4933. suntéreó

Lexical Summary

suntéreó: To preserve, to keep, to maintain, to guard closely

Original Word: συντηρέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: suntéreó
Pronunciation: soon-tay-reh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (soon-tay-reh'-o)
KJV: keep, observe, preserve
NASB: kept safe, preserved, treasured
Word Origin: [from G4862 (σύν - along) and G5083 (τηρέω - keep)]

1. to keep closely together
2. (by implication) to conserve (from ruin)
3. (mentally) to remember (and obey)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

keep, observe, preserve.

From sun and tereo; to keep closely together, i.e. (by implication) to conserve (from ruin); mentally, to remember (and obey) -- keep, observe, preserve.

see GREEK sun

see GREEK tereo

HELPS Word-studies

4933 syntēréō (from 4862 /sýn, "closely together with" and 5083 /tēréō, "guard, keep") – properly, preserve close together (with close care); keep intact (safe).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sun and téreó
Definition
to keep close, i.e. preserve
NASB Translation
kept...safe (1), preserved (1), treasured (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4933: συντηρέω

συντηρέω, συντήρω: imperfect 3 person singular συνετήρει; present passive 3 person plural συντηροῦνται; (from Aristotle, de plant. 1, 1, p. 816a, 8 down);

a. to preserve (a thing from perishing or being lost): τί, passive (opposed to ἀπολλυσθαι), Matthew 9:17; Luke 5:38 (T WH omit; Tr brackets the clause); τινα, to guard one, keep him safe, from a plot, Mark 6:20 (ἑαυτόν ἀναμάρτητον, 2 Macc. 12:42 (cf. Tobit 1:11; Sir. 13:12)).

b. to keep within oneself, keep in mind (a thing, lest it be forgotten (cf. σύν, II. 4)): πάντα τά ῤήματα, Luke 2:19 (τό ῤῆμα ἐν τῇ καρδία μου, Daniel 7:28, Theod.; τήν γνώμην παῥ ἑαυτό, Polybius 31, 6, 5; (absolutely, Sir. 39:2)).

Topical Lexicon

Semantic Range and Conceptual Background

Strong’s Greek 4933 (συντηρέω) gathers two complementary ideas: (1) physical preservation or safe-keeping and (2) mental or spiritual treasuring. In the first‐century Mediterranean world both aspects were valued—farmers and vintners protected produce from spoilage, while disciples memorized and guarded oral teaching. The vocabulary resonates with the Hebrew שָׁמַר (shamar, “keep/guard”), reinforcing the biblical pattern of protecting what is precious, whether tangible goods, prophetic voices, or divine revelations.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. Mark 6:20 — “For Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man”. Herod “kept” John the Baptist, shielding him from Herodias’ immediate wrath. The verb highlights a paradox: an unrighteous ruler is compelled to preserve God’s prophet, illustrating the sovereign restraint of evil until God’s appointed hour (cf. John 19:11).
2. Luke 2:19 — “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart”. Here the verb moves from external shelter to inward meditation. Mary safeguards the angelic and shepherd testimonies, turning them over in holy reflection. The verse models contemplative discipleship—guarding revelation from distraction and forgetfulness.
3. Matthew 9:17 — “Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills, and the wineskins are ruined. Instead, they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved”. The literal sense dominates: proper vessels prevent waste and loss. Yet Jesus couches a broader kingdom principle: new covenant life demands fresh forms capable of containing it.

Old Testament Parallels

Genesis 37:11 records that Jacob “kept” Joseph’s dream in mind; Exodus 16:33–34 that manna was “kept” before the LORD. These passages foreshadow the dual material/mental dimension of συντηρέω. God’s people are stewards—maintaining covenant signs and internalizing covenant words.

Historical and Cultural Notes

• Wineskins: Goat-skin bags would stiffen with age; fermenting must created pressure that only pliable skins could endure. Jesus’ image addresses first-century listeners’ daily experience, reinforcing the wisdom of appropriate stewardship.
• Memorization culture: In predominantly oral societies, faithful transmission required disciplined recollection. Luke’s depiction of Mary mirrors Jewish mothers who rehearsed Scripture and family history, ensuring continuity.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Preservation versus Human Responsibility — Scripture repeatedly affirms God as Keeper (Psalm 121), yet employs συντηρέω to call believers to intentional guarding (e.g., Mary). The harmony of divine sovereignty and human agency encourages active faithfulness.
2. Protection of Prophetic Witness — Herod’s reluctant sheltering of John anticipates later ecclesial duties: “I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that You keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15).
3. New Covenant Elasticity — Matthew 9:17 teaches that rigid traditionalism can rupture under the ferment of gospel renewal. Proper “preservation” occasionally demands new structures (ministries, methodologies) submissive to Scripture yet flexible for fresh movements of the Spirit.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

• Scripture Memory and Meditation — Like Mary, believers should store and mull over God’s acts, fortifying faith against cultural amnesia (Psalm 119:11).
• Safeguarding God’s Servants — Churches ought to “keep” modern Johns through prayer, accountability, and material support, recognizing their strategic role.
• Adaptive Structures — Mission fields may require new “wineskins” (house churches, digital outreach) to contain gospel “wine” without compromising content. Sound doctrine is non-negotiable; forms may change so that both wine and vessel endure.

Systematic Linkages

Soteriology: God preserves the saints (John 10:28).

Ecclesiology: The church is “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), charged to guard the gospel deposit (2 Timothy 1:14).

Spiritual Formation: Meditation transforms the heart, turning received truth into lived obedience (Joshua 1:8).

Related Greek Verbs

τηρέω (tēreō) — to keep, guard, often of commandments (John 14:15).

φυλάσσω (phylassō) — to watch, guard against danger (Acts 12:4).

σώζω (sōzō) — to save, deliver, highlighting the ultimate preservation God provides (Ephesians 2:8).

Summary Insight

συντηρέω bridges practical stewardship and contemplative devotion. Whether shielding a prophet, retaining wine, or treasuring revelation, the verb calls disciples to preserve what God entrusts—externally with vigilance and internally with meditation—so that divine purposes advance unspoiled and undiluted from generation to generation.

Forms and Transliterations

συνετηρει συνετήρει συνετήρησα συνετήρησε συντηρουνται συντηρούνται συντηροῦνται συντηρών suneterei sunetērei sunterountai suntērountai syneterei synetērei synetḗrei synterountai synteroûntai syntērountai syntēroûntai

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 9:17 V-PIM/P-3P
GRK: καὶ ἀμφότεροι συντηροῦνται
NAS: wineskins, and both are preserved.
KJV: and both are preserved.
INT: and both are preserved together

Mark 6:20 V-IIA-3S
GRK: ἅγιον καὶ συνετήρει αὐτόν καὶ
NAS: man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard
KJV: an holy, and observed him; and
INT: holy and kept safe him and

Luke 2:19 V-IIA-3S
GRK: Μαριὰμ πάντα συνετήρει τὰ ῥήματα
NAS: But Mary treasured all these
KJV: But Mary kept all these things,
INT: Mary all was treasuring up the sayings

Strong's Greek 4933
3 Occurrences

συνετήρει — 2 Occ.
συντηροῦνται — 1 Occ.