συμβάλλω (G4820) — Greek Lexicon

συμβάλλω

symbállō

G4820 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bring together, to put together (objects, ideas, people); in extended and metaphorical senses, to discuss or confer together, to consider or reflect upon (mentally bringing disparate pieces together), to meet or encounter (someone or something), especially with intent or consequence. The primary sense is the act of combining or causing two or more things to be in contact — whether physically, conversationally, or intellectually.

Semantic Range

to bring or put together (objects or people), to meet or encounter (esp. by chance or in contest), to converse or confer with, to consider or ponder (mentally combine), to aid or help, to compare (bring together in thought or speech)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition σύν (with, together) and the verb βάλλω (to throw, to place, to cast), literally meaning 'to throw together' or 'put together.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, συμβάλλω generally means 'to bring or put together,' both in literal and figurative senses. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, it is often used for the action of individuals or groups coming together, either for conversation (to confer or discuss), for meeting (especially unexpectedly or in a contested way), or for considering mentally (to ponder or reflect, as in 'bringing together' thoughts). In the New Testament (e.g., Luke 2:19, 2:51; Mark 4:30; Acts 18:27), it appears in senses of pondering (Mary 'pondered' all these things, i.e., she 'brought them together' in her mind), conferring, or encountering. The term can denote an adversarial meeting (as in a conflict or dispute) but is not limited to hostile encounters. It is broader than simply 'to converse' or 'to help' and covers a dynamic process of combining, comparing, and engaging. English translations vary (confer, meet, ponder, help), but no single word consistently matches the breadth of συμβάλλω in ancient Greek usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "bring" 2 occurrences

Bring best covers the primary and extended senses of συμβάλλω: to cause two or more things to come together (bring together), to put ideas together (bring into view/bring to mind), to cause an encounter or clash (bring into contact/bring against), and even to provide assistance (bring help). It is natural English, easily inflected for the various forms, and captures the typical, concrete-to-metaphorical range more naturally than alternatives like “meet,” “join,” or “confer.”

Alternatives (4 occurrences):

"conferred" (1x) "engaging" (1x) "helped" (1x) "meeting" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σύν and βάλλω; to combine, i.e. (in speaking) to converse, consult, dispute, (mentally) to consider, (by implication) to aid, (personally) to join, attack:--confer, encounter, help, make, meet with, ponder.

Root Family

συμβάλλω (symballō) — to throw together, to bring together, to combine

Root συμβαλ- to throw together, to bring together, to combine

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4820-05`	συνέβαλλον	suneballon	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they conferred	they were bringing together	they conferred	2
`G4820-01`	συμβαλεῖν	sumbalein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to encounter	to bring together	to bring together	1
`G4820-04`	συνέβαλλεν	suneballen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he met	was bringing together	was meeting	1
`G4820-03`	συνεβάλετο	sunebaleto	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	helped	brought together for himself	helped	1
`G4820-02`	συμβάλλουσα	sumballousa	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	them	bringing together	bringing together	1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4820-02`	Luke 2:19	συμβάλλουσα	sumballousa	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	them	bringing together	bringing together
`G4820-01`	Luke 14:31	συμβαλεῖν	sumbalein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to encounter	to bring together	to bring together
`G4820-05`	Acts 4:15	συνέβαλλον	suneballon	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they conferred	they were bringing together	they conferred
`G4820-05`	Acts 17:18	συνέβαλλον	suneballon	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	were engaging	they were bringing together	were engaging
`G4820-03`	Acts 18:27	συνεβάλετο	sunebaleto	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	helped	brought together for himself	helped
`G4820-04`	Acts 20:14	συνέβαλλεν	suneballen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he met	was bringing together	was meeting

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