Greek word · G3925

παρεμβολή

parembolē

barracks

A military camp or fortified encampment; barracks (Acts 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32, the Roman barracks in Jerusalem); an army drawn up in battle lines (Heb 11:34; Rev 20:9 'the camp of the saints').

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

παρ-εμ-βολή, -ῆς, ἡ

(παρεμβάλλω), [in LXX chiefly for מַחֲנֶה ;]

1. an insertion, interpolation (Æschin.)

2. In the Macedonian dialect (Rutherford, NPhr., 473), as a military term;

(a) an army in battle array: Hebrews 11:34 (cf. Exodus 14:19-20, Judges 4:16, al.; frequently in Polyb.);

(b) a camp (Exodus 29:14, al.) : Hebrews 13:11, 13 Revelation 20:9;

(with) barracks, soldiers' quarters: Acts 21:34, 37 22:24 23:10, 16 23:32 28:16 (WH, txt., R, om.).†

παρ-εμ-βάλλω,

[in LXX frequently and chiefly for מַחֲנֶה ;]

1. to put in beside or between, interpose.

2. In late writers (Polyb., al., LXX) as technical military term;

(a) of soldiers, to draw up in line (frequently in 1Ma.2:32, al.);

(b) of siege works, to cast up: with accusative and dative, χάρακά σοι, Luke 19:43.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 13:13

Range of meaning: A military camp or fortified encampment; barracks (Acts 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32, the Roman barracks in Jerusalem); an army drawn up in battle lines (Heb 11:34; Rev 20:9 'the camp of the saints'). In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, the Greek translation Jews used in Jesus' day) it is the usual word for Israel's camp in the wilderness.
Against the English: 'Camp' is accurate, but modern English hears a campsite or tents, or a 'camp' meaning a faction or side. Neither carries the original sense of a holy, ordered community with God's dwelling at its centre and clear purity boundaries.
How it drifted: In English, 'camp' has come to mean recreation (summer camp, camping) and also a faction or side in a debate. The biblical encampment, built around the sanctuary, is not part of what most readers hear.
Used elsewhere in the period: Septuagint Leviticus 16:27: the bodies of the bull and goat of the Day of Atonement sin offering are carried 'outside the camp' (exō tēs parembolēs) and burned. The same phrase is used for lepers and the unclean who must live outside (Lev 13:46; Num 5:2–4), for executions (Lev 24:14, 23; Num 15:35–36), and for Moses' tent of meeting pitched 'outside the camp', where 'everyone who sought the LORD went out' (Exod 33:7). At Qumran the community called itself a 'camp' modelled on the wilderness camp, with strict purity rules (Damascus Document, War Scroll).

From the study of Revelation 20:9

Range of meaning: A military camp or fortified encampment; barracks (Acts 21:34, 37, the Roman fortress in Jerusalem); an army drawn up in battle line (Hebrews 11:34). In the Greek Old Testament it is the standard translation of Hebrew maḥăneh, the camp of Israel in the wilderness (Exodus–Numbers), which was also an army mustered by tribes.
Against the English: All the major versions say 'camp.' The word is accurate, but modern 'camp' can suggest tents and recreation. NIV and NLT turn the phrase into 'God's people,' which keeps who is meant but loses the camp picture.
How it drifted: In modern English 'camp' has drifted toward leisure and temporary shelter. The biblical word had the feel of both an army and a holy community.
Used elsewhere in the period: Numbers 2–3 (tribes encamped around the tabernacle); Deuteronomy 23:14 'the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp… therefore your camp must be holy.' The Qumran War Scroll (1QM 7) keeps the 'camps' of the sons of light pure because holy angels are present with their armies. Hebrews 13:13 uses 'outside the camp' for Jesus' suffering.

From the study of 1 Maccabees 5:28

Range of meaning: Originally a military term for 'insertion' or 'drawing up' in battle order. It came to mean a fortified camp, a barracks, and the army itself as encamped or deployed. In the LXX it usually renders maḥaneh, 'camp', including the camp of Israel in the wilderness.
Against the English: KJV and Brenton say 'host', WEB 'army'. Modern English 'host' mostly means someone entertaining guests, or else the angelic 'heavenly host'.
How it drifted: In older English 'host' (from Latin hostis, via Old French) meant an army. That sense has faded from ordinary speech.
Used elsewhere in the period: Polybius uses it for camps and armies. In the LXX it is the 'camp' of Israel (Exodus 32:17; Numbers 2) and of enemy armies. In the NT it means 'barracks' (Acts 21:34) and 'camp' (Hebrews 13:11; Revelation 20:9, 'the camp of the saints').

Where it appears

Acts · 6

Acts 21:34 παρεμβολήν. barracks.

Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.
Acts 21:37 παρεμβολὴν barracks

As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.
Acts 22:24 παρεμβολὴν barracks

the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.
Acts 23:10 παρεμβολήν.¶ barracks.

The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
Acts 23:16 παρεμβολὴν barracks

But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
Acts 23:32 παρεμβολήν· barracks;

The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.

Hebrews · 3

Hebrews 11:34 παρεμβολὰς [the] armies

quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

Here: "Camps" or "armies." In the Greek Old Testament this word translates Hebrew maḥaneh, the army camp or the army itself. It appears again and again in Judges, Samuel and 1 Maccabees. Gideon's attack on the Midianite camp (Judg 7) is the classic scene.
Hebrews 13:11 παρεμβολῆς.¶ camp.

Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp.

Here: A military encampment. It is the Septuagint's word for Israel's camp around the tabernacle in the wilderness. Verse 12 turns it into 'outside the gate' of Jerusalem, and v.13 into a call to 'go out to him outside the camp'.
Hebrews 13:13 παρεμβολῆς camp

Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.

Here: In the Greek Old Testament this is Israel's camp in the wilderness, arranged around the tabernacle with God's presence at its centre. Here it stands for the ordered, sacred community and the security that comes with being inside it.

Revelation · 1

Revelation 20:9 παρεμβολὴν camp

And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

Here: 'Camp.' This is the Greek Old Testament word for Israel's camp in the wilderness, arranged around the tabernacle, and also for an army's camp. The picture is God's people as a pilgrim and military encampment, not a campsite.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.