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συνήθεια

synḗtheia

G4914 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Fundamental meaning: customary practice or habitual conduct developed through continuous association or repeated behavior; refers to a usage or habit that results from ongoing interaction, whether among people, or with particular practices. In broader contexts, can mean established social habits, prevailing customs, or habitual ways of doing things. Can also refer to the intercourse or familiarity that arises from such association, particularly when denoting practices that become second nature through repetition.

Semantic Range

custom, habitual practice, mutual association, habitual intercourse, usage, social custom, established usage

Root / Etymology

From the preposition σύν ('with, together') and ἦθος ('custom, usage, character'), forming a noun that denotes the result or process of being together in a customary or habitual way.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, συνήθεια is used for practice, habit, or customary interaction, emphasizing the development of familiarity or ease through repeated association. In the wider Hellenistic period, including the Septuagint and Koine literature, it maintains the sense of custom, usage, habitual practice, or social conventions established within a community or group. Notably, in philosophical literature, especially among Stoics and Aristotelians, it may refer to the formation of character or ethics through habituation. In the New Testament, it is rare and typically refers to an established custom or habitual conduct, sometimes in the sense of established religious or communal practices. The English translation 'custom' or 'habit' often captures the sense, but may not convey the sense of mutuality or the process of habituation that is implicit in the term. The underlying sense of repeated association (with persons or practices) distinguishes συνήθεια from related terms like ἔθος (custom, practice) or ἔθιμον (custom, tradition), which focus more on the established external act rather than the interpersonal or habituating process.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of σύν and ἦθος; mutual habituation, i.e. usage:--custom.

Root Family

συνήθεια (synētheia) — custom, habitual practice, established usage, mutual association

Root συν-ηθ- to be accustomed, to have habitual association, to form a habit

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4914-01 συνήθεια sunetheia N NOM F SG accustomed established custom custom 2
G4914-02 συνήθειαν sunetheian N ACC F SG custom customary practice custom 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4914-01 John 18:39 συνήθεια sunetheia N NOM F SG a custom established custom established custom
G4914-01 1 Corinthians 8:7 συνηθείᾳ sunetheia N DAT F SG accustomed established custom custom
G4914-02 1 Corinthians 11:16 συνήθειαν sunetheian N ACC F SG custom customary practice custom
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