κοινωνέω
koinōnéō
G2841 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To participate, share in, or have a part with (someone or something); to take part in something jointly, often implying close association and mutual involvement. The word can refer to sharing material resources, experiences, or status, as well as to participating in sufferings, relationships, or responsibilities. It may be used both in positive contexts (sharing in benefits, privileges, or fellowship) and negative ones (participating in hardships or guilt).
Semantic Range
to have a share with, to participate in, to share with, to contribute to, to take part in jointly, to communicate (in archaic sense), to partner, to be a partaker of
Root / Etymology
From the root κοινων- (koinōn-), meaning 'common, shared,' derived from κοινός (koinos, 'common'). κοινωνέω is the verbal form meaning 'to have a share with' or 'to participate.' Related nouns include κοινωνία (koinōnia, 'participation, fellowship') and κοινωνός (koinōnos, 'partner, sharer').
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, κοινωνέω typically refers to taking part in something jointly, such as sharing property, experiences, or responsibilities. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the New Testament and Septuagint), it retains this core sense but is often used with a religious or social nuance, such as sharing in spiritual privileges, sufferings, or material needs. The verb frequently appears with genitive or dative objects, indicating what is shared (e.g., 'share in someone's troubles'). In some contexts, it describes the act of contributing to others’ needs (e.g., Romans 12:13; Philippians 4:15). English translations such as 'communicate' (archaic), 'share,' and 'become a partaker' reflect portions of its semantic range, but can obscure the sense of active, mutual participation implied by the Greek. Unlike related terms such as μεταλαμβάνω (to receive a share), κοινωνέω emphasizes joint participation, not merely receiving. Its cognates, κοινωνός and κοινωνία, consistently express ideas of mutuality, partnership, and fellowship.
Translation Consistency
Covers the full SILEX range (to participate in, have a part with, contribute to, partner, partake of both benefits and sufferings) in natural, idiomatic English. It matches the attested renderings (share/shared/sharing) and is preferable to more formal or archaic alternatives like 'participate' or 'partake.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κοινωνός; to share with others (objectively or subjectively):--communicate, distribute, be partaker.
Root Family
κοινωνέω (koinōneō) — to share, to participate, to have in common
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2841-04 |
κοινώνει | koinonei | V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG |
share | share | keep sharing | 2 |
G2841-01 |
ἐκοινώνησαν | ekoinonesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
have shared | they shared | they shared | 1 |
G2841-06 |
κοινωνείτω | koinoneito | V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG |
let him share | let him share | let him share | 1 |
G2841-02 |
ἐκοινώνησεν | ekoinonesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
communicated | he shared in | shared in | 1 |
G2841-05 |
κοινωνεῖτε | koinoneite | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you share | you are sharing | you are sharing | 1 |
G2841-07 |
κοινωνοῦντες | koinonountes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
distributing | sharing | sharing | 1 |
G2841-03 |
κεκοινώνηκεν | kekoinoneken | V PRF ACT IND 3P SG |
has shared | has shared in | have shared in | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2841-07 |
Romans 12:13 | κοινωνοῦντες | koinonountes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
distributing | sharing | sharing |
G2841-01 |
Romans 15:27 | ἐκοινώνησαν | ekoinonesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
have shared | they shared | they shared |
G2841-06 |
Galatians 6:6 | κοινωνείτω | koinoneito | V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG |
let him share | let him share | let him share |
G2841-02 |
Philippians 4:15 | ἐκοινώνησεν | ekoinonesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
communicated | he shared in | shared in |
G2841-04 |
1 Timothy 5:22 | κοινώνει | koinonei | V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG |
share | share | share |
G2841-03 |
Hebrews 2:14 | κεκοινώνηκεν | kekoinoneken | V PRF ACT IND 3P SG |
has shared | has shared in | have shared in |
G2841-05 |
1 Peter 4:13 | κοινωνεῖτε | koinoneite | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you share | you are sharing | you are sharing |
G2841-04 |
2 John 1:11 | κοινωνεῖ | koinonei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
shares | share | keep sharing |