Lexical Summary suniémi: To understand, to comprehend, to perceive Original Word: συνίημι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance understand, be wise. From sun and hiemi (to send); to put together, i.e. (mentally) to comprehend; by implication, to act piously -- consider, understand, be wise. see GREEK sun HELPS Word-studies 4920 syníēmi (from 4862 /sýn, "together with" and hiēmi, "put, send") – properly, put together, i.e. join facts (ideas) into a comprehensive (inter-locking) whole; synthesize. 4920 /syníēmi ("put facts together") means to arrive at a summary or final understanding (complete with life-applications). Accordingly, 4920 (syníēmi) is closely connected with discerning and doing "the preferred-will of God" (2307 /thélēma). Eph 5:17: "So then do not be foolish (878 /áphrōn), but understand (4920 /syníēmi) what the preferred-will (2307 /thélēma) of the Lord is (2307 /thélēma)." NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and hiémi (to send) Definition to set together, fig. to understand NASB Translation gained...insight (1), understand (17), understanding (1), understands (2), understood (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4920: συνιέωσυνιέω, see συνίημι. STRONGS NT 4920: συνίημισυνίημι, 2 person plural συνίετε, 3 person plural συνιοῦσιν (Matthew 13:13 R G T; 2 Corinthians 10:12 Rec., from the unused form συνιέω), and συνιᾶσιν (2 Corinthians 10:12 L T Tr WH), and συνιοῦσιν (Matthew 13:13 L Tr WH from the unused (συνιω), subjunctive 3 person plural συνιῶσι (R G L T Tr in Mark 4:12 and Luke 8:10, from the unused συνιέω or from συνίημι) and συνιῶσι (WH in Mark and Luke the passages cited, from the unused συνιω), imperative 2 person plural συνίετε, infinitive συνιέναι, participle συνίων (Romans 3:11 R G T from συιέω), and συνίων (Romans 3:11 L Tr WH, and often in the Sept., from συνιω), and συνίεις (Matthew 13:23 L T Tr WH; Ephesians 5:17 R G; but quite erroneously συνίων, Griesbach in Matthew, the passage cited (Alford on Romans 3:11; cf. WHs Appendix, p. 167; Tdf. Proleg., p. 122); Winers Grammar, 81 (77f); Buttmann, 48 (42); Fritzsche on Rom. vol. i., p. 174f); future συνήσω (Romans 15:21); 1 aorist συνῆκα; 2 aorist subjunctive συνῆτε, συνῶσι, imperative 2 person plural σύνετε (Mark 7:14 L T Tr WH); (σύν, and ἵημι to send); 1. properly, to set or bring together, in a hostile sense, of combatants, Homer, Iliad 1, 8; 7, 210. 2. to put (as it were) the perception with the thing perceived; to set or join together in the mind, i. e. to understand (so from Homer down; the Sept. for בִּין and הִשְׂכִּיל): with an accusative of the thing, Matthew 13:23, 51; Luke 2:50; Luke 18:34; Luke 24:45; followed by ὅτι, Matthew 16:12; Matthew 17:13; followed by an indirect question, Ephesians 5:17; ἐπί τοῖς ἄρτοις, 'on the loaves' as the basis of their reasoning (see ἐπί, B. 2 a. α.), Mark 6:52; where what is understood is evident from the preceding context, Matthew 13:19; Matthew 15:10; Mark 7:14; absolutely, Matthew 13:13-15; Matthew 15:10; Mark 4:12; Mark 8:17, 21; Luke 8:10; Acts 7:25; Acts 28:26; Romans 15:21; 2 Corinthians 10:12; ὁ συνίων or συνίων as a substantive, (Buttmann, 295 (253f); Winers Grammar, 109 (104)), the man of understanding, Hebraistically equivalent to a good and upright-man (as having knowledge of those things which pertain to salvation; see μωρός): Romans 3:11 (from Psalm 13:2 Syniēmi (Strong’s Greek 4920) expresses the action of “setting together” thoughts so that genuine comprehension is reached. In the New Testament it consistently portrays a level of perception deeper than mere information-gathering; it is spiritual insight granted or withheld by God and verified by obedient response. Occurrences and Narrative Flow 1. Teaching in Parables (Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8) Jesus repeatedly associates syniēmi with the hearer’s response to parables. “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear” (Matthew 13:16). The disciples are distinguished from the crowds precisely because they “understand” (Matthew 13:23). By citing Isaiah 6 (Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10), He shows that the inability to understand is a judicial consequence of persistent unbelief. 2. Miraculous Feedings and Hardened Hearts (Mark 6:52; 8:17-21) After the feeding of the five thousand the Twelve “had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:52). Jesus’ triple question, “Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8:17, 21), exposes the disciples’ spiritual dullness even while walking with Him daily. 