Greek word · G58

ἀγορά

agora

marketplace

A place of assembly. In practice it was the market square of a town or city: the main public space, used for trade, hiring laborers, legal business, news and social contact.

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀγορά, -ας, ἡ (ἀγείρω, to bring together)

[in LXX for עִזָּבוֹן, שׁוּק ;]

1. an assembly (Hom., Xen., al.).

2. a place of assembly, a public place or forum, a market-place (Hom., Thuc, al.; LXX): Matthew 11:16 20:2 23:7, Mark 6:56 (cf . MM, VGT, see word, ἀγυιά) 7:4 (Bl., §46, 7) 12:38, Luke 7:32 (Bl., l.with) 11:43 20:46, Acts 16:19 17:7 (Cremer, 59; MM, VGT, see word).

† (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 Mark 12:38

Range of meaning

A place of assembly. In practice it was the market square of a town or city: the main public space, used for trade, hiring laborers, legal business, news and social contact.

Against the English

"Marketplaces" may suggest shopping. The agora was more like the town square, high street and civic center all in one.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Mark the sick are laid in the marketplaces (6:56) and people wash on returning from the market (7:4). Day laborers wait in the agora to be hired (Matthew 20:3), and children play there (Matthew 11:16).

From the study of Mark 6:56

Range of meaning

An assembly place; the open public square of a town, where goods were sold, people gathered, hired labourers waited (Matt 20:3), and public business was done.

Against the English

KJV 'streets', most modern versions 'marketplaces'. 'Streets' loses the idea of the central gathering place. 'Marketplace' can bring to mind a row of shops, when this was the main public square.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used throughout Greek literature of the civic square. In the Gospels: children playing in the agora (Matt 11:16), scribes loving greetings in the agora (Mark 12:38), and purification after coming from the agora (Mark 7:4).

From the study of Matthew 11:16

Range of meaning

From a root meaning 'to gather'. It is the open public square of a town or city, the centre of trade, public notices, legal business, conversation, day-labour hiring (Matt 20:3) and display of status (Matt 23:7).

Against the English

'Marketplace(s)' (BSB, NIV, WEB) and 'markets' (KJV) are correct but suggest pure commerce. NLT's 'public square' gets the sense of an open civic space better.

How it drifted

In modern English 'market' suggests shops, stalls or 'the economy'. The agora was the town's common living room.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDAG s.v. ἀγορά. Elsewhere in Matthew it is where workers wait to be hired (20:3) and where scribes love to be greeted (23:7). Mark 7:4 mentions washing after coming from the marketplace. Children playing in such squares is a common picture in both Jewish and Greek sources (Zech 8:5).

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 11:16 ἀγοραῖς markets

    To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

    Here: The open square of a town, used for trade, gossip, hiring labourers, legal business and children's play. The plural means 'in the squares' of any town. The scene could be anywhere.

  2. Matthew 20:3 ἀγορᾷ marketplace

    About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.

  3. Matthew 23:7 ἀγοραῖς marketplaces

    the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.

    Here: The town's open civic space, used for trade, hiring day labourers, gossip, legal business and being seen. The plural means the squares of town after town. It was the most public stage a village or city had.

Mark · 3

  1. Mark 6:56 ἀγοραῖς marketplaces

    And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

    Here: The open central space of a town, used for trade, meetings and lawsuits. It was the most public and crowded spot, where anyone passing through would be met. Marketplaces come up again in 7:4 as a place people wash after visiting.

  2. Mark 7:4 ἀγορᾶς [the] market

    And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.

  3. Mark 12:38 ἀγοραῖς marketplaces

    In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,

    Here: The open public squares at the center of town life, used for trade, gossip, legal business and meeting people. These were the busiest and most visible places in a town, where a man's public standing was on display.

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 7:32 ἀγορᾷ the marketplace

    They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

  2. Luke 11:43 ἀγοραῖς.¶ marketplaces.

    Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.

    Here: The open civic square where trade, legal business and social life happened. It was where a person's reputation was displayed and confirmed in front of everyone.

  3. Luke 20:46 ἀγοραῖς marketplaces

    “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.

    Here: The town's open public square: market, meeting place and civic hub, where a person's standing was on show to everyone.

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 16:19 ἀγορὰν marketplace

    When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.

    Here: Philippi's forum: the civic center where trade, politics and courts met and where the magistrates heard cases. It was not just a market.

  2. Acts 17:17 ἀγορᾷ marketplace

    So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.

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