Lexical Summary sugcheó or sugchunnó: To confuse, to confound, to mix up, to throw into disorder. Original Word: συγχέω or συγχύννω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance confound, confuse, stir up, be in an uproar. Or sugchuno (soong-khoo'-no) from sun and cheo (to pour) or its alternate; to commingle promiscuously, i.e. (figuratively) to throw (an assembly) into disorder, to perplex (the mind) -- confound, confuse, stir up, be in an uproar. see GREEK sun HELPS Word-studies 4797 sygxéō (from 4862 /sýn, "identified with" and xeō, "to pour") – properly, pour out together, i.e. in combination. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and cheó (to pour) Definition to pour together, i.e. to confuse, throw into confusion NASB Translation bewildered (1), confounding (1), confusion (2), stir (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4797: συγχέωσυγχέω, συγχύνω, and συγχύννω (T WH συνχύννω (cf. σύν, II. at the end)) (see ἐκχέω at the beginning): imperfect, 3 person singular συνέχυνε (Acts 9:22 R G L Tr, συγχυννεν T WH), 3 person plural συνέχεον (Acts 21:27 R G T Tr WH (but some would make this a 2 aorist, see references under the word ἐκχέω, at the beginning)); 1 aorist 3 person plural συνεχεαν (Acts 21:21 L (see ἐκχέω, at the beginning)); passive, present 3 person singular συγ( (T WH συν() χύννεται (Acts 21:31 L T Tr WH); perfect 3 person singular συγκέχυται (Acts 21:31 R G), participle feminine συγ (T WH συν() κεχυμενη (Acts 19:32 R G L T Tr WH); 1 aorist 3 person singular συνεχύθη (Acts 2:6 R G L T Tr WH); from Homer down; to pour together, commingle: ἦν ἡ ἐκκλησία συγκεχυμένη, was irregularly assembled (others, 'in confusion'), Acts 19:32; to disturb, τινα, the mind of one, to stir up to tumult or outbreak, Acts 21:27, 31; to confound or bewilder, Acts 2:6; Acts 9:22. STRONGS NT 4797: συγχύνωσυγχύνω and συγχύννω, see συγχέω. Topical Lexicon Semantic Field and Narrative Function Strong’s Greek 4797 describes a sudden, collective bewilderment in which normal thought and social order are “poured together” and muddled. Luke uses the verb exclusively, making it a signature element of his historiography. Each occurrence marks a decisive turning-point where God’s purpose advances while human plans momentarily dissolve into turmoil. Pentecost: Creative Confusion (Acts 2:6) “At this sound, the crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language” (Acts 2:6). The Spirit-generated sign is first experienced as disorientation. The confusion, however, is not destructive; it compels the multitude to listen to Peter’s sermon, leading to three thousand conversions. What looks chaotic becomes the birth canal of the Church, showing that divine initiative often unsettles before it enlightens. Damascus: Polemical Confusion (Acts 9:22) “Saul grew more and more powerful and confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:22). Here the verb depicts intellectual defeat. Saul’s Spirit-enabled reasoning upends entrenched expectations about Messiah, demonstrating that the gospel does not fear rigorous debate. For ministry, the passage underlines the apologetic power of Scripture when presented with Spirit-given clarity. Ephesus: Civic Confusion (Acts 19:32) “The assembly was in confusion. Some were shouting one thing and some another, and most of them did not even know why they were there” (Acts 19:32). Economic threat to Artemis worship triggers a mob whose irrationality exposes idolatry’s emptiness. The Apostle’s absence—disciples restrain him—shows prudence amid volatility. God preserves His servants while revealing the instability of false religion. Jerusalem Temple Riot: Religious-Political Confusion (Acts 21:27; 21:31) “When the seven days were nearly over, the Jews from Asia saw Paul in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and seized him” (Acts 21:27). “While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the battalion was informed that all Jerusalem was in turmoil” (Acts 21:31). The same city that heard Peter at Pentecost now erupts against Paul. The confusion is self-destructive; Roman intervention rescues the apostle, fulfilling Christ’s promise of witness “before kings.” Opposition, however fierce, cannot derail the divine itinerary that will carry Paul to Rome. Historical Insight First-century urban centers were volatile. Luke’s selective use of 4797 captures the social psychology of crowds lacking gospel stability. Whether religious festival (Jerusalem), commercial hub (Ephesus), or multicultural pilgrimage (Pentecost), the proclamation of Jesus provokes a confusion that becomes the stage for clearer revelation. Theological Reflection 1. God overrules confusion. Each episode of 4797 leads to gospel advance rather than retreat. Pastoral and Missional Application • Expect turbulence when the gospel confronts entrenched error. Connections to the Old Testament The verb echoes Genesis 11, where divine judgment confuses human speech. Luke’s narrative shows a redemptive reversal: temporary confusion at Pentecost culminates in unified understanding through Spirit-empowered proclamation. Summary Strong’s 4797 marks strategic junctures where God’s redemptive plan advances amid human bewilderment. What appears as chaos becomes the canvas for divine sovereignty, calling believers to courageous witness, clear proclamation, and confident trust that the Lord can turn any confusion into an instrument of grace. Forms and Transliterations συγκεχυμένη συγκεχυμένος συγκέχυται συγχεώ συγχέωμεν συγχυθήσεται συγχυθήσονται συγχυθήτωσαν συγχύννεται συνέχεε συνεχεον συνέχεον συνεχυθη συνεχύθη συνεχύθησαν συνέχυνε συνεχυννεν συνέχυννεν συνκεχυμενη συνκεχυμένη συνχυννεται συνχύννεται sunchunnetai sunecheon sunechunnen sunechuthe sunechuthē sunkechumene sunkechumenē synchynnetai syn'chýnnetai synecheon synécheon synechynnen synéchynnen synechythe synechythē synechýthe synechýthē synkechymene synkechymenē syn'kechyméne syn'kechyménēLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 2:6 V-AIP-3SGRK: πλῆθος καὶ συνεχύθη ὅτι ἤκουον NAS: came together, and were bewildered because KJV: and were confounded, because INT: multitude and were confounded because heard Acts 9:22 V-IIA-3S Acts 19:32 V-RPM/P-NFS Acts 21:27 V-IIA-3P Acts 21:31 V-PIM/P-3S Strong's Greek 4797 |
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