Lexical Summary sugkleió: To shut up, enclose, confine Original Word: συγκλείω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance enclose, shut up. From sun and kleio; to shut together, i.e. Include or (figuratively) embrace in a common subjection to -- conclude, inclose, shut up. see GREEK sun see GREEK kleio NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and kleió Definition to shut together, i.e. enclose NASB Translation enclosed (1), shut (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4788: συγκλείωσυγκλείω (T WH συνκλειω (cf. σύν, II. at the end)): 1 aorist συνεκλεισα; passive, present participle συγγ(῾συν(᾿κλειόμενος, Galatians 3:23 L T Tr WH; but R G ibid. perfect participle συγκεκλεισμενος; from Herodotus down; the Sept. chiefly for סָגַר and הִסְגִּיר, to shut up (Latinconcludo), i. e. a. to shut up together, enclose (so under the word σύν, II. 2; but others (e. g. Fritzsche as below Meyer on Galatians 3:22) would make the συν( always intensive, as in b.): a shoal of fishes in a net, Luke 5:6. b. to shup up on all sides, shut up completely; τινα εἰς τινα or τί, so to deliver one up to the power of a person or thing that he is completely shut in, as it were, without means of escape: τινα εἰς ἀπείθειαν, Romans 11:32 (εἰς ἀγῶνα, Polybius 3, 63, 3; εἰς τοιαύτην ἀμηχανιαν συγκλεισθεις Ἀντιγονος μετεμελετο, Diodorus 19, 19; οὐ συνέκλεισάς με εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθροῦ, Psalm 30:9 The verb carries the idea of shutting in together, hemming in on every side, or confining within fixed limits. In biblical usage the confinement can be either literal (fish in a net) or metaphorical (humanity under sin or the Law). Each occurrence portrays an intentional act of God that precedes a gracious purpose. Occurrences in the New Testament • Luke 5:6 – the enclosed multitude of fish. Physical Imagery in Luke Luke 5:6 records that the fishermen “enclosed a great number of fish” (συνέκλεισαν). The overflowing nets become a living parable: as the catch is gathered into the boat, so Jesus will gather people into the kingdom. The confinement of the fish anticipates the inescapable call of discipleship—no one caught by Christ remains in the sea of the world. Pauline Theology of Enclosure 1. Romans 11:32 – “For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone”. Paul frames disobedience as a divine enclosure. Jew and Gentile alike are shut in so that mercy can be shown alike, preserving God’s impartiality and covenant faithfulness. Universal Enclosure Under Sin Paul’s threefold use forms a progression: Together they affirm that sin’s dominion is total and that no ethnic, moral, or religious distinction can break the bars. The universality of guilt magnifies the universality of mercy. Law, Scripture, and Custody Scripture and Law are personified as jailers. They expose sin (Romans 3:20), define its penalties (Deuteronomy 27:26), and lock the sinner in a condition of helplessness. Yet they do so under divine supervision, ensuring that the prison door will swing open when faith arrives. Purpose of Divine Confinement • To reveal human inability (Romans 7:24). Release Through Faith in Jesus Christ The same God who confines also liberates. Faith in Christ is the key that turns the lock: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Justification is pictured not merely as acquittal but as emancipation from a cosmic prison. Intertextual Links with the Old Testament • Lamentations 3:7 – Jeremiah speaks of being “walled in.” These prophetic images foreshadow the New Testament theme: captivity precedes restoration (Isaiah 61:1). Historical Reception • Early church catechesis employed Galatians 3 to contrast Law and Gospel. Pastoral and Missional Implications 1. Evangelism: Proclaim both confinement and release. Conviction of sin is the Spirit’s prison; the gospel is the door. Worship and Discipleship Application • Confession: corporate acknowledgment of universal sinfulness reflects Romans 11:32. Summary Strong’s 4788 sketches a movement from confinement to freedom. Whether fish in a net or sinners behind bars, the purpose is not destruction but redemption. God shuts in so that He may bring out, silencing every boast and magnifying the riches of His mercy in Jesus Christ. Englishman's Concordance Luke 5:6 V-AIA-3PGRK: τοῦτο ποιήσαντες συνέκλεισαν πλῆθος ἰχθύων NAS: this, they enclosed a great KJV: done, they inclosed a great INT: this having done they enclosed a multitude of fishes Romans 11:32 V-AIA-3S Galatians 3:22 V-AIA-3S Galatians 3:23 V-PPM/P-NMP Strong's Greek 4788 |
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