συμβαίνω
symbaínō
G4819 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To come together, occur, or happen, often as the result of contributing factors or circumstances. The primary sense is 'to happen' or 'to take place,' especially of events that coincide, occur together, or befall someone. In some contexts, emphasizes the convergence or concurrence of circumstances that lead to a specific event or outcome.
Semantic Range
to happen, to occur, to befall, to come to pass, to concur (as in events), to result, to take place, to ensue, to be coincident, to meet (of events or outcomes)
Root / Etymology
Formed from the preposition σύν ('with, together') and the verb βαίνω ('to go, to walk'), literally meaning 'to go together' or 'to come together.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, συμβαίνω often denoted to 'come together' in a physical, spatial sense—such as the meeting or joining of persons, forces, or things. From this physical sense, the verb developed an abstract use: the 'coming together' of circumstances or events, hence, 'to happen,' 'to take place,' or 'befall.' In the Septuagint and Koine Greek of the New Testament, the spatial sense is largely absent, and the usage centers on events or occurrences—especially emphasizing that something happens as the result of multiple factors converging. In some philosophical contexts (e.g., Aristotle), συμβαίνειν denotes what occurs 'incidentally' or 'by coincidence,' not as a necessary outcome. In standard English translations, the nuance of multiple circumstances converging is not always captured, and 'happen,' 'befall,' or 'occur' are used, which may flatten the sense of concurrence or result. The term occurs in narrative, didactic, and philosophical passages in Hellenistic Greek.
Translation Consistency
The primary SILEX sense is to take place or occur, and the attested P2 renderings overwhelmingly use 'happened/happen.' 'Happen' is the most natural, idiomatic English choice that covers 'occur,' 'become,' 'come to pass,' and the concurrence/ensuing sense without sounding formal or technical. It will render all forms consistently and transparently for typical New Testament usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from σύν and the base of βάσις; to walk (figuratively, transpire) together, i.e. concur (take place):--be(-fall), happen (unto).
Root Family
συμβαιν- (symbaínō) — to come together, to occur, to happen
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4819-01 |
συμβαίνειν | sumbainein | V PRS ACT INF |
to happen | to be happening | to happen | 1 |
G4819-02 |
συμβαίνοντος | sumbainontos | V PRS ACT PTCP GEN N SG |
happening | of the happening | happening | 1 |
G4819-03 |
συμβάντων | sumbanton | V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M PL |
which happened | of those having occurred | having happened | 1 |
G4819-04 |
συμβέβηκεν | sumbebeken | V PRF ACT IND 3P SG |
It has happened | has come about | has happened | 1 |
G4819-05 |
συμβεβηκότι | sumbebekoti | V PRF ACT PTCP DAT N SG |
having happened | to what has occurred | what had happened | 1 |
G4819-06 |
συμβεβηκότων | sumbebekoton | V PRF ACT PTCP GEN N PL |
things which had happened | of the things having happened | things having happened | 1 |
G4819-07 |
συνέβαινεν | sunebainen | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
happened | was occurring | was occurring | 1 |
G4819-08 |
συνέβη | sunebe | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
it happened | it occurred | it happened | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4819-01 |
Mark 10:32 | συμβαίνειν | sumbainein | V PRS ACT INF |
to happen | to be happening | to happen |
G4819-06 |
Luke 24:14 | συμβεβηκότων | sumbebekoton | V PRF ACT PTCP GEN N PL |
things which had happened | of the things having happened | things having happened |
G4819-05 |
Acts 3:10 | συμβεβηκότι | sumbebekoti | V PRF ACT PTCP DAT N SG |
having happened | to what has occurred | what had happened |
G4819-03 |
Acts 20:19 | συμβάντων | sumbanton | V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M PL |
which happened | of those having occurred | having happened |
G4819-08 |
Acts 21:35 | συνέβη | sunebe | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
it happened | it occurred | it happened |
G4819-07 |
1 Corinthians 10:11 | συνέβαινεν | sunebainen | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
happened | was occurring | was occurring |
G4819-02 |
1 Peter 4:12 | συμβαίνοντος | sumbainontos | V PRS ACT PTCP GEN N SG |
happening | of the happening | happening |
G4819-04 |
2 Peter 2:22 | συμβέβηκεν | sumbebeken | V PRF ACT IND 3P SG |
It has happened | has come about | has happened |