
is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second
month after their departing out of the land of Egypt." (Ex. 16:1) "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured
against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness." (Ex. 16:2) "And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God
we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when
we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full;
for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this
whole assembly with hunger." (Ex. 16:3) "And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel [LXX reads:
"all the congregation of the children of Israel"],
At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out
from the land of Egypt:" (Ex. 16:6) "And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation
of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he
hath heard your murmurings." (Ex. 16:9) "And it came to pass, as Aaron
spake unto the whole congregation
of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness,
and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud." (Ex.
16:10) "And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered
twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers
of the congregation came and told Moses." (Ex. 16:22) "And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed
from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to
the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there
was no water for the people to drink." (Ex. 17:1) "And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours,
which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering,
which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy
labours [LXX reads: "the gathering of thy
labors"] out of the field." (Ex. 23:16) "And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits
of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's
end." (Ex. 34:22) "And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers
of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with
them." (Ex. 34:31) "And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children
of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which
the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them." (Ex. 35:1) "And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children
of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded,
saying . . . ." (Ex. 35:4) "And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed
from the presence of Moses." (Ex. 35:20) "And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood:
five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth
thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof." [LXX reads quite differently,
and has this verse identified as vs. 22: "He made the brazen altar
of the brazen censers, which belonged to the men engaged in
sedition with the gathering of Core."] (Ex. 38:1) "And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation
was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore
and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary." (Ex.
38:25)
Sunagoge in Leviticus
"And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance,
and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they
have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD
concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;" (Lev.
4:13) "When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known,
then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin,
and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation." (Lev.
4:14) "And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands
upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock
shall be killed before the LORD." (Lev. 4:15) "And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp,
and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering
for the congregation." (Lev. 4:21) "And gather thou all the
congregation together
unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." (Lev. 8:3) "And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly
was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation." (Lev. 8:4) "And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing
which the LORD commanded to be done." (Lev. 8:5) "And they brought that which Moses commanded before the
tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew
near and stood before the LORD." (Lev. 9:5) "Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake,
saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before
all the people [LXX reads: "all the congregation"]
I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." (Lev. 10:3) "And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar,
his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes;
lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people
[the Hebrew word for "people" agrees with the LXX and is actually
"congregation"]: but let
your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning
which the LORD hath kindled." (Lev. 10:6) "Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy
place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear
the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them
before the LORD?" (Lev. 10:17) "Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is
plenty of water [LXX reads: "gathering of water"], shall be clean:
but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean." (Lev. 11:36)
"And he shall take of the congregation of the children
of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram
for a burnt offering." (Lev. 16:5) "And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation
when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until
he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for
his household, and for all the congregation of Israel." (Lev. 16:17) "And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary,
and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation,
and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests,
and for all the people of the congregation." (Lev. 16:33) "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel,
and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God
am holy." (Lev. 19:2) "Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children
[LXX reads: "all the congregation"]
of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of
Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation
for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they
will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering . . . ." (Lev. 22:18) "Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and
let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let
all the congregation stone him." (Lev. 24:14) "And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall
surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly
stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land,
when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death." (Lev. 24:16)
Sunagoge in Numbers
"Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children
of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
with the number of their names, every male by their polls." (Num.
1:2) "These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of
the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel." (Num.
1:16) "And they assembled all the congregation together on the
first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees
after their families, by the house of their fathers, according
to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward,
by their polls." (Num. 1:18) [A] "Command the children of Israel, that they put out of
the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever
is defiled by the dead." (Num. 5:2) "And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle
of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly
of the children of Israel together." (Num. 8:9) "And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the
children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that
the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children
of Israel unto them." (Num. 8:20) "Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt
thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of
the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps." (Num. 10:2) "And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall
assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of
the congregation." (Num. 10:3) "But when the congregation is to be gathered together,
ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm." (Num. 10:7) "And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to
all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness
of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto
all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land." (Num. 13:26) "And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried;
and the people wept that night." (Num. 14:1) "And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses
and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them,
Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God
we had died in this wilderness!" (Num. 14:2) "Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the
assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel." (Num.
14:5) "And they spake unto all the company of the children of
Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it,
is an exceeding good land." (Num. 14:7) "But all the congregation bade stone them with stones.
And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation
before all the children of Israel." (Num. 14:10) "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which
murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children
of Israel, which they murmur against me." (Num. 14:27) "I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this
evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in
this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall
die." (Num. 14:35) "And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who
returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him,
by bringing up a slander upon the land . . . ." (Num. 14:36) "And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among
you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire,
of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he [LXX reads:
"so the congregation"] shall do." (Num.
