Legion

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Legion ( λεγιών [λεγεών], a loan-word from the Latin legio , which meant originally a ‘gathering’ of the citizen army of Rome).—The word ‘legion’ occurs in two contexts in the Gospels. One is in the scene at Gethsemane, when Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s slave ( Matthew 26:53); the other occurs in the narrative about the man with the unclean spirit in the country of the Gerasenes ( Mark 5:9;  Mark 5:15,  Luke 8:30; but not in Matthew’s account, which gives two men). In both cases the reference is to the large number of persons who compose a legion: in the one case the legions of angels are at the disposal of Jesus, if He asks for them; in the other the great number of evil spirits can be described only by the name ‘legion.’ The present writer cannot recall any such use of the word ‘legion’ in non-Christian authors. It seems certain also that in the NT the word is not a translation of any Aramaic word. The conclusion is that, if Aramaic is behind the passages where the word occurs, the expression was imported into that language from Greek, and reveals the great impression made on the minds of Orientals by the vast organized unity of the Roman army, with which they had become acquainted since the Roman occupation of Syria by Pompey (b.c. 64–63). At least three and often more (see Hardy’s Studies in Roman History , 181 ff.) legions were quartered in that province during the whole of the 1st cent. a.d., and the sight of these magnificent troops, as they marched in column along the great roads of the country, must have powerfully impressed the natives with the numbers and power of the Roman people. An innumerable number of persons came to be spoken of as a legion .

The full strength of a Roman legion was about 6000 men, or about that of a modern infantry division, but the subdivision was different. Instead of brigades, battalions, companies, and sections, there were 10 cohortes , each commanded by a tribunus militum , 3 manipuli in each cohors , and 2 centuriœ in each manipulus . The uniform of all ordinary legionaries was the same. The legion was commanded by a legatus legionis (lieutenant-general). See also Band.

Literature.—W. Ramsay, A Manual of Roman Antiquities , revised and partly rewritten by R. Lanciani, 15th ed. (London, 1894) ch. xii. (on p. 459 f. there are references to other literature).

Alex. Souter.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

LEGION. This term, which means literally ‘a gathering,’ looks back to the early days of the Roman citizen army. In the time of the Empire it indicated a force of about 6000 infantry, together with complements of other arms. The infantry proper were divided into ten cohorts (the word is tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘ band ’ [wh. see] in   Matthew 27:27 ,   Mark 15:16 ,   John 18:3;   John 18:12 ,   Acts 10:1;   Acts 21:31;   Acts 27:1 ), each containing about 600 men, and each commanded on occasion by a military tribune. Of these tribunes there were six to a legion. A cohort was itself subdivided into ten centuries, each commanded by a centurion. It is not necessary to remember all these facts in studying the NT use of the word ‘legion’ (  Matthew 26:53 ,   Mark 5:9;   Mark 5:15 ,   Luke 8:30 ). What chiefly impressed Semites was apparently the size of the legion, and ‘legion’ appears to have become a proverb among them for a large number of persons in orderly combination.

A. Souter.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Λεγιών (Strong'S #3003 — Noun Feminine — legion — leg-eh-ohn' )

otherwise spelled legeon, "a legion," occurs in  Matthew 26:53 , of angels; in  Mark 5:9,15 , and  Luke 8:30 , of demons. Among the Romans a "legion" was primarily a chosen (lego, "to choose") body of soldiers divided into ten cohorts, and numbering from 4,200 to 6,000 men (Gk. speira, see BAND). In the time of our Lord it formed a complete army of infantry and cavalry, of upwards of 5,000 men. The "legions" were not brought into Judea till the outbreak of the Jewish war (A.D. 66), as they were previously employed in the frontier provinces of the Empire. Accordingly in its NT use the word has its other and more general significance "of a large number."

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Legion. A division of the Roman army. The number of men in it differed at various times. Originally a legion consisted of about 3000; but in the time of Augustus it contained about 6000: there were also cavalry attached, to the amount of one-tenth of the infantry. Each legion was divided into ten cohorts, each cohort into three maniples, and each maniple into two centuries, which, according to the name, should comprise 100 men. The word legion came in the course of time to express indefinitely a large number; so it is used in  Matthew 26:53;  Mark 5:9;  Mark 5:15;  Luke 8:30; and so we frequently now use it.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The number in a Roman legion varied at different periods, from three thousand to more than twice that number. In the time of Christ a legion contained six thousand, besides the cavalry. There were ten cohorts in each legion; which were divided each into three maniples or bands, and these into two centuries containing one hundred men each. In the Bible a legion means a number indefinitely large. The Savior cured a demoniac who called himself "Legion" as if possessed my myriads of demons,  Mark 5:9 . The expression, "twelve legions of angels,"  Matthew 26:53 , illustrate the immensity of the heavenly host, and their zealous devotion to Christ.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

The largest division of the Roman army, of which it was, in order and armament, the miniature; 6,000 foot, with a body of horse.  Matthew 26:53, "thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels," against this band from the Roman "legion"; not merely My twelve apostles, but twelve "legions," and these "angels?" (compare  2 Kings 6:17;  Daniel 7:10.) In  Mark 5:9 the demon-possessed says, "my name is legion, for we are many," "because many demons (Greek) were entered into him."

