4874. sunanamignumi

Lexical Summary

sunanamignumi: To associate with, to mix with, to mingle with.

Original Word: συναναμίγνυμι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sunanamignumi
Pronunciation: soo-nan-am-IG-noo-mee
Phonetic Spelling: (soon-an-am-ig'-noo-mee)
KJV: (have, keep) company (with)
NASB: associate
Word Origin: [from G4862 (σύν - along) and a compound of G303 (ἀνά - each) and G3396 (μίγνυμι - mixed)]

1. to mix up together
2. (figurative) associate with

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

associate, keep company with.

From sun and a compound of ana and mignumi; to mix up together, i.e. (figurative) associate with -- (have, keep) company (with).

see GREEK sun

see GREEK ana

see GREEK mignumi

HELPS Word-studies

4874 synanamígnymi (from 4862 /sýn, "identified with"; 303 /aná, "up, finishing a process"; and 3396 /mígnymi, "mix") – properly, mix-closely-together to influence, "associate intimately with" (Souter).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sun and a comp. of ana and mignumi
Definition
to mix up together, hence to associate with
NASB Translation
associate (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4874: συναναμίγνυμι

συναναμίγνυμι: to mix up together; passive, present imperative 2 person plural συναναμίγνυσθε; infinitive συναναμίγνυσθαι; reflexive and metaphorically, τίνι, to keep company with, be intimate with, one: 1 Corinthians 5:9, 11; 2 Thessalonians 3:14 (here R T συναναμίγνυσθε, L Tr WH συναναμίγνυσθαι). (Plutarch, Philop. 21; (the Sept. Hosea 7:8, Alex.).)

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Overview

Strong’s Greek 4874 designates a verb that describes deliberate association, particularly the close mingling of personal life, table fellowship and shared activity. In the New Testament the term is employed with a negative particle, conveying the charge “do not associate,” and always concerns believers’ relationships with professing Christians who persist in disobedience.

Occurrences in the New Testament

• 1 Corinthians 5:9 – Paul’s earlier letter had already urged the Corinthians “not to associate with sexually immoral people.”
• 1 Corinthians 5:11 – Paul sharpens the application: “But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.”
• 2 Thessalonians 3:14 – Applied beyond moral scandal to willful disregard of apostolic teaching: “Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.”

Contextual Background

1. Jewish precedents: Israel’s covenant life required separation from uncleanness (Leviticus 20:24–26; Ezra 9:1–4). Shared meals symbolized covenant loyalty, so withdrawal from the table signified broken fellowship.
2. Greco-Roman setting: Banquets solidified social status and religious allegiance. To abstain from eating with someone was a public statement.
3. Early church practice: Baptism admitted one to the Lord’s Table, the visible center of fellowship. Discipline that removed a person from common meals and from the Supper underscored holiness within the household of faith.

Theological Themes

• Holiness of the body of Christ – The church is God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17); unchecked sin defiles the whole community (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
• Distinction between insiders and outsiders – Paul clarifies he is not commanding withdrawal from unbelievers (1 Corinthians 5:10); rather, covenant boundaries govern relationships among professing believers.
• Redemptive intent – Separation is medicinal, aimed at producing shame that leads to repentance (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). The offender is still regarded “as a brother,” not an enemy.

Church Discipline and Fellowship

1. Initial private warnings (Matthew 18:15).
2. Escalation to public admonition.
3. Formal separation expressed by refusing ordinary social and communal meals, including the Lord’s Table.
4. Goal: restoration upon genuine repentance (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).

Restorative Purpose of Separation

• The shame created by lost fellowship is designed to awaken conscience.
• Corporate purity is preserved while safeguarding the gospel’s witness.
• Love is expressed by refusing to enable destructive behavior (Hebrews 12:11).

Historical and Cultural Considerations

• Didache 15 and early church orders reflect similar restrictions, limiting table fellowship with those living immorally.
• Patristic writers (e.g., Cyprian, Augustine) viewed exclusion from communion as the gravest earthly censure short of final judgment.
• Reformers patterned church membership and the Lord’s Supper on these passages, linking discipline to the “marks” of a true church.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Membership vows should include accountability to biblical standards of life and doctrine.
• Discipline must be carried out by the gathered church under elder oversight, marked by humility and clear evidence.
• Restoration should be celebrated publicly to affirm forgiveness and unity.
• Believers must distinguish between necessary separation from unrepentant members and evangelistic engagement with the world (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

Related Concepts and Scriptures

• “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
• “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
• “Keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21)

Summary

Strong’s Greek 4874 underscores a disciplined refusal to share life, meals and ministry with professed believers who persist in overt sin or rebellion against apostolic teaching. Scripture presents this action not as punitive isolation but as a loving, redemptive measure that upholds the holiness of the church and seeks the offender’s repentance, thereby preserving both gospel integrity and communal joy.

Forms and Transliterations

συναναμιγνυσθαι συναναμίγνυσθαι συναναμίγνυσθε συνανεμίγνυτο συνανμίξεων sunanamignusthai synanamignysthai synanamígnysthai

Englishman's Concordance

1 Corinthians 5:9 V-PNM
GRK: ἐπιστολῇ μὴ συναναμίγνυσθαι πόρνοις
NAS: you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
KJV: not to company with fornicators:
INT: letter not to associate with the sexually immoral

1 Corinthians 5:11 V-PNM
GRK: ὑμῖν μὴ συναναμίγνυσθαι ἐάν τις
NAS: I wrote to you not to associate with any
KJV: not to keep company, if
INT: to you not to associate with [him] if anyone

2 Thessalonians 3:14 V-PNM
GRK: σημειοῦσθε μὴ συναναμίγνυσθαι αὐτῷ ἵνα
NAS: of that person and do not associate with him, so
KJV: have no company with him, that
INT: take note not to mix with him that

Strong's Greek 4874
3 Occurrences

συναναμίγνυσθαι — 3 Occ.