4801. suzeugnumi

Lexical Summary

suzeugnumi: To join together, to yoke together

Original Word: συζεύγνυμι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: suzeugnumi
Pronunciation: soo-zyoog'-noo-mee
Phonetic Spelling: (sood-zyoog'-noo-mee)
KJV: join together
NASB: joined together
Word Origin: [from G4862 (σύν - along) and the base of G2201 (ζεῦγος - pair)]

1. to yoke together
2. (figuratively) conjoin (in marriage)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

join together.

From sun and the base of zeugos; to yoke together, i.e. (figuratively) conjoin (in marriage) -- join together.

see GREEK sun

see GREEK zeugos

HELPS Word-studies

4801 syzeúgnymi (from 4862 /sýn, "identified with" and 2201 /zeúgos, "yoke") – properly, jointly-yoked; yoked (paired) together, when God joins two people together for one purpose (Mt 19:6; Mk 10:9).

4801 /syzeúgnymi ("closely-yoked") is only used for marriage in the NT – a union in which a husband and wife live better for the Lord together, than either would do alone.

["The word for 'joined together' means 'yoked together,' a common verb for marriage in ancient Greek" (WP, 1, 154).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sun and the same as zugos
Definition
to yoke together
NASB Translation
joined together (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4801: συζεύγνυμι

συζεύγνυμι: 1 aorist συνέζευξα; from Euripides, and Xenophon down; properly, to fasten to one yoke, yoke together: ἵππους, Xenophon, Cyril 2, 2, 26; tropically, to join together, unite: τί or τινα, of the marriage tie, Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9 (νόμος συζευγνυς ἄνδρα καί γυναῖκα, Xenophon, oec. 7, 30, and often so in Greek writings).

Topical Lexicon

Semantic Range Within Scripture

While the term depicts the action of yoking or coupling two entities, its New Testament use narrows to the sacred act by which God unites husband and wife into one flesh. The verb therefore conveys more than physical pairing; it expresses a divine fusion, a covenantal oneness instituted and guarded by the Creator Himself.

Occurrences in the New Testament

Matthew 19:6 and Mark 10:9 each record Jesus’ citation of Genesis 2:24 when answering questions about divorce. Both Evangelists preserve the aorist form, underscoring a completed action performed by God at the moment of marriage:

“Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Matthew 19:6)

The repetition across two Gospels heightens the authoritative weight carried by the expression and anchors Christian teaching on marriage in the words of Jesus.

Theological Significance of Divine Joining

1. Origin in Creation: Jesus’ reference to Genesis relocates marriage from social convention to divine ordinance, reaffirming that the original design for humanity involves a divinely wrought unity.
2. Covenant, not Contract: The verb depicts God Himself as active agent. Marriage is therefore covenantal—rooted in His promise and purpose—rather than a mere human agreement subject to renegotiation.
3. Indissolubility: Because God performs the joining, human authority lacks the right to dissolve it arbitrarily. The command, “let man not separate,” flows logically from the divine action signified by the verb.

Marriage as a Living Picture of Redemption

Ephesians 5:31–32 echoes the Genesis citation and reveals that marriage portrays Christ’s union with the Church. The same joining concept illumines the mystery of salvation—believers are spiritually united to Christ in a bond that He initiates and secures.

Historical and Rabbinic Background

First-century debates between the schools of Hillel and Shammai focused on permissible grounds for divorce. By invoking this verb, Jesus transcends casuistry, recalling hearers to God’s creative intent. His teaching confronted lax practices tolerated under civil accommodations but inconsistent with Scripture’s foundational narrative.

Implications for Ministry and Pastoral Care

• Premarital counseling: Stressing that marriage entails a divine act encourages couples to enter the covenant with reverence and permanence in view.
• Conflict resolution: Pastors appeal to the reality that God Himself joined the spouses, motivating reconciliation rather than dissolution.
• Defense of Marriage: The doctrine strengthens the church’s witness amid cultural pressures to redefine or diminish marriage.
• Comfort for the Faithful: Spouses persevering through hardship find assurance that their union rests on God’s work, not merely human feeling.

Related Biblical Themes

• One Flesh (Genesis 2:24; 1 Corinthians 6:16)
• Covenant Faithfulness (Malachi 2:14-16)
• Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:25-32)
• Prohibition of Separation (Romans 7:2-3)

Summary

Strong’s Greek 4801 symbolizes God’s sovereign act of fusing two lives into an indivisible unity. Through its limited but potent New Testament usage, Scripture anchors marriage in creation, enjoins lifelong fidelity, and foreshadows the redemptive union of Christ and His people.

Forms and Transliterations

συνεζευγμέναι συνεζευξεν συνέζευξεν sunezeuxen synezeuxen synézeuxen

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 19:6 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ὁ θεὸς συνέζευξεν ἄνθρωπος μὴ
NAS: God has joined together, let no
KJV: God hath joined together, let
INT: God united together man not

Mark 10:9 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ὁ θεὸς συνέζευξεν ἄνθρωπος μὴ
NAS: God has joined together, let no
KJV: God hath joined together, let
INT: God united together man not

Strong's Greek 4801
2 Occurrences

συνέζευξεν — 2 Occ.