4907. sunesis

Strong's Lexicon

sunesis: Understanding, insight, intelligence

Original Word: σύνεσις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: sunesis
Pronunciation: soo'-neh-sis
Phonetic Spelling: (soon'-es-is)
Definition: Understanding, insight, intelligence
Meaning: a putting together in the mind, hence: understanding, practical discernment, intellect.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb συνίημι (suniēmi), meaning "to bring together" or "to understand."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - בִּינָה (binah): Often translated as "understanding" or "insight," this Hebrew term shares a similar meaning and is used in contexts that emphasize discernment and comprehension (e.g., Proverbs 2:3, "If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding").

Usage: In the New Testament, "sunesis" refers to the ability to comprehend, discern, or have insight into matters, particularly spiritual truths. It implies a deep, thoughtful understanding that goes beyond mere knowledge, encompassing the ability to apply wisdom in practical situations. This term is often associated with spiritual maturity and the discernment necessary for living a life pleasing to God.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, "sunesis" was highly valued as a trait of philosophers and wise individuals. It was considered essential for making sound judgments and decisions. In the Jewish tradition, understanding was seen as a gift from God, integral to living according to His will. The early Christian community adopted this concept, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in granting believers the insight needed to grasp the mysteries of the faith.

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 4907 sýnesis (from 4920 /syníēmi) – properly, facts joined together for holistic understanding, i.e. synthesized reasoning that joins implicit (indirect) truths for comprehension. See also 4920 (syníēmi).

For the believer, this "connects the dots" through sanctified, inductive reasoning (done under God). This positive use of 4907 /sýnesis ("synthesized understanding") occurs in: Mk 12:23; Lk 2:47; Eph 3:4; Col 1:9,22; 2 Tim 2:7.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from suniémi
Definition
a running together, spec. understanding
NASB Translation
cleverness (1), insight (1), understanding (5).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4907: σύνεσις

σύνεσις, συνέσεως, ἡ (συνίημι, which see);

1. a running together, a flowing together: of two rivers, Homer, Odyssey 10, 515.

2.

a. from Pindar down, understanding: Luke 2:47; 1 Corinthians 1:19 (from Isaiah 29:14); Ephesians 3:4; Colossians 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:7; πνευματικῇ, Colossians 1:9.

b. the understanding, i. e. the mind so far forth as it understands: Mark 12:33; Wis. 4:11. (The Sept. for בִּינָה, תֲּבוּנָה, דַּעַת, מַדַע , שֵׂכֶל, etc.; also for מַשׂכִיל, a poem.) (Synonym: see σοφία, at the end; cf. Lightfoot on Colossians 1:9; Schmidt, chapter 147, 8.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

knowledge, understanding.

From suniemi; a mental putting together, i.e. Intelligence or (concretely) the intellect -- knowledge, understanding.

see GREEK suniemi

Forms and Transliterations

συνεσει συνέσει συνέσεσι συνεσεως συνέσεως συνεσιν σύνεσιν σύνεσίν σύνεσις συνεταιρίδες συνεταίρω συνετιεί συνετίζοντες συνετίσαι συνετίσαί συνετίσαντά συνέτισέ συνέτισον συνέτισόν συνετίω sunesei suneseos suneseōs sunesin synesei synései syneseos syneseōs synéseos synéseōs synesin sýnesin sýnesín

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 12:33 N-GFS
GRK: ὅλης τῆς συνέσεως καὶ ἐξ
NAS: AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL
KJV: with all the understanding, and with
INT: all the understanding and with

Luke 2:47 N-DFS
GRK: ἐπὶ τῇ συνέσει καὶ ταῖς
NAS: Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
KJV: at his understanding and answers.
INT: at the understanding and the

1 Corinthians 1:19 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν
NAS: OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER
KJV: will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
INT: and the intelligence of the intelligent ones

Ephesians 3:4 N-AFS
GRK: νοῆσαι τὴν σύνεσίν μου ἐν
NAS: understand my insight into the mystery
KJV: understand my knowledge in the mystery
INT: to understand the understanding of me in

Colossians 1:9 N-DFS
GRK: σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ
NAS: spiritual wisdom and understanding,
KJV: and spiritual understanding;
INT: wisdom and understanding spiritual

Colossians 2:2 N-GFS
GRK: πληροφορίας τῆς συνέσεως εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν
NAS: that comes from the full assurance of understanding, [resulting] in a true knowledge
KJV: of the full assurance of understanding, to
INT: full assurance of understanding to [the] knowledge

2 Timothy 2:7 N-AFS
GRK: ὁ κύριος σύνεσιν ἐν πᾶσιν
NAS: will give you understanding in everything.
KJV: give thee understanding in all things.
INT: the Lord understanding in all things

Strong's Greek 4907
7 Occurrences

συνέσει — 2 Occ.
συνέσεως — 2 Occ.
σύνεσιν — 3 Occ.