15:14) "Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without
the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation
shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet
savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering,
according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering." (Num. 15:24) "And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation
of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for
it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice
made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the
LORD, for their ignorance." (Num. 15:25) "And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children
of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing
all the people were in ignorance." (Num. 15:26) "And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto
Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation." (Num. 15:33) "And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely
put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones
without the camp." (Num. 15:35) "And all the congregation brought him without the camp,
and [LXX adds: "all the congregation"] stoned him with stones,
and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses." (Num. 15:36) "And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children
of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous
in the congregation, men of renown." (Num. 16:2) "And they gathered themselves together against Moses and
against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you,
seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and
the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves
above the congregation of the LORD?" (Num. 16:3) "And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying,
Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy;
and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath
chosen will he cause to come near unto him." (Num. 16:5) "This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company." (Num. 16:6) "Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of
Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to
bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle
of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation [not in B] to minister
unto them?" (Num. 16:9) "For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered
together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur
against him?" (Num. 16:11) "And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company
before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow." (Num. 16:16) "And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory
of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation." (Num. 16:19) "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that
I may consume them in a moment." (Num. 16:21) "And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God
of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou
be wroth with all the congregation?" (Num. 16:22) "Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about
the tabernacle [LXX reads: "the company"]
of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram." (Num. 16:24) "And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I
pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing
of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins." (Num. 16:26) "They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive
into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished
from among the congregation." (Num. 16:33) "And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered
against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the
tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered
it, and the glory of the LORD appeared." (Num. 16:42) "Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume
them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces." (Num. 16:45) "And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst
of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among
the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for
the people." (Num. 16:47) "And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the
heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and
it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel
for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin." (Num.
19:9) "But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify
himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation,
because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water
of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean."
(Num. 19:20) "Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation,
into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode
in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there." (Num. 20:1) "And there was no water for the congregation: and they
gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron." (Num. 20:2) "And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD
into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?" (Num. 20:4) "And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly
unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they
fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them." (Num. 20:6) "Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly
together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto
the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water,
and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so
thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink." (Num. 20:8) "And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together
before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels;
must we fetch you water out of this rock?" (Num. 20:10) "And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote
the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation
drank, and their beasts also." (Num. 20:11) "And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed
me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel,
therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land
which I have given them." (Num. 20:12) "And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation,
journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor."
(Num. 20:22) "Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto
mount Hor [LXX adds: "before all the congregation"]."
(Num. 20:25) "And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up
into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation."
(Num. 20:27) "And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead,
they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel."
(Num. 20:29) "And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this
company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh
up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king
of the Moabites at that time." (Num. 22:4) "And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought
unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses,
and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel,
who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Num. 25:6) And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron
the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and
took a javelin in his hand." (Num. 25:7) "Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of
Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers'
house, all that are able to go to war in Israel." (Num. 26:2) "And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram.
This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation,
who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of
Korah, when they strove against the LORD." (Num.
26:9) "And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up
together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire
devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign." (Num.
26:10) "And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest,
and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door
of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying . . . ." (Num. 27:2) "Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the
company of them that gathered themselves together against the
LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had
no sons." (Num. 27:3) "For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of
Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the
water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh
in the wilderness of Zin."
(Num. 27:14) "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set
a man over the congregation."
(Num. 27:16) "Which may go out before them, and which may go in before
them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in;
that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have
no shepherd." (Num. 27:17) "And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all
the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight."
(Num. 27:19) "And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall
ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD:
at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come
in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all
the congregation." (Num. 27:21) "And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua,
and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation."
(Num. 27:22) "And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes
of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp."
(Num. 31:13) "Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the
counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the
matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation
of the LORD." (Num. 31:16) "Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and
of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers
of the congregation."
(Num. 31:26) "And divide the prey into two parts; between them that
took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all
the congregation." (Num. 31:27) "Now the half that pertained unto the congregation was
three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand
and five hundred sheep." (Num. 31:43) "The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and
spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes
of the congregation, saying . . ." (Num. 32:2) "For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again
leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people
[LXX reads: "this whole congregation"]."
(Num. 32:15) "And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the
avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the
congregation in judgment." (Num. 35:12) "Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and
the revenger of blood according to these judgments."
