Lexical Summary sunagó: To gather, to bring together, to assemble Original Word: συνάγω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to gather togetherFrom sun and ago; to lead together, i.e. Collect or convene; specially, to entertain (hospitably) -- + accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in. see GREEK sun see GREEK ago NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and agó Definition to lead together, i.e. bring together, hence come together (pass.), entertain NASB Translation assemble (1), assembled (5), came together (1), convened (1), gather (10), gather...together (2), gather together (1), gathered (9), gathered...together (3), gathered together (14), gathered...together (1), gathering (3), gathering together (1), invite (2), invited (1), met (2), store (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4863: συνάγωσυνάγω; future συνάξω; 2 aorist συνήγαγον; passive, present συνάγομαι; perfect participle συνηγμενος; 1 aorist συνήχθην; 1 future συναχθήσομαι; from Homer down; the Sept. chiefly for אָסַף, קָבַץ, and קִבֵּץ; a. to gather together, to gather: with an accusative of the thing, Luke 15:13; John 6:12; John 15:6; harvests, ὅθεν, Matthew 25:24, 26; with εἰς τί added, Matthew 3:12; Matthew 6:26; Matthew 13:30; Luke 3:17; ποῦ, Luke 12:17; ἐκεῖ, Luke 12:18; συνάγειν καρπόν εἰς ζωήν αἰώνιον (see καρπός, 2 d.), John 4:36; συνάγω μετά τίνος, Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23; to draw together, collect: fishes — of a net in which they are caught, Matthew 13:47. b. to bring together, assemble, collect: αἰχμαλωσίαν (i. e. αἰχμαλώτους), Revelation 13:10 R G; εἰς αἰχμαλωσίαν, i. e. τινας, οἱ ὦσιν αἰχμάλωτοι, Revelation 13:10 L, small edition; to join together, join in one (those previously separated): τά τέκνα τοῦ Θεοῦ τά διεσκορπισμένα εἰς ἕν, John 11:52 (σύ ἄξειν εἰς ἕν τά ἔθνη καί ποιήσειν φιλίαν, Dionysius Halicarnassus 2, 45; ὅπως εἰς φιλίαν συναξουσι τά ἔθνη, ibid.); to gather together by convoking: τινας, Matthew 2:4; Matthew 22:10; συνέδριον, John 11:47; τήν ἐκκλησίαν, Acts 14:27; τό πλῆθος, Acts 15:30; τινας εἰς with an accusative of place, Revelation 16:16; εἰς τόν πόλεμον, in order to engage in war, Revelation 16:14; Revelation 20:8; ἐπί τινα, unto one, Matthew 27:27. Passive to be gathered, i. e. come together, gather, meet (cf. Buttmann, 52 (45)): absolutely, Matthew 22:41; Matthew 27:17; Mark 2:2; Luke 22:66; Acts 13:44; Acts 15:6; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 5:4; Revelation 19:19; with the addition of εἰς and an accusative of place, Matthew 26:3; Acts 4:5; εἰς δεῖπνον, Revelation 19:17; ἔμπροσθεν τίνος, Matthew 25:32; ἐπί τινα, unto one, Mark 5:21; ἐπί τό αὐτό (see αὐτός, III. 1), Matthew 22:34; Acts 4:26; ἐπί τινα, against one, Acts 4:27; πρός τινα, unto one, Matthew 13:2; Matthew 27:62; Mark 4:1; Mark 6:30; Mark 7:1; ἐν with the dative of the place, Acts 4:31; ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησία, Acts 11:26; μετά τίνος, Matthew 28:12; with adverbs of place: οὗ, Matthew 18:20; Acts 20:8; ὅπου, Matthew 26:57; John 20:19 R G; ἐκεῖ, John 18:2; Matthew 24:28; Luke 17:37 R G L. c. to lead with oneself namely, unto one's home, i. e. to receive hospitably, to entertain (A. V. to take in): ξένον, Matthew 25:35, 38, 43 (with the addition of εἰς τήν οἰκίαν, εἰς τόν οἶκον, Deuteronomy 22:2; Joshua 2:18; Judges 19:18, etc.). (Compare: ἐπισυνάγω.) The verb occurs fifty-nine times across the New Testament, appearing in every Gospel, Acts, one Pauline epistle, and Revelation. It embraces physical, social, and eschatological gatherings—ranging from harvest produce (Matthew 6:26) to the final assembly of nations (Revelation 20:8). Gathering of Worshipers: Synagogue and Church From early Judaism the idea of gathering set the pattern for corporate worship. The root supplies the name “synagogue,” and New Testament usage traces a line from Jewish meetings (Matthew 4:23; Acts 13:44) to Christian assemblies. In Acts 14:27 Paul and Barnabas “gathered the church together” to report God’s work among the Gentiles, foreshadowing regular congregational meetings. The definitive promise of Christ’s presence, “For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20), makes every Christian assembly a sacred event governed by His authority. Gathering of Crowds Around Jesus