κώμη (kōmē)
kōmē
village
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 27 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kōmē refers to a village or unwalled country town, standing in contrast to a fortified city (polis). In the New Testament, it appears twenty-seven times, primarily in the Gospels and Acts, describing the rural settlements where Jesus and his followers spent their time. The sources note that while the Septuagint sometimes uses this word for larger towns or even cities, the Greek usage typically distinguishes these smaller communities from walled urban centers.
Translators render kōmē variously as "village," "town," or "hamlet" depending on context. For instance, John identifies Bethany and Bethlehem by this term (John 7:42; 11:1), while the Synoptic Gospels frequently pair it with cities to describe Jesus’ comprehensive ministry across both urban and rural landscapes (Matthew 9:35). The word captures the everyday setting of ordinary life in first-century Palestine, away from the administrative power of the major cities.
Its root suggests a place where laborers return to sleep at the end of the day, emphasizing its function as a residential community. Papyri from the period confirm that kōmē often referred to the general population or inhabitants of such a village rather than just the physical location. This highlights the word’s focus on the people and their shared life within these smaller, close-knit communities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word translated as "village" points to the ordinary, unfortified settlements of first-century Palestine. Unlike fortified cities that represented political power or military strength, these villages were places of daily life, labor, and close community. In the Gospels, this term highlights how Jesus moved beyond the centers of religious and political authority to engage with people in their homes and fields.
For your faith, this reminds us that God’s presence is not limited to grand cathedrals or major urban hubs. He walked through humble neighborhoods, sharing meals, healing the sick, and teaching in quiet corners of the land. The Gospel reaches into the everyday rhythms of ordinary life, meeting people where they live, work, and rest.
When you read about Jesus entering a village, remember that His ministry was comprehensive. He did not skip over rural communities or smaller towns. This offers comfort that no place is too small for God’s attention, and no person is too far from His care simply because they live outside the city limits.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 27 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- villages10×
- village10×
- village,3×
- a village3×
- village.2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κώμην10×
- κώμας10×
- κώμης3×
- κώμην,2×
- κώμῃ.¶1×
- κώμης,1×
- κώμην.¶1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 8:1
Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With him were the twelve,
This verse shows Jesus preaching in villages alongside cities, demonstrating that His mission to announce God’s Kingdom extended equally to rural communities and urban centers.
-
John 7:42
Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
Here the term identifies Bethlehem as a village, grounding the Messianic prophecy in a specific, humble location rather than an abstract concept of royalty.
-
Luke 10:38
As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
The narrative places Jesus in a village home with Martha and Mary, illustrating how His ministry involved intimate, personal interaction within private domestic spaces.
-
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 passage highlights that wherever Jesus entered, whether villages or cities, the sick sought Him, showing that His healing power was accessible in all types of settlements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word kōmē mean?
How is kōmē different from polis?
Why does the Bible mention villages so often?
Every Occurrence (27 verses across 5 books)
Matthew 4 verses
Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the…
Matthew 10:11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on.
Matthew 14:15When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send…
Matthew 21:2saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with…