συζήτησις
syzḗtēsis
G4803 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Formal discussion or debate; mutual questioning, usually involving argument or examination of differing opinions. συζήτησις primarily refers to a serious discussion, investigation, or dispute, especially in contexts of intellectual, philosophical, or religious debate. Also used for public or formal debate and disputes over doctrine or interpretation.
Semantic Range
mutual questioning, formal discussion, argument, debate, controversy, disputation
Root / Etymology
From the verb συζητέω ('to discuss together, to dispute, to debate') formed with the prefix συν- (with, together) and ζητέω (to seek, inquire). Thus, the noun συζήτησις denotes the act or process of engaging in inquiry or debate with others.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Hellenistic and Roman-era Greek, συζήτησις was used to describe formal discussions, philosophical debates, or intellectual inquiries, often with a sense of disputation or back-and-forth questioning. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Timothy 1:4; Titus 3:9), the term appears in warnings against fruitless or contentious debates, particularly over genealogies or aspects of the Law, suggesting a focus on arguments that divide rather than instruct. The Septuagint uses related forms more rarely, typically in contexts paralleling legal or theological disputation. The English 'dispute', 'argument', or 'controversy' may capture the sense, but συζήτησις often implied a more formal or organized exchange than ordinary disagreement. In classical Greek, similar nouns (ζήτησις, συζήτημα) could have wider connotations, but in Koine usage (especially the New Testament), the nuance is often more negative, warning against vain or divisive verbal contests.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from συζητέω; mutual questioning, i.e. discussion:--disputation(-ting), reasoning.
Root Family
συζητ- (syzḗtēsis) — to inquire together, to debate, to dispute
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4803-01 |
συζήτησιν | suzetesin | N ACC F SG |
dispute | formal debate | formal debate | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4803-01 |
Acts 28:29 | συζήτησιν | suzetesin | N ACC F SG |
dispute | formal debate | formal debate |