The Synoptic writers repeatedly describe multitudes converging on Jesus (Mark 4:1; Mark 5:21; Matthew 13:2). These scenes highlight His magnetic authority and prepare for the dispersed ingathering of believers after the resurrection (John 20:19; Acts 1:14). Conversely, hostile leaders also “gathered together” to plot His death (Matthew 26:3; John 11:47), revealing that gatherings may serve either divine or opposing purposes. Instruction and Decision-Making Councils The verb marks formal deliberations: the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:6, thirty) convened to resolve doctrinal conflict; local elders at Miletus “were gathered” with Paul for final exhortation (Acts 20:17–38, context); and rulers in Jerusalem “were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ” (Acts 4:26). In every case gathering signals decisive moments for the covenant community, whether faithful or rebellious. Harvest and Agricultural Imagery Agricultural contexts underline themes of responsibility and judgment. Farmers “gather” wheat into barns (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17), birds “neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns” yet are fed by the Father (Matthew 6:26), and servants are ordered, “‘First collect the weeds … then gather the wheat into my barn’” (Matthew 13:30). The dragnet parable pictures fishermen gathering every kind of fish before final separation (Matthew 13:47–48). These images assure believers of God’s care, warn of impending judgment, and encourage diligent labor in the present age (John 4:36). Salvation-Historical Ingathering John records the prophetic purpose that Jesus would “gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:52). Pentecost fulfills this impulse as disciples “were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1) and then form a growing, gathered community (Acts 4:31). Paul’s epistles echo this unity, instructing Corinth to act “when you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:4). Eschatological Gatherings of Nations and Powers The verb reaches its climax in Revelation. Unclean spirits “go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for battle on the great day of God the Almighty” (Revelation 16:14), culminating at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). Later, Satan is released “to deceive the nations … to gather them for battle” (Revelation 20:8). Simultaneously, an angel summons birds to “gather for the great supper of God” (Revelation 19:17). Thus the same word that pictures Christ’s flock also portrays the mustering of His foes, underscoring the decisive division between those who gather with Him and those who scatter (Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23). Mission and Ministry Application 1. Evangelism: Jesus’ compassion for the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 23:37) drives contemporary mission—believers cooperate with Him in gathering the nations through the gospel. Pastoral Reflection Every appearance of the verb presses a choice: to unite with Christ in worship, mission, and mutual care, or to be found among the scattered and finally the assembled opponents of God. The comfort is sure—Christ Himself gathers, keeps, and will present His people faultless; the warning is equally real—those who refuse His call will be swept into a very different gathering at the last day. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:4 V-APA-NMSGRK: καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς NAS: Gathering together all KJV: of the people together, he demanded INT: And having gathered together all the Matthew 3:12 V-FIA-3S Matthew 6:26 V-PIA-3P Matthew 12:30 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 13:2 V-AIP-3P Matthew 13:30 V-PMA-2P Matthew 13:47 V-APA-DFS Matthew 18:20 V-RPM/P-NMP Matthew 22:10 V-AIA-3P Matthew 22:34 V-AIP-3P Matthew 22:41 V-RPM/P-GMP Matthew 24:28 V-FIP-3P Matthew 25:24 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 25:26 V-PIA-1S Matthew 25:32 V-FIP-3P Matthew 25:35 V-AIA-2P Matthew 25:38 V-AIA-1P Matthew 25:43 V-AIA-2P Matthew 26:3 V-AIP-3P Matthew 26:57 V-AIP-3P Matthew 27:17 V-RPM/P-GMP Matthew 27:27 V-AIA-3P Matthew 27:62 V-AIP-3P Matthew 28:12 V-APP-NMP Mark 2:2 V-AIP-3P Strong's Greek 4863 |
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