θορυβέω (thorubeō)
thorubeō
to make commotion
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb thorubeō describes a loud, chaotic uproar or disturbance. In the New Testament it appears in five verses, primarily within the Gospels and Acts. It captures the noise of public commotion rather than quiet disagreement. For instance, Jesus encounters this word when he arrives at Jairus’ house, where professional mourners are already making a scene (Matthew 9:23; Mark 5:39). The term conveys a sense of turbulent noise that disrupts order.
It can also mean to trouble or throw into confusion. In Acts 17:5, the sources note that opponents in Thessalonica "thorubeō-ed" the city, stirring up civic unrest against Paul and Silas. The middle voice sometimes describes internal agitation or loud lamentation. This word highlights how external noise can mirror inner turmoil or social disorder, serving as a vivid marker of chaos in biblical narratives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word thorubeō paints a picture of loud, chaotic noise—like the wailing mourners at Jairus’ house or the civic unrest in Thessalonica. It is not just disagreement; it is a turbulent disturbance that disrupts peace and order. When Jesus encountered this uproar, He did not join the chaos but brought calm to the situation.
In our own lives, we often face similar moments of inner turmoil or external pressure. Martha’s anxiety in Luke 10:41 reflects a heart pulled in many directions, creating internal noise that distracts from what truly matters. Yet, even in these moments of confusion, Jesus offers a quieting presence. He does not demand we silence our worries through sheer effort but invites us to find rest in His steadying word.
When the world feels loud and uncertain, remember that Christ’s peace is not dependent on the absence of noise but on His presence within it. You are invited to bring your anxieties to Him, trusting that He can turn chaos into clarity without you having to manage it alone.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- troubled1×
- they were setting in uproar1×
- making a commotion1×
- make you commotion1×
- do be alarmed;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐθορύβουν1×
- θορυβάζῃ1×
- θορυβούμενον1×
- θορυβεῖσθε·1×
- θορυβεῖσθε1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 9:23
When Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder,
This verse shows the word describing the external, professional mourning noise that Jesus enters and interrupts with His authority.
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Acts 17:5
But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.
Here the term captures political unrest where a mob stirs up civic disorder against Paul and Silas, highlighting social chaos.
-
Luke 10:41
Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
Although some translations use 'anxious,' this occurrence reflects the inner turmoil and distracted noise of Martha’s busy heart.