Bible Dictionary
COHORT
A cohort was a Roman military division, ordinarily about one-tenth of a legion, or roughly 600 soldiers. In the New Testament the term could also refer more generally to a smaller military detachment.
Definition
A cohort was a Roman military division, ordinarily the tenth part of a legion and numbering about six hundred men. The term could also be used more loosely for a smaller military detachment.
Biblical Usage
The word appears in New Testament passages concerning Roman soldiers, including the forces present at Jesus’ arrest and trial and those associated with Cornelius and Paul.
Historical Background
A cohort belonged to the Roman army. In John 18 the term appears to denote a smaller body or detail of soldiers rather than a full cohort.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ko'-hort: In the Revised Version, margin of Mt 27:27; Mr 15:16; Joh 18:3,12; Ac 10:1; 21:31; 27:1, the translation of speira (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), "band"); the tenth part of a legion; ordinarily about 600 men. In Joh 18 the word seems to be used loosely of a smaller body of soldiers, a detachment, detail.</p><p>See ARMY; BAND.</p>