(Num. 35:24) "And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the
hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore
him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall
abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed
with the holy oil." (Num. 35:25)
Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Deuteronomy
"Specially the day [LXX reads: "the day of the assembly"]
that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the
LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together,
and I will make them hear my words, that they may
learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth,
and that they may teach their children." (Deut. 4:10) "These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the
mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the
thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And
he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto
me." (Deut. 5:22) "And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written
with the finger of God; and on them was written according to
all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out
of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly."
(Deut. 9:10) "According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God
in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not
hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this
great fire any more, that I die not." (Deut. 18:16) "He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member
cut off, shall not enter into the congregation [not in A] of the
LORD." (Deut. 23:1) "A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD;
even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation
of the LORD." (Deut. 23:2) "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation
of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not
enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever." (Deut.
23:3) "The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the
congregation of the LORD in their third generation." (Deut.
23:8) "And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of
Israel the words of this song, until they were ended." (Deut.
31:30) "Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the
congregation [plural in LXX] of Jacob." (Deut. 33:4)
Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Joshua
"There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua
read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the
women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant
among them." (Josh. 8:35) "And Joshua made peace with them,
and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes
of the congregation sware unto them." (Josh. 9:15) "And the children of Israel smote them not, because the
princes of the congregation [not in B] had sworn unto them by the LORD God
of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes." (Josh. 9:18) "But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We
have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore
we may not touch them." (Josh. 9:19) "And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let
them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation;
as the princes had promised them." (Josh. 9:21) "And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers
of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD,
even unto this day, in the place which he should choose." (Josh.
9:27) "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled
together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation
there. And the land was subdued before them." (Josh. 18:1) "That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly
may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger
of blood [LXX adds: "until he have stood before the
congregation for judgement]." (Josh. 20:3; identified as vs. 6 in A) [According to Hatch and Redpath's Concordance to the Septuagint,
sunagoge
is also found in a verse identified as Joshua 20:4 in the Codex Alexandrinus, but it is not quoted here
since we do not have access to either the Greek text or a translation of it.] "These were the cities appointed for all the children of
Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that
whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither,
and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood
before the congregation." (Josh. 20:9; identified as vs. 6 in B) "Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass
is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to
turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded
you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?" (Josh. 22:16) "Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which
we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague
in the congregation of the LORD?" (Josh. 22:17) "Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the
accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel?
and that man perished not alone in his iniquity." (Josh. 22:20) "And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation
and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard
the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad
and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them." (Josh. 22:30)
Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Judges
"And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned
aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was
a swarm [not in A] of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion." (Judg. 14:8) "Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation
was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba,
with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh." (Judg.
20:1) "And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of
Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people
of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword." (Judg.
20:2) "And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the
tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto
the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that
came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be
put to death." (Judg. 21:5) "And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel
that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came
none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly." (Judg. 21:8) "And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the
valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants
of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and
the children." (Judg. 21:10) "And the whole congregation sent
some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were
in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them." (Judg. 21:13) "Then the elders of the congregation said,
How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women
are destroyed out of Benjamin?" (Judg. 21:16)
Ekklesia in 1 Samuel
"And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth
not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he
will give you into our hands." (1 Sam. 17:47) "And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw
the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing
as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers
of Saul, and they also prophesied." (1 Sam. 19:20)
Ekklesia and Sunagoge in 1 Kings
[A] "And king Solomon, and all the congregation
of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before
the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor
numbered for multitude." (1 Kings 8:5) "And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation
of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood)."
(1 Kings 8:14) "And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence
of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his
hands toward heaven." (1 Kings 8:22) "And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of
Israel with a loud voice, saying . . . ." (1 Kings 8:55) "And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with
him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath
unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days
and seven days, even fourteen days." (1 Kings 8:65) [A] That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all
the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying
. . . . (1 Kings 12:3) "And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam
was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation,
and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed
the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only." (1 Kings 12:20) "And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled
all the house of Judah [LXX reads: "the congregation of Judah"],
with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred
and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight
against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam
the son of Solomon." (1 Kings 12:21)
Ekklesia in 1 Chronicles
"And David said unto all the congregation of Israel,
If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God,
let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left
in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests
and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they
may gather themselves unto us." (1 Chr. 13:2) "And all the congregation said that they would do so:
for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people." (1 Chr.
