Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, the concept of a "town" was distinct from that of a "city," often denoting a smaller settlement or community. Towns in the Bible were typically fortified or had some form of defense, though they were less prominent than cities. They served as centers of local trade, agriculture, and social life, playing a crucial role in the daily lives of the Israelites and other ancient peoples.Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, towns were often associated with specific tribes or families. For example, the town of Bethlehem is famously known as the birthplace of King David and later, Jesus Christ. Bethlehem is first mentioned in Genesis 35:19, where it is referred to as Ephrath: "So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)." Towns like Bethlehem were integral to the tribal identity and heritage of the Israelites. Towns also served as administrative centers. Judges and leaders would often reside in towns, making them places of governance and judgment. In 1 Samuel 8:12, Samuel warns the Israelites about the implications of having a king, stating, "He will appoint some of your sons as commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots." This passage highlights the role of towns in supporting the infrastructure of governance and military organization. New Testament Context In the New Testament, towns continue to play a significant role, particularly in the ministry of Jesus. Many of Jesus' teachings and miracles occurred in towns, which were more accessible and relatable to the common people than the larger cities. For instance, in Matthew 9:35, it is recorded, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness." The towns of Galilee, such as Capernaum, were central to Jesus' ministry. Capernaum is frequently mentioned as a place where Jesus performed miracles and taught the people. In Matthew 11:23, Jesus speaks of Capernaum, saying, "And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day." Cultural and Social Aspects Towns in biblical times were often characterized by their close-knit communities. The social structure was typically centered around family units and local governance. The marketplace was a vital part of town life, serving as a hub for trade and social interaction. Proverbs 31:23 mentions the husband of the virtuous woman, stating, "Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land." This reflects the town's role as a place of social and economic exchange. Spiritual Significance Towns also held spiritual significance. They were often the sites of synagogues and places of worship, where the community gathered for religious observance. The synagogue in Nazareth, where Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah, is an example of the town's role in spiritual life (Luke 4:16-21). In summary, towns in the Bible were more than just physical locations; they were centers of community life, governance, and spiritual activity. They provided the backdrop for many significant biblical events and teachings, reflecting the everyday lives of the people in biblical history. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (adv. & prep.) Formerly: (a) An enclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor. [Obs.] (b) The whole of the land which constituted the domain. [Obs.] (c) A collection of houses enclosed by fences or walls.2. (adv. & prep.) Any number or collection of houses to which belongs a regular market, and which is not a city or the see of a bishop. 3. (adv. & prep.) Any collection of houses larger than a village, and not incorporated as a city; also, loosely, any large, closely populated place, whether incorporated or not, in distinction from the country, or from rural communities. 4. (adv. & prep.) The body of inhabitants resident in a town; as, the town voted to send two representatives to the legislature; the town voted to lay a tax for repairing the highways. 5. (adv. & prep.) A township; the whole territory within certain limits, less than those of a country. 6. (adv. & prep.) The court end of London;-- commonly with the. 7. (adv. & prep.) The metropolis or its inhabitants; as, in winter the gentleman lives in town; in summer, in the country. 