Lexical Summary sumphóneó: To agree, to be in harmony, to be of one mind Original Word: συμφωνέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance agree with. From sumphonos; to be harmonious, i.e. (figuratively) to accord (be suitable, concur) or stipulate (by compact) -- agree (together, with). see GREEK sumphonos HELPS Word-studies 4856 symphōnéō (from 4862 /sýn, "together with" and 5456 /phōnḗ, "sound, voice," which is the root of the English word, "symphony") – properly, voicing the same opinion because like-minded. ["4856 (symphōnéō) was originally, a harmony of voices, figuratively, to harmonize with in the sense of to agree with" (Souter), i.e. to be in harmony, agreeing, because in one concord (A-S, so also in Plato, Aristotle). 4856 (symphōnéō) is derived from 4859 (sýmphōnos).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sumphónos Definition to call out with, to be in harmony, generally to agree NASB Translation agree (3), agreed (1), agreed together (1), match (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4856: συμφωνέωσυμφωνέω, συμφώνω; future συμφωνήσω ((Matthew 18:19 T Tr; Luke 5:36 L T Tr text WH)); 1 aorist συνεφώνησα; 1 aorist passive, συνεφωνήθην; from Plato and Aristotle down; properly, to sound together, be in accord; of sounds and of musical instruments. In the N. T. tropically, to be in accord, to harmonize, i. e., a. to agree together: περί (as respects) τίνος, Matthew 18:19 (Dionysius Halicarnassus 2, 47); τίνι, with a thing, Acts 15:15 (often in Greek authors); to agree i. e. correspond, of things congruous in nature, Luke 5:36; passive, συνεφωνήθη ὑμῖν, followed by an infinitive, it was agreed between you to etc. Acts 5:9. b. to agree with one in making a bargain, to make an agreement, to bargain, (Polybius, Diodorus): μετά τίνος ἐκ δηναρίου (see ἐκ, II. 4), Matthew 20:2; with a dative of the person and genitive of the price, ibid. 13, (συνεφώνησεν μετ' αὐτοῦ τριῶν λιτρων ἀσήμου ἀργυρίου, Act. Thom. § 2). The verb translated “agree” portrays more than mutual consent; it evokes the blending of distinct voices into one sound. In Scripture this harmony is never mere human consensus but a union that is measured by truth and oriented toward the will of God. Whether used of a contractual wage, a joint prayer, or the consonance between prophecy and present events, the word always carries a moral or spiritual weight: what is agreed upon must align with divine purpose. Old Covenant Resonances Although the term itself is Greek, the idea echoes covenantal patterns in the Hebrew Scriptures. Israel’s covenants bound parties together under God’s authority, and prophets rebuked any “agreement” that was out of tune with His law (Isaiah 28:15). The New Testament usage assumes this backdrop: agreement becomes valid only when it resonates with God’s revealed standard. Occurrences in the Gospel Narrative 1. Matthew 18:19 links agreement to corporate prayer: “Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.” Here harmony is tri-fold—between believers, their request, and the Father’s will. The promise is not a blank check but an assurance that united petitions aligned with God’s purposes are effective. 2. Matthew 20:2,13 employs the term in a labor contract. The landowner reminds the workers, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius?” The parable illustrates the righteous sovereignty of God who keeps covenant while confounding human calculations of merit. 3. Luke 5:36 depicts a failed match: a new patch “will not agree with the old.” Jesus contrasts the incompatibility of His new covenant with the old ceremonial system. True agreement requires shared substance, not superficial stitching. Agreement in the Early Church Acts supplies both a positive and a negative model. • Acts 15:15: “The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written.” James vindicates the mission to the Gentiles by demonstrating harmony between the present work of God and the written Word. Doctrinal decisions in the church stand or fall on this agreement. • Acts 5:9: Peter asks Sapphira, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Their conspiracy shows that unity in deceit is still rebellion. Agreement that contradicts the Spirit invites judgment, not blessing. Theology of Agreement 1. Boundaries: Agreement becomes binding only when consistent with Scripture and the character of God. Implications for Christian Ministry • Leadership: Decisions should echo the Acts 15 model—consultation, Scripture verification, and corporate assent under the Spirit. Practical Application for Believers 1. Test every proposed agreement—business, marriage, ministry—against Scripture. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 18:19 V-ASA-3PGRK: ἐὰν δύο συμφωνήσωσιν ἐξ ὑμῶν NAS: two of you agree on earth KJV: two of you shall agree on earth INT: if two might agree of of you Matthew 20:2 V-APA-NMS Matthew 20:13 V-AIA-2S Luke 5:36 V-FIA-3S Acts 5:9 V-AIP-3S Acts 15:15 V-PIA-3P Strong's Greek 4856 |
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