συνίημι (G4920) — Greek Lexicon

συνίημι

syníēmi

G4920 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bring together in the mind, to comprehend, perceive, or understand (by connecting ideas or information); to form an intelligent judgment or insight through considering how parts relate; in some contexts, to act with discernment or insight based on understanding.

Semantic Range

to bring together (in mind), to comprehend, to perceive meaning, to form an insight, to understand (speech, parables, events), to consider, to act with discernment

Root / Etymology

From σύν (with, together) and ἵημι (to set in motion, to send). The compound sense is 'to bring together' (in thought or perception).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, συνίημι describes the process of grasping the meaning of something by mentally assembling its parts—often translated 'understand' or 'comprehend.' In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew verbs for 'understanding' or 'perceiving' (e.g., בִּין, bin), and commonly refers to understanding words, events, or parables. In the New Testament, especially in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts, it regularly denotes understanding the meaning or significance of teaching (such as parables) or events. The notion of 'acting wisely' or 'being wise' is secondary, deriving from the possession and application of understanding. English translations often simply render it 'understand,' but the verb emphasizes mental synthesis—the piecing together of information or concepts. Unlike other Greek terms for knowing (ἐπίσταμαι, γινώσκω), συνίημι particularly highlights comprehension through connecting and assembling separate elements into a coherent whole.

Translation Consistency

primary "understand" 13 occurrences

'Understand' is the natural, common English verb that best covers the SILEX range — to bring together in the mind, perceive meaning, form insight, and act with discernment. It is the most frequent rendering in existing translations and sounds more natural than alternatives like 'comprehend' while still capturing the full semantic field.

Alternatives (13 occurrences):

"understood" (7x) "understand, all of" (4x) "comprehend" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σύν and (to send); to put together, i.e. (mentally) to comprehend; by implication, to act piously:-- consider, understand, be wise.

Root Family

συνίημι (syniēmi) — to bring together, to perceive, to understand

Root συν- + ἵημι to bring together, to perceive, to understand

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4920-01`	συνῆκαν	sunekan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	understood	they comprehended	they understood	6
`G4920-09`	συνίετε	suniete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	understand	Be bringing together in understanding	understand, all of you	4
`G4920-04`	συνῆτε	sunete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	understand	you all may comprehend	you all may understand	3
`G4920-11`	συνιῶσιν	suniosin	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they may understand	they may comprehend	they may comprehend	2
`G4920-13`	συνῶσιν	sunosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	understand	they might comprehend	they might understand	2
`G4920-07`	συνιέναι	sunienai	`V PRS ACT INF`	to understand	to bring together mentally	to understand	2
`G4920-10`	συνίων	sunion	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	understanding	bringing together in mind	understanding	1
`G4920-05`	συνιᾶσιν	suniasin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	understand	they are comprehending	they understand	1
`G4920-06`	συνιείς	sunieis	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	understanding	the one bringing together in understanding	the one understanding	1
`G4920-12`	συνίουσιν	suniousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	they understand	they comprehend	they understand	1
`G4920-08`	συνιέντος	sunientos	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	understanding	of one understanding	of the one understanding	1
`G4920-02`	συνήκατε	sunekate	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	Have you understood	you comprehended	you understood	1
`G4920-03`	συνήσουσιν	sunesousin	`V FUT ACT IND 3P PL`	shall understand	they will comprehend	they will understand	1

Occurrences in Scripture

26 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4920-12`	Matthew 13:13	συνίουσιν	suniousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	they understand	they comprehend	they understand
`G4920-04`	Matthew 13:14	συνῆτε	sunete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	understand	you all may comprehend	you all may understand
`G4920-13`	Matthew 13:15	συνῶσιν	sunosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	understand	they might comprehend	they might understand
`G4920-08`	Matthew 13:19	συνιέντος	sunientos	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	understanding	of one understanding	of the one understanding
`G4920-06`	Matthew 13:23	συνιείς	sunieis	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	understanding	the one bringing together in understanding	the one understanding
`G4920-02`	Matthew 13:51	συνήκατε	sunekate	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	Have you understood	you comprehended	you understood
`G4920-09`	Matthew 15:10	συνίετε	suniete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	understand	Be bringing together in understanding	understand, all of you
`G4920-01`	Matthew 16:12	συνῆκαν	sunekan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they understood	they comprehended	they understood
`G4920-01`	Matthew 17:13	συνῆκαν	sunekan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	understood	they comprehended	they understood
`G4920-11`	Mark 4:12	συνιῶσιν	suniosin	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they may understand	they may comprehend	they may comprehend
`G4920-01`	Mark 6:52	συνῆκαν	sunekan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they understood	they comprehended	they understood
`G4920-04`	Mark 7:14	σύνετε	sunete	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	understand	you all may comprehend	you all may understand
`G4920-09`	Mark 8:17	συνίετε	suniete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	do you understand	Be bringing together in understanding	understand, all of you
`G4920-09`	Mark 8:21	συνίετε	suniete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	understand	Be bringing together in understanding	understand, all of you
`G4920-01`	Luke 2:50	συνῆκαν	sunekan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	understood	they comprehended	they understood
`G4920-11`	Luke 8:10	συνιῶσιν	suniosin	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they may understand	they may comprehend	they may comprehend
`G4920-01`	Luke 18:34	συνῆκαν	sunekan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	understood	they comprehended	they understood
`G4920-07`	Luke 24:45	συνιέναι	sunienai	`V PRS ACT INF`	understand	to bring together mentally	to understand
`G4920-07`	Acts 7:25	συνιέναι	sunienai	`V PRS ACT INF`	to understand	to bring together mentally	to understand
`G4920-01`	Acts 7:25	συνῆκαν	sunekan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	understood	they comprehended	they understood
`G4920-04`	Acts 28:26	συνῆτε	sunete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	understand	you all may comprehend	you all may understand
`G4920-13`	Acts 28:27	συνῶσιν	sunosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	understand	they might comprehend	they might understand
`G4920-10`	Romans 3:11	συνίων	sunion	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	understanding	bringing together in mind	understanding
`G4920-03`	Romans 15:21	συνήσουσιν	sunesousin	`V FUT ACT IND 3P PL`	shall understand	they will comprehend	they will understand
`G4920-05`	2 Corinthians 10:12	συνιᾶσιν	suniasin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	understand	they are comprehending	they understand
`G4920-09`	Ephesians 5:17	συνίετε	suniete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	understand	Be bringing together in understanding	understand, all of you

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