COMPANY. A variety of Heb. and Gr. words have been tr. “company” in the KJV. An analysis of these words shows that they may apply to all kinds of gatherings and groups, e.g. military: an army on the march (2 Chron 20:12), a marauding band (1 Sam 30:15), a detachment of fighting men (Judg 7:16), officers in charge of a company (1 Chron 28:1), an encampment (Gen 50:9), a dance between two armies (Song of Solomon 6:13); caravan: travelers from Sheba (Job 6:19), a commercial venture (Gen 37:25), a migratory group (Isa 21:13); travelers: a group of horsemen (2 Kings 9:17), Esau’s meeting with Jacob (Gen 32:8), the attendants of the queen of Sheba (2 Chron 9:1); a group of prophets (1 Sam 19:20); a band of priests (Hos 6:9); a gathering of people (Num 14:7; 16:5; Ps 68:11), a mob (Acts 17:5); an associate or companion (Job 34:8; Ps 55:14; Prov 29:3; 1 Cor 5:9, 11) a collection of idols (Isa 57:13); a group of nations (Gen 35:11).

The respective words with their usage and meaning are as follows: אֹרְחָה, H785, “a caravan of...” (Gen 37:25; Isa 21:13); גְּדוּד֮, H1522, “Will you bring me down to the troop?” (1 Sam 30:15, 23); הֲלִיכָה, H2142, “The companies of Sheba waited for them” (Job 6:19); הָמﯴן, H2162, “...we have no might against this great company (multitude) that comes against us” (2 Chron 20:12); חֶ֫בֶל֒, H2474, “you will meet a band of prophets” (1 Sam 10:5); חֶ֫בֶר֒, H2490, “company (band) of priests murder in the way” (Hos 6:9); חֶבְרָה, H2495, “in a company of evil doers” (Job 34:8); חַ֫יִל, H2657, “the queen of Sheba came...with a very great retinue (train)” (2 Chron 9:1); לַהֲקָה, H4272, “they saw the company of the prophets” (1 Sam 19:20); מְחֹלָה, H4703, “a dance between two armies” (Song of Solomon 6:13); מַחֲלֹ֫קֶת, H4713, (military) “officers of the division” (1 Chron 28:1); מַחֲנֶה, H4722, “If Esau come to the one company” (Gen 32:8); עֵדָה֒, H6337, “they spoke to the congregation of the children of Israel” (Num 14:7); “he spoke to Korah and his company” (Num 16:5); צָבָא֮, H7372, “great is the host...of those who bore the tidings” (Ps 68:11); קִבּוּץ, H7689, “when you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you” (Isa 57:13); קָהָל, H7736, “a company of nations” (Gen 35:11); רֶ֫גֶשׁ, H8094, “walked in fellowship...” (Ps 55:14); רֹאשׁ֒, H8031, “divided into three (heads) companies” (Judg 7:16, 20); שִׁפְעָה, H9180, “company of horsemen” (2 Kings 9:17); ὅμιλος, G3919, “all whose trade...” (Rev 18:17); ὄχλος, G4063, “a large company” (Luke 5:29); “crowd” (Luke 6:17; Acts 17:5); πλῆθος, G4436, “a great multitude” (Luke 23:27); συνοδία, G5322, “supposing him to be in the company” (Luke 2:44).