13:4) "Then David the king stood up upon his feet [LXX reads:
"And David stood in the midst of the assembly"], and said,
Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine
heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of
the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready
for the building." (1 Chr. 28:2) "Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation
of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek
for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess
this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children
after you for ever." (1 Chr. 28:8) "Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation,
Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and
tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man,
but for the LORD God." (1 Chr. 29:1) "Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation:
and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father,
for ever and ever." (1 Chr. 29:10) "And David said to all the congregation, Now bless
the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the
LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped
the LORD, and the king." (1 Chr. 29:20)
Ekklesia and Sunagoge in 2 Chronicles
"So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went
to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle
of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD
had made in the wilderness." (2 Chr. 1:3) "Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri,
the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the
LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it."
(2 Chr. 1:5) "Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel
that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep
and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude."
(2 Chr. 5:6) "And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation
of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood."
(2 Chr. 6:3) "And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence
of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his
hands." (2 Chr. 6:12) "For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long,
and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it
in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled
down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel,
and spread forth his hands toward heaven." (2 Chr. 6:13) "Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days,
and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from
the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt." (2 Chr. 7:8) "And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all [LXX adds:
"the congregation of"] Israel came and spake to
Rehoboam, saying . . . ." (2 Chr. 10:3) "And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah
and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court."
(2 Chr. 20:5) "Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah,
the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons
of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation."
(2 Chr. 20:14) "And all the congregation made a covenant with the
king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the
king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of
David." (2 Chr. 23:3) "So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the
princes and all the congregation." (2 Chr. 28:14) "And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering
before the king and the congregation; and they laid their
hands upon them." (2 Chr. 29:23) "And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers
sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until
the burnt offering was finished." (2 Chr. 29:28) [B] "Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated
yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and
thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation
brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as
were of a free heart burnt offerings." (2 Chr. 29:31) "And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation
brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams,
and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to
the LORD." (2 Chr. 29:32) "For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all
the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in
the second month." (2 Chr. 30:2) "And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation."
(2 Chr. 30:4) "And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the
feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation."
(2 Chr. 30:13) "For there were many in the congregation that were
not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing
of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify
them unto the LORD." (2 Chr. 30:17) "And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other
seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness." (2
Chr. 30:23) "For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation
a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes
gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand
sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves."
(2 Chr. 30:24) "And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests
and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out
of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel,
and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced." (2 Chr. 30:25)
Ekklesia in Ezra
"The whole congregation together was forty and two
thousand three hundred and threescore." (Ezra 2:64) "Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping
and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled
unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men
and women and children: for the people wept very sore." (Ezra
10:1) "And that whosoever would not come within three days, according
to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance
should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation
of those that had been carried away." (Ezra 10:8) "Then all the congregation answered and said with a
loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do." (Ezra 10:12) [A] "Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand,
and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities
come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city,
and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for
this matter be turned from us." (Ezra 10:14)
Ekklesia in Nehemiah
"Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and
the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of
his brother. And I set a great assembly against them."
(Neh. 5:7) "Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man
from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this
promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the
congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the
people did according to this promise." (Neh. 5:13) "The whole congregation together was forty and two
thousand three hundred and threescore." (Neh. 7:66) "And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation
both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding,
upon the first day of the seventh month." (Neh. 8:2) "And all the congregation of them that were come again
out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for
since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not
the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness."
(Neh. 8:17) "On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience
of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite
and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of
God for ever." (Neh. 13:1)
Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Job
"His roots are wrapped about the heap [LXX reads: "He lies down upon a
gathering of stones"], and seeth the place
of stones." (Job 8:17) "I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried
in the congregation." (Job 30:28)
Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Psalms
"So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about:
for their sakes therefore return thou on high." (Ps. 7:7) "Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another
god: their drink offerings of blood [LXX reads: "their bloody meetings"]
will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips." (Ps. 16:4) "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked
have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet." (Ps. 22:16) "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of
the congregation will I praise thee." (Ps. 22:22) "My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation:
I will pay my vows before them that fear him." (Ps. 22:25) "I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will
not sit with the wicked." (Ps. 26:5) "My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations
will I bless the LORD." (Ps. 26:12) "I will give thee thanks in the great congregation:
I will praise thee among much people." (Ps. 35:18) "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation:
lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest." (Ps.
40:9) I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy
faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness
and thy truth from the great congregation." (Ps.
