συναντιλαμβάνομαι
synantilambánomai
G4878 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To take hold together with someone, to come to the aid of another by actively participating in their effort; to assist or support another by working alongside them. The term emphasizes active cooperation or shared participation, with the sense of coming to the aid of someone in a task or need, rather than providing help from a distance.
Semantic Range
to cooperate by joining in an effort, to assist together with, to help by sharing the load, to actively support, to take part in aiding
Root / Etymology
Compound of σύν (with, together) and ἀντιλαμβάνομαι (to take hold of, to help). The prefix σύν intensifies the notion to 'take hold with (someone else),' thus to actively cooperate or participate in helping.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb συναντιλαμβάνομαι is rare, attested only in Hellenistic and Biblical Koine Greek. Its earliest appearances include the Septuagint (e.g., Wisdom of Solomon 7:5) and New Testament (e.g., Luke 10:40, Romans 8:26), where it always implies an active, hands-on form of help or assistance. The term stresses the idea of mutual or cooperative support. In the New Testament, it is used to denote a powerful sense of partnership in helping—e.g., Martha requests Mary to 'help' her (Luke 10:40), meaning to join her in her work, not merely to provide aid but to share the load. Likewise, in Romans 8:26, the Spirit 'helps' (συναντιλαμβάνεται) the weakness of believers, with the sense not of substitution but of divine partnership alongside human effort. English translations often narrow the nuance to 'help,' but the original term signifies more than general assistance—it highlights participating in, actively sharing in, or bearing a burden together. There are few synonymous Koine terms; ἐπικουρέω (to come to aid, especially militarily) carries a different implication, while βοηθέω (to assist) does not necessarily emphasize joint participation. Usage is consistent in both Jewish and early Christian contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from σύν and ἀντιλαμβάνομαι; to take hold of opposite together, i.e. co-operate (assist):--help.
Root Family
συναντιλαμβάνομαι (synantilambanomai) — to take hold together, to grasp with another, to assist by shared effort
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4878-02 |
συναντιλαμβάνεται | sunantilambanetai | V PRS MID IND 3P SG |
helps | joins in helping alongside | joins in helping alongside | 1 |
G4878-01 |
συναντιλάβηται | sunantilabetai | V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG |
help | might join in assisting | might join in assisting | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4878-01 |
Luke 10:40 | συναντιλάβηται | sunantilabetai | V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG |
help | might join in assisting | might join in assisting |
G4878-02 |
Romans 8:26 | συναντιλαμβάνεται | sunantilambanetai | V PRS MID IND 3P SG |
helps | joins in helping alongside | joins in helping alongside |