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σύνεσις

sýnesis

G4907 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The faculty of comprehension; the act or capacity of bringing together distinct ideas or elements in order to understand underlying connections. In various contexts, it can denote insight, discernment, or the ability to grasp meaning, implications, or relationships within information or situations. May describe both the faculty of intellect and the result of intellectual activity (i.e., understanding or comprehension).

Semantic Range

the ability to comprehend, intelligence, understanding, insight, discernment, faculty of mind, capacity to grasp meaning, ability to integrate ideas, intellectual perception

Root / Etymology

From the root συν- ('with, together') and the verb ἵημι ('to set, put'), specifically formed from συνίημι ('to bring together in mind, to understand'). Thus, σύνεσις literally means 'a putting together with,' i.e., the process or result of integrating thoughts or ideas.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, σύνεσις referred to the faculty of intelligence, the ability to perceive connections, or prudence in judgment. In Hellenistic and Koine contexts, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it is used for intellectual discernment or comprehension, often denoting insight into the meaning or significance of events, texts, or teachings. It occurs in philosophical literature for cognitive understanding as distinct from mere accumulated knowledge (ἐπιστήμη) or practical wisdom (φρόνησις). In the LXX, σύνεσις commonly renders Hebrew terms for discernment or insight (e.g., תְּבוּנָה, בִּינָה) but may not always reflect subtle differences in the source language. In the New Testament, σύνεσις frequently carries a positive connotation of spiritual or divinely granted perception beyond ordinary human intellect. English translations such as 'understanding,' 'intelligence,' or 'insight' vary in nuance, and none fully captures the dynamic aspect of synthesis implied by the Greek term, especially its emphasis on the process of connecting and integrating ideas.

Translation Consistency

primary "understanding" 7 occurrences

σύνεσις denotes the faculty or result of comprehending—the ability to grasp meaning or insight. “Understanding” is the most natural, widely used English equivalent, covers both the mental capacity and its product (insight/comprehension), and matches the majority of attested renderings in the P2 data.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from συνίημι; a mental putting together, i.e. intelligence or (concretely) the intellect:--knowledge, understanding.

Root Family

συνιημ- (sýnesis) — to put together, to perceive with understanding, to comprehend

Root συνιημ- to put together, to perceive with understanding, to comprehend

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4907-03 σύνεσιν sunesin N ACC F SG understanding comprehension understanding 3
G4907-01 συνέσει sunesei N DAT F SG understanding to comprehension understanding 2
G4907-02 συνέσεως suneseos N GEN F SG of understanding of integrative comprehension of integrative understanding 2

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4907-02 Mark 12:33 συνέσεως suneseos N GEN F SG understanding of integrative comprehension of integrative understanding
G4907-01 Luke 2:47 συνέσει sunesei N DAT F SG understanding to comprehension understanding
G4907-03 1 Corinthians 1:19 σύνεσιν sunesin N ACC F SG understanding comprehension understanding
G4907-03 Ephesians 3:4 σύνεσίν sunesin N ACC F SG insight comprehension understanding
G4907-01 Colossians 1:9 συνέσει sunesei N DAT F SG understanding to comprehension understanding
G4907-02 Colossians 2:2 συνέσεως suneseos N GEN F SG of understanding of integrative comprehension of integrative understanding
G4907-03 2 Timothy 2:7 σύνεσιν sunesin N ACC F SG understanding comprehension understanding
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