Lexical Summary sundeó: To bind together, to join, to unite Original Word: συνδέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be a fellow-prisonerFrom sun and deo; to bind with, i.e. (passively) be a fellow-prisoner (figuratively) -- be bound with. see GREEK sun see GREEK deo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4887 syndéō – properly, to bind (closely) together, like prisoners are in jail. See 4886 (syndesmos). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and deó Definition to bind together NASB Translation prison (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4887: συνδέωσυνδέω: in Greek authors from Homer down; 1. to tie together, to bind together. 2. to bind or fasten on all sides. 3. to bind just as (i. e. jointly with) another: perfect passive participle ὡς συνδεδεμένοι, as fellow-prisoners (A. V. as bound with them), Hebrews 13:3 (συνδεδεμενος τῷ ὀινοχόω, Josephus, Antiquities 2, 5, 3). The term functions as a vivid metaphor for believers who willingly regard themselves as linked to fellow Christians undergoing imprisonment or persecution. It portrays more than sympathy; it is the deliberate choice to regard another’s chains as one’s own, a tangible expression of the unity of the body of Christ. Usage in Hebrews 13:3 “Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” (Hebrews 13:3) Here the writer exhorts the congregation to practice mindful solidarity. The participial form communicates an ongoing posture: keep on thinking, praying, and acting as people actually tied to the captives. The verse joins two commands—remembering the imprisoned and identifying with the mistreated—showing that physical bonds and other forms of affliction alike demand corporate concern. Biblical Theology of Shared Suffering 1. Union with Christ: Because believers are “members of His body” (Ephesians 5:30), any suffering borne by one member implicates all (1 Corinthians 12:26). Historical Background of Prison Ministry Roman incarceration often involved squalid conditions, with food and necessities provided only by friends. Early Christians developed organized care—sending food, clothing, and letters, and interceding in prayer. The Letter to the Philippians itself is a thank-you for such aid. First-century sources outside Scripture (e.g., Ignatius, the Martyrdom of Polycarp) confirm that visiting believers in chains became a hallmark of Christian witness. Apostolic Model Paul styled himself “an ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:20) and closed Colossians with, “Remember my chains” (Colossians 4:18). Though the precise Greek differs, the concept mirrors Hebrews 13:3: believers were to feel joined to Paul’s restraints, not detached observers. When Onesiphorus “often refreshed” the imprisoned apostle (2 Timothy 1:16-17), he lived out the same principle of shared bondage. Christological Dimensions The Gospel places Christ at the center of all affliction: He was arrested, bound, and led away (John 18:12). His followers, therefore, are summoned to embrace those in bonds as they would embrace Him. This inter-identification magnifies the doctrine of substitution: while Christ bore our sins, we now bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Practical Ministry Application • Intercession: Regular, informed prayer lists for persecuted believers. Related Scriptures for Further Study Matthew 25:36; Luke 4:18; Acts 12:5; Acts 16:25-34; Romans 12:15; 2 Corinthians 1:6-7; 2 Corinthians 11:23; Philippians 1:7; 1 Peter 3:14. Implications for the Modern Church Hebrews 13:3 confronts contemporary congregations with the global reality of persecution. Digital communication and travel reduce excuses for ignorance. The verse also shapes pastoral care for local believers facing incarceration from non-religious causes, encouraging restorative relationships rather than mere charitable distance. Summary Strong’s Greek 4887 captures the New Testament call to live as spiritually handcuffed to persecuted Christians. It evokes the inseparable unity of the body, the example of the apostles, and the mission of the church to remember, identify with, and actively relieve the suffering of those who bear chains for the name of Jesus Christ. Englishman's Concordance Hebrews 13:3 V-RPM/P-NMPGRK: δεσμίων ὡς συνδεδεμένοι τῶν κακουχουμένων NAS: as though in prison with them, [and] those KJV: as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, INT: of prisoners as bound with [them] those being mistreated |
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