ἀγορά (agora)
agora
marketplace
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun agora refers to a public gathering place, most commonly understood as a marketplace or forum. Derived from a root meaning "to gather," it describes the central hub where citizens assembled not only for commerce but also for political debate, legal trials, and social interaction. In the New Testament, this term appears eleven times, primarily in the Synoptic Gospels, painting a vivid picture of daily life in first-century Palestine.
Jesus frequently used the agora as a setting for his teachings and miracles. He warned against seeking honor in public squares (Matthew 23:7) and described healing crowds gathered there (Mark 6:56). These references highlight the word’s dual nature: it was both a commercial center for buying and selling and a civic space for public discourse, reflecting the bustling heart of ancient urban society.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word agora points to the bustling heart of ancient cities: the public square where commerce, law, and daily life intersected. It was not merely a place for buying bread or sandals, but a hub of conversation and community. For early Christians, this setting illustrates how faith is lived out in plain sight, amidst the ordinary rhythms of work and social interaction.
Jesus often chose these crowded spaces to teach and heal, showing that spiritual truth belongs in the midst of everyday reality. When He warned against seeking honor in the marketplaces, He highlighted a tension between genuine humility and the desire for public approval. This reminds us that our motives matter as much as our actions.
Whether reasoning with strangers in Athens or healing the sick in Galilean towns, the New Testament presents the agora as a stage for grace. It invites believers to engage their communities with integrity, finding opportunities to share hope and love right where people gather.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- marketplaces4×
- marketplace3×
- the marketplace1×
- markets1×
- marketplaces.1×
- [the] market1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀγοραῖς5×
- ἀγορᾷ3×
- ἀγορᾶς1×
- ἀγορὰν1×
- ἀγοραῖς.¶1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 11:16
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions
Jesus uses the image of children in the marketplaces to illustrate the unresponsiveness of His generation to both John's asceticism and His own joyful ministry.
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Mark 6:56
Wherever he entered—into villages, or into cities, or into the country—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.
This verse highlights the public nature of Jesus' miracles, showing that healing was accessible to anyone who reached out in faith within these crowded civic spaces.
-
Acts 17:17
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.
Paul's daily reasoning in the Athenian agora demonstrates how early Christians engaged diverse audiences with intellectual and spiritual dialogue in public forums.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word agora mean?
How is agora different from a temple?
Why does Jesus mention the marketplace in His teachings?
Every Occurrence (11 verses across 4 books)
Matthew 3 verses
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their…
Matthew 20:3He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
Matthew 23:7the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men.