3. Instruction on Defilement (Matthew 15:10; Mark 7:14) Jesus calls the crowd to “understand” that true uncleanness proceeds from the heart, preparing the way for the gospel to cross ceremonial boundaries. 4. Prophetic Identity and Messianic Mission (Matthew 16:12; 17:13; Luke 2:50; 24:45) The disciples move from confusion to clarity about Jesus’ person and mission. “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45), revealing the risen Christ as the hermeneutical key to the Old Testament. 5. Early Church Witness (Acts 7:25-28, 26-27; 28:26-27) Stephen assumed the Israelites would “understand” that God was delivering them by Moses’ hand (Acts 7:25), illustrating a pattern: divine acts are often misread. Paul’s final word to the Jews in Rome repeats Isaiah 6, lamenting that they “will hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they might understand with their hearts” (Acts 28:27). 6. Pauline Theology and Exhortation (Romans 3:11; 15:21; 2 Corinthians 10:12; Ephesians 5:17) Paul cites Scripture to declare universal depravity: “There is no one who understands” (Romans 3:11). Yet missionary hope persists: “Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand” (Romans 15:21). Believers are urged, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:17), showing that Spirit-wrought insight is expected in daily conduct. Theological Significance • Divine Initiative and Human Responsibility Understanding is both commanded (“Understand,” Matthew 15:10) and bestowed by God (Luke 24:45). Scripture holds these in tension: the call to seek wisdom and the necessity of divine illumination. • Connection to Covenant Faithfulness In Isaiah’s oracle, failure to understand marks covenant breach; in the Gospels, the same text underscores the new covenant’s inauguration. Acceptance of Jesus brings restored understanding, fulfilling Jeremiah 31:34. • Indicator of Heart Condition Hardened hearts (Mark 6:52) cannot synthesize God’s acts; open hearts receive further revelation (Matthew 13:12). Understanding, therefore, is a barometer of spiritual health. • Missional Horizon Paul’s citation in Romans 15:21 establishes comprehension among the nations as the goal of gospel proclamation. Syniēmi thus supports the Great Commission by depicting the desired outcome—insight that leads to faith. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Prayer for Illumination Following Jesus’ pattern (Luke 24:45), preachers and teachers pray that hearers’ minds be opened. 2. Expository Teaching Clear, text-rooted exposition aims at understanding, moving from information to transformation. 3. Diagnostic Preaching Confronting spiritual apathy mirrors Jesus’ rebukes (“Do you still not understand?”). Loving correction exposes hardness and invites repentance. 4. Discipleship and Obedience Genuine understanding bears fruit (Matthew 13:23). Ministries should measure effectiveness not merely by knowledge gained but by obedient living. Historical Reception Early church fathers linked syniēmi to the spiritual sense (sensus spiritualis) of Scripture, while Reformers stressed the plain meaning attended by the Spirit’s illumination. Throughout church history, revivals have featured renewed ability to “understand the Scriptures,” echoing Luke 24:45. Summary Syniēmi encapsulates the New Testament’s doctrine of understanding: God grants perceptive insight through His Word and Spirit; human beings are accountable to respond; and true comprehension manifests in trust and obedience. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 13:13 V-PIA-3PGRK: ἀκούουσιν οὐδὲ συνίουσιν NAS: nor do they understand. KJV: not, neither do they understand. INT: they hear nor do they understand Matthew 13:14 V-AS-2P Matthew 13:15 V-ASA-3P Matthew 13:19 V-PPA-GMS Matthew 13:23 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 13:51 V-AIA-2P Matthew 15:10 V-PMA-2P Matthew 16:12 V-AIA-3P Matthew 17:13 V-AIA-3P Mark 4:12 V-PSA-3P Mark 6:52 V-AIA-3P Mark 7:14 V-AM-2P Mark 8:17 V-PIA-2P Mark 8:21 V-PIA-2P Luke 2:50 V-AIA-3P Luke 8:10 V-PSA-3P Luke 18:34 V-AIA-3P Luke 24:45 V-PNA Acts 7:25 V-PNA Acts 7:25 V-AIA-3P Acts 28:26 V-AS-2P Acts 28:27 V-ASA-3P Romans 3:11 V-PPA-NMS Romans 15:21 V-FI-3P 2 Corinthians 10:12 V-PIA-3P Strong's Greek 4920 |
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