King James Dictionary

LE'GION, n. L. legio, from lego, to collect.

1. In Roman antiquity, a body of infantry consisting of different numbers of men at different periods, from three to five thousand. Each legion was divided into ten cohorts, each cohort into ten companies, and each company into two centuries. 2. A military force military bands. 3. A great number.

Where one sin has entered, legions will force their way through the same breach.

My name is legion, for we are many.  Mark 5 .

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A group of orders inferior to a class.

(2): ( n.) A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at different periods, - from about four thousand to about six thousand men, - the cavalry being about one tenth.

(3): ( n.) A great number; a multitude.

(4): ( n.) A military force; an army; military bands.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

The Roman legions were composed each of ten cohorts; a cohort, of fifty maniples; a maniple, of fifteen men; consequently, a full legion contained six thousand soldiers. Jesus cured one who called himself "legion," as if possessed by a legion of devils,  Mark 5:9 . He also said to Peter, who drew his sword to defend him in the olive garden: "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, who shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"  Matthew 26:53 .

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

A Roman legion, of six thousand men. If the poor man possessed of a legion of devils was thus numbered, what a state to contemplate! (See  Mark 5:9) I rather think the expression is of the figurative kind, or, as the poor man himself saith, a legion meant many. Our Lord meant the expression, no doubt, exactly as it is, when he said "twelve legions of angels." ( Matthew 26:53)

Morrish Bible Dictionary

In the Roman army a body of troops consisting of from three to five thousand; but the term is also used for an indefinite number. The Lord said that His Father on His request would send Him more than twelve legions of angels.  Matthew 26:53 . The demons who possessed the man among the Gadarenes said, "My name is Legion; for we are many."  Mark 5:9,15;  Luke 8:30 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Legion. The chief subdivision of the Roman army, containing about 6000 infantry, with a contingent of cavalry. The term does not occur in the Bible in its primary sense, but appears to have been adopted in order to express any large number, with the accessory ideas of order and subordination.  Matthew 26:53;  Mark 5:9.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Mark 5:9 5:15 Luke 8:30 Matthew 26:53

Mike Mitchell

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Matthew 26:53 Mark 5:9

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( Λεγεών , Graecized from the Latin Legio ) , a main division of the Roman army, corresponding nearly to the modern Regiment. It always comprised a large body of men, but the number varied so much at different times that there is considerable discrepancy in the statements with reference to it. The legion appears to have originally contained about 3000 men, and to have risen gradually to twice that number, or even more. In and about the time of Christ it seems to have consisted of 6000 men. aned this was exclusive of horsemen, who usuall

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Legion, a division of the Roman army. It always comprised a large body of men; but the number varied so much at different times, that there is considerable discrepancy in the statements with reference to it. The legion appears to have originally contained about 3000 men, and to have risen gradually to twice that number, or even more. In and about the time of Christ it seems to have consisted of 6000 men; but this was exclusive of horsemen, who usually formed an additional body amounting to one-tenth of the infantry. As all the divisions of the Roman army are noticed in Scripture, we may add that each legion was divided into ten cohorts or regiments, each cohort into three maniples or bands, and each maniple into three centuries or companies of 100 each. This smaller division into centuries or hundreds, from the form in which it is exhibited as a constituent of the larger divisions, clearly shows that 6000 had become at least the formal number of a legion.

The word legion came to be used to express a great number or multitude. Thus, the unclean spirit , when asked his name, answers, 'My name is Legion, for we are many.'

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

Among the ancient Romans a body of soldiers consisting of three lines, the hastati , the principes , and the triarii , ranged in order of battle one behind the other, each divided into ten maniples, and the whole numbering from 4000 to 6000 men; to each legion was attached six military tribunes, who commanded in rotation, each for two months; under Marius the three lines were amalgamated, and the whole divided into ten cohorts of three maniples each; under the original arrangement the hastati were young or untrained men, the principes men in their full manhood, and the triarii veterans.