συγγνώμη (G4774) — Greek Lexicon

συγγνώμη

syngnṓmē

G4774 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Favorable consideration or recognition of a situation, leading to pardon, forgiveness, or permission; the act of understanding someone’s circumstances to the point of excusing or allowing for their actions. In legal or formal contexts, may indicate granting a concession, clemency, or leave. More broadly encompasses the notions of understanding, sympathy, and permitting due to comprehension of another's situation.

Semantic Range

forgiveness, pardon, clemency, concession, permission, sympathy, allowance, indulgence, excuse

Root / Etymology

From the preposition σύν (with) and the verb γινώσκω (to know, to recognize). Literally ‘knowing together’ or ‘shared understanding.’

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, συγγνώμη primarily denotes joint understanding, clemency, forgiveness, or leniency toward someone (Aristotle, Plato). In legal and rhetorical literature, it refers to an excuse or mitigation based on shared understanding—often translated ‘pardon’ or ‘forgiveness’. In Koine (Hellenistic) Greek, including the Septuagint and the New Testament, it retains the core sense of ‘pardon’ and ‘forgiveness’, but may also denote ‘permission,’ particularly in interpersonal or formal requests (e.g., Paul asks for συγγνώμη for certain actions in his letters). The semantic overlap with ἄφεσις (release, forgiveness) is notable, but συγγνώμη often preserves the nuance of empathetic understanding or concession based on circumstance, rather than a formal or juridical act of acquittal. English translations often render it as ‘forgiveness’, ‘indulgence’, or ‘permission’, but may not capture the richness of the empathetic and concessive meanings. Occurs infrequently in the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians 7:6), more common in post-classical and Hellenistic literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of σύν and γινώσκω; fellow knowledge, i.e. concession:--permission.

Root Family

συγγνώμη (syngnōmē) — to know together, to understand, to concede, to forgive

Root συγγν- to know together, to understand, to concede, to forgive

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4774-01`	συνγνώμην	sungnomen	`N ACC F SG`	concession	understanding concession	concession	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4774-01`	1 Corinthians 7:6	συνγνώμην	sungnomen	`N ACC F SG`	concession	understanding concession	concession

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