40:10) [B] "Trust in him at all times; ye people [LXX reads:
"congregation of the people"], pour out your heart
before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." (Ps. 62:8) "Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord,
from the fountain of Israel." (Ps. 68:26) "Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls,
with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself
with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in
war." (Ps. 68:30) "Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of
old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed;
this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt." (Ps. 74:2) "A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of
the mighty; he judgeth among the gods." (Ps. 82:1) "O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies
of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee
before them." (Ps. 86:14) "And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness
also in the congregation of the saints." (Ps. 89:5) "The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered
the company of Abiram." (Ps. 106:17) "And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned
up the wicked." (Ps. 106:18) "Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the
people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders." (Ps. 107:32) "Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole
heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation."
(Ps. 111:1) "Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his
praise in the congregation of saints." (Ps. 149:1)
Ekklesia and Sunagoge in Proverbs
"I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation
and assembly." (Pr. 5:14) "I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation
and assembly." (Pr. 5:14) "The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding
shall remain in the congregation of the dead." (Pr. 21:16)
Sunagoge in Isaiah
"And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks
of defence [LXX reads: "and every gathering of water"]
shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither." (Is. 19:6) "And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen,
and Kir uncovered the shield. [LXX reads: "and a
gathering for battle."]" (Is. 22:6) "And they shall be gathered together [LXX reads: "shall
gather the multitude into prisons", not in A], as prisoners are
gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and
after many days shall they be visited." (Is. 24:22) "I have digged, and drunk water; and with the
sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged
places [LXX reads: "and every gathering of water"]." (Is. 37:25) "The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith,
Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered
unto him." [LXX reads: "Saith the Lord that gathers the
dispersed of Israel; for I will gather to him a congregation."]
(Is. 56:8)
Sunagoge in Jeremiah
"Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary
with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad,
and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband
with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full
of days." (Jer. 6:11) "Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake
to all the assembly of the people, saying . . . ." (Jer. 26:17) "Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin
shalt go forth in the dances [LXX reads: "with
the company"] of them that make merry." (Jer. 31:4) "Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance [LXX reads: "in
the assembly"], both young
men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy,
and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow."
(Jer. 31:13) "Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned
incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great
multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt,
in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying . . . ." (Jer. 44:15) "For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon
an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they
shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall
be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none
shall return in vain." (Jer. 50:9)
Ekklesia in Lamentations
"The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant
things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary,
whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation."
(Lam. 1:10)
Sunagoge in Ezekiel
"For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon
Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the
north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and
companies, and much people [LXX reads: "a
company of very many nations"]." (Ezek. 26:7) "Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners,
and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise,
and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company
which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the
seas in the day of thy ruin." (Ezek. 27:27) "In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the
depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the
midst of thee shall fall." (Ezek. 27:34) [A] "Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out
my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall
bring thee up in my net." (Ezek. 32:3) "Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about
him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword." (Ezek. 32:22) "Whose graves are
set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her
grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror
in the land of the living." (Ezek. 32:23) [A] "Whose graves are
set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her
grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror
in the land of the living." (Ezek. 32:23) "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came
into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding
great army." (Ezek. 37:10) "And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,
and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen,
all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company
with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords." (Ezek. 38:4) "Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all
thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard
unto them." (Ezek. 38:7) "Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with
all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come
to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey?
to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods,
to take a great spoil?" (Ezek. 38:13) "And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts,
thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses,
a great company, and a mighty army." (Ezek. 38:15)
Sunagoge in Daniel
Today's LXX does not contain the original LXX version of Daniel, but contains instead the
second century AD translation done by the Hellenistic Jewish scholar Theodotion. The following verses
are taken from the original LXX rather than the Theodotion version.
[Sunagoge is also found in Daniel 8:25.
It reads very differently from the Masoretic text, and we do not currently have a good translation
of it available.] "But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude
of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow,
and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even
to his fortress." (Dan. 11:10) "And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and
shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the
north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude
shall be given into his hand." (Dan. 11:11) "And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall
be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but
he shall not be strengthened by it." (Dan. 11:12) "For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth
a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come
after certain years with a great army and with much riches." (Dan. 11:13)
Ekklesia and Sunagoge in the Minor Prophets
"Gather the people, sanctify the congregation,
assemble the elders, gather the children,
and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth
of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet." (Joel 2:16) "Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people
in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked
on their affliction [LXX reads: "on their gathering"]
in the day of their calamity, nor have laid
hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;" (Ob. 1:13) "Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by
lot in the congregation of the LORD." (Mic. 2:5) "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day
that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather
the nations [LXX reads: "gatherings of the nations"],
that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them
mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth
shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." (Zep. 3:8) "Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope [LXX
reads: "prisoners of the congregation"]: even
to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee." (Zec.
9:12)
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