Greek · Strong's G4905
συνέρχομαι
synérchomai (soon-ER-kho-my)
verb
To come together, often with the nuance of congregating for a specific purpose or meeting someone.
The Greek verb synérchomai literally means "to come with" or "to go with." It describes the act of people assembling or gathering in one place. The semantic range of synérchomai is broad, encompassing various reasons for coming together, from casual association to more formal congregations. In the New Testament, it frequently refers to believers gathering for worship or instruction, highlighting the corporate nature of the early Christian community. It emphasizes the physical act of assembly, which often has social or communal implications.
While synérchomai can simply denote people accompanying each other, it often carries a stronger sense of deliberate assembly. The contexts in 1 Corinthians, for example, demonstrate that the church "coming together" was a significant and expected practice. The term underscores the communal aspect of their faith and the importance of their shared life. The purpose of their gathering might be for prayer, teaching, or sharing a meal. The negative consequences of improper "coming together" in 1 Corinthians illustrate the ethical and theological weight attached to these assemblies.
In some instances, synérchomai can have a more specific meaning of cohabiting or entering into a marital relationship, though this usage is less frequent in the New Testament. However, the primary use across the New Testament consistently points to individuals or groups converging. This verb helps to paint a picture of the early church as a community that physically gathered, and the ways in which these gatherings shaped their identity and practices.
Common English renderings
- accompany
- assemble
- come together
- go with
- resort
Key verses
"But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse."
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"For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it."
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"When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord’s supper:"
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"And the people saw them going, and many knew them, and they ran together there on foot from all the cities, and outwent them."
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"If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?"
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"They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
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Related words