8. (adv. & prep.) A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia TOWNtoun: This word is used to represent a number of different Hob terms in the Old Testament. TOWN CLERK klurk, klark (grammateus): The word "clerk," "writer," "town clerk," "scribe," is found in this meaning only in Acts 19:35, "when the townclerk had quieted the multitude." Cremer defines the word as signifying a "public servant among the Greeks and the reader of the legal and state-papers" (Lexicon of the New Testament). There was considerable difference between the authority of these "clerks" in the cities of Asia Minor and of Greece. Among the Greeks the grammateis were usually slaves, or at least persons belonging to the lower classes of society, and their office was a nominal, almost a mechanical, one. In Asia, on the contrary, they were officers of considerable consequence, as the passage quoted indicates (Thucidydes vii.19, "the scribe of the city") and the grammateus is not infrequently mentioned in the inscriptions and on the coins of Ephesus (e.g. British Museum Inscriptions, III, 2,482, 528). They had the supervision of the city archives, all official decrees were drawn up by them, and it was their prerogative to read such decrees to the assembled citizens. Their social position was thus one of eminence, and a Greek scribe would have been much amazed at the deference shown to his colleagues in Asia and at the power they wielded in the administration of affairs. See , further, Hermann, Staats Altertum, 127, 20; and EPHESUS. Greek 2969. komopolis -- a country town ... a country town. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: komopolis Phonetic Spelling: (ko-mop'-ol-is) Short Definition: a large village Definition: a ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2969.htm - 7k 791. asteios -- of the town, by impl. courteous, elegant 1122. grammateus -- a writer, scribe 2968. kome -- a village 1046. Gadarenos -- of Gadara, Gadarene 5085. Tiberias -- Tiberias, a city of Galilee, also another name ... 2857. Kolossai -- Colossae, a city in Phrygia 2834. Knidos -- Cnidus, a city on the SW coast of Asia Minor 965. Bethleem -- "house of bread," Bethlehem, a city near Jer. 59. agorazo -- to buy in the marketplace, purchase Strong's Hebrew 7151. qiryah -- a town, city... 7150, 7151. qiryah. 7152 . a town, city. Transliteration: qiryah Phonetic Spelling: (kir-yaw') Short Definition: city. Word Origin ... /hebrew/7151.htm - 6k 5892b. ir -- city, town 5874. En-dor -- "spring of dwelling," a town in Manasseh 3946. Laqqum -- a N. border town of Naphtali 7176. qereth -- town, city 7023. qir -- a wall 2333. chavvah -- a tent village 1323. bath -- daughter 6519. perazah -- an open region, hamlet 5892. iyr -- excitement Library Town and Country Sermons A Town of Beggars Town and Country Sermons From the Homily About the Town of Antioch. Description of the Town of Thennesus. I an African Free-Town Subject to Rome Restoration of the Town of Medzpine; Name of Sanadroug; his Death. Founding of the Town of Edessa; Brief Account of the Race of Our ... How the Market-Town of Gaza was Made a City for Its Profession of ... Those who in Town or in Villages Wish to Go Away into Cloisters... Thesaurus Town (861 Occurrences)... & prep.) The body of inhabitants resident in a town; as, the town voted to send two representatives to the legislature; the town voted to lay a tax for ... /t/town.htm - 39k Water-town (2 Occurrences) Town-clerk (1 Occurrence) Town-door (1 Occurrence) Mother-town (2 Occurrences) Town-wall (1 Occurrence) Country-town (1 Occurrence) Countryside (19 Occurrences) Zarephath (4 Occurrences) Doorways (26 Occurrences) Resources What is the significance of Lo Debar in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhy was the altar in Joshua 22:10 34 such a big deal? | GotQuestions.org What prophecy is Matthew 2:23 referring to regarding Jesus being a Nazarene? | GotQuestions.org Town: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Town (861 Occurrences)Matthew 2:23 Matthew 4:5 Matthew 4:13 Matthew 5:14 Matthew 5:35 Matthew 8:33 Matthew 8:34 Matthew 9:1 Matthew 10:5 Matthew 10:11 Matthew 10:14 Matthew 10:15 Matthew 10:23 Matthew 12:25 Matthew 21:2 Matthew 21:10 Matthew 21:17 Matthew 21:18 Matthew 22:7 Matthew 23:34 Matthew 26:18 Matthew 27:53 Matthew 28:11 Mark 1:33 Mark 1:45 Mark 5:14 Mark 6:10 Mark 8:23 Mark 8:26 Mark 10:46 Mark 11:2 Mark 11:19 Mark 14:13 Mark 14:16 Luke 1:26 Luke 1:39 Luke 2:3 Luke 2:4 Luke 2:11 Luke 2:39 Luke 4:29 Luke 4:31 Luke 4:42 Luke 7:11 Luke 7:12 Luke 7:37 Luke 8:1 Luke 8:4 Luke 8:27 Luke 8:34 Luke 8:39 Luke 9:4 Luke 9:5 Luke 9:10 Luke 9:52 Luke 9:56 Luke 10:1 Luke 10:8 Luke 10:9 Luke 10:10 Luke 10:11 Luke 10:12 Luke 10:38 Luke 13:22 Luke 14:21 Luke 17:12 Luke 18:2 Luke 18:3 Luke 19:1 Luke 19:30 Luke 19:41 Luke 21:21 Luke 22:10 Luke 23:19 Luke 23:50 Luke 23:51 Luke 24:13 Luke 24:28 Luke 24:49 John 1:44 John 4:5 John 4:8 John 4:28 John 4:30 John 4:39 John 7:42 John 11:1 John 11:30 John 11:54 John 19:20 Acts 4:27 Acts 7:58 Acts 8:8 Acts 8:40 Acts 9:6 Acts 9:24 Acts 9:32 Acts 10:9 Acts 11:5 Acts 12:10 Subtopics Town Clerk: General Scriptures Concerning Related Terms |
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