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συγκαλέω

synkaléō

G4779 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To summon, call together, or assemble a group by invitation or command. Primarily used of bringing people together for a specific purpose, whether formal (such as an assembly, council, or meeting) or informal (gathering family or friends). In narrative and administrative contexts, often implies official summoning by an authority or host.

Semantic Range

to summon together, to convene, to call to an assembly, to gather people by invitation or command, to bring together for a meeting or consultation

Root / Etymology

συγκαλέω is a compound of σύν ('with, together') and καλέω ('to call, summon'). It literally means 'to call together.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

συγκαλέω occurs in Koine Greek from at least the Hellenistic period, with earlier instances in classical literature of the simplex καλέω and related compounds (συγκαλύπτω is unrelated). In the Septuagint, συγκαλέω is used to translate Hebrew concepts of assembling (קָהַל, קָרָא), especially in religious or military convocations. In the New Testament, it appears in narrative settings, usually describing the formal convocation of groups—such as summoning the elders, the whole city, or specific individuals (Luke, Acts). Unlike the English 'call,' which can have a wide range, συγκαλέω in these periods nearly always has the sense of bringing multiple persons together. This is distinct from παρακαλέω ('to invite, exhort, encourage'), which can refer to one or more persons and may have a more subjective nuance. The term is often rendered in English as 'call together' or 'assemble,' but 'convoke' captures its formal sense. The meaning has remained stable from Hellenistic authors through the Christian era, though nuances vary by context.

Translation Consistency

primary "summon" 3 occurrences

synkaléō primarily means to call people together—often by authority—for a meeting or assembly. “Summon” naturally captures both formal/official calling and invited gathering, fits the typical uses in narrative and administrative contexts, and is a concise, consistent single-word rendering for all forms.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"having called together" (3x) "calls together" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σύν and καλέω; to convoke:--call together.

Root Family

συγκαλέω (synkaleō) — to call together, to summon, to assemble

Root συγκαλ- to call together, to summon, to assemble

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4779-03 συνκαλεσάμενος sunkalesamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having called together having summoned together having called together 3
G4779-02 συνκαλεῖ sunkalei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG calls together calls together calls together 2
G4779-04 συνκαλέσασθαι sunkalesasthai V AOR MID INF having called together to summon together for oneself to summon together for oneself 1
G4779-05 συνκαλοῦσιν sunkalousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL called they summon together they summon together 1
G4779-01 συνεκάλεσαν sunekalesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL called together they summoned together they summoned together 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4779-05 Mark 15:16 συνκαλοῦσιν sunkalousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL called they summon together they summon together
G4779-03 Luke 9:1 συνκαλεσάμενος sunkalesamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having called together having summoned together having called together
G4779-02 Luke 15:6 συνκαλεῖ sunkalei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG calls together calls together calls together
G4779-02 Luke 15:9 συνκαλεῖ sunkalei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG she calls together calls together calls together
G4779-03 Luke 23:13 συνκαλεσάμενος sunkalesamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having called together having summoned together having called together
G4779-01 Acts 5:21 συνεκάλεσαν sunekalesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL called together they summoned together they summoned together
G4779-03 Acts 10:24 συνκαλεσάμενος sunkalesamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having-called-together having summoned together having called together
G4779-04 Acts 28:17 συνκαλέσασθαι sunkalesasthai V AOR MID INF having called together to summon together for oneself to summon together for oneself
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