θόρῠβ-ος G2351
Uproar, tumult, or commotion — the confused noise and agitation of a crowd, often with political or hostile overtones.
In the New Testament, thorubos describes the volatile energy of a crowd that can tip toward riot. The chief priests fear a thorubos if they arrest Jesus during the festival (Matt 26:5; Mark 14:2), and Pilate sees one forming (Matt 27:24). Spanish consistently renders this 'alboroto' (uproar/disturbance), while French uses 'tumulte,' both capturing the sense of collective agitation. In Mark 5:38, the same word describes the loud wailing at Jairus's house — commotion born of grief rather than hostility.
Senses
1. uproar — Uproar, riot — a public disturbance involving a crowd, carrying the threat of violence or political instability. Used of the feared crowd reaction at Jesus's arrest (Matt 26:5; Mark 14:2), the tumult Pilate witnesses (Matt 27:24), and post-riot settings in Acts (20:1; 21:34). Spanish 'alboroto' and German 'Lärm' both emphasize the noisy, disorderly character. 5×
AR["الضَّجِيجُ","الضَّجِيجِ","شَغَبٌ"]·ben["গণ্ডগোল","গোলযোগ","গোলযোগের"]·DE["Laerm","θόρυβον","θόρυβος"]·EN["a-riot","an-uproar","uproar"]·FR["tumulte"]·heb["הַמְּהוּמָה","מְהוּמָה"]·HI["हंगामा","हलचल"]·ID["kegaduhan","keributan"]·IT["thorubos","tumulto"]·jav["geger","gègèr","gègèr,"]·KO["소동-이","소동이","소란-때문에","소란이"]·PT["tumulto","tumulto,"]·RU["возмущение","шума,"]·ES["alboroto"]·SW["ghasia"]·TR["gürültü","gürültünün","kargaşa"]·urd["شور","ہنگامہ"]
2. tumult — Tumult — a state of confusion and agitation in a public setting, without necessarily implying a full riot. In Acts 24:18, Paul insists he was found in the temple without any 'tumult' (thorubou). Spanish 'tumulto' and French 'tumulte' capture the more general disorder, distinct from the riot-level disturbance of sense 1. 1×
AR["شَغَبٍ"]·ben["গোলমালের"]·DE["θορύβου"]·EN["tumult"]·FR["tumulte"]·heb["מְהוּמָה"]·HI["हल्लेके।"]·ID["keributan."]·IT["tumulto"]·jav["gègèr."]·KO["소동과"]·RU["шумом"]·ES["tumulto"]·SW["ghasia"]·TR["kargaşa"]·urd["ہنگامے"]
3. commotion — Commotion, noisy disturbance — domestic or mourning-related agitation rather than political unrest. In Mark 5:38, Jesus arrives at Jairus's house and finds people making a thorubon — loud weeping and wailing. Spanish uses the same 'alboroto' as for riots, but the context is grief, not hostility. French 'tumulte' likewise collapses the distinction, showing how the core meaning is simply 'loud collective agitation.' 1×
AR["اضْطِرابًا"]·ben["হৈচৈ"]·DE["Laerm"]·EN["commotion"]·FR["tumulte"]·heb["מְהוּמָה"]·HI["शोर-गुल"]·ID["keributan"]·IT["thorubon"]·jav["ribut,"]·KO["소동을,"]·PT["tumulto,"]·RU["смятение"]·ES["alboroto"]·SW["ghasia,"]·TR["gürültüyü,"]·urd["شور"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H3701 1. silver (the metal) (391×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H0216 1. light (general / metaphorical) (116×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)H1270 1. iron (metal, tools, weapons; fig. strength/hardness) (76×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)G3037 1. stone / rock (59×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6697 1. rock, cliff, crag (49×)H3001 1. be dry, wither (intransitive) (45×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
θόρῠβ-ος, ὁ, noise, especially the confused noise of a crowded assembly, uproar, clamour, Refs 5th c.BC+; θόρυβος βοῆς a confused clamour, Refs 5th c.BC+; less frequently of an individual, Refs 5th c.BC+; of animals, θόρυβον δ᾽ οὐκ ἐφίλησαν ὄνων Refs __2 especially in token of approbation or the contrary, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2.a applause, θ. Ληναΐτης Refs 5th c.BC+ __2.b groans, murmurs, Refs 5th…