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συμπάσχω

sympáschō

G4841 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To experience suffering or pain together with another; to undergo affliction or hardship in company with others. The primary sense is participating in the same experience of suffering, whether physical, emotional, or in the context of persecution. The term can extend to deep compassion or shared distress but primarily denotes shared experience of suffering.

Semantic Range

to suffer together with, to share in suffering, to jointly experience pain or hardship, to undergo affliction in company with, to suffer in solidarity, (in later contexts) to sympathize

Root / Etymology

From the preposition σύν (with, together) and the verb πάσχω (to suffer, experience). It is a compound verb formed by prefixing σύν to πάσχω, intensifying the nuance to focus on joint or corporate suffering rather than suffering individually. There is no evidence for derivation from non-Greek sources.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb συμπάσχω appears rarely in classical literature and has its clearest attestation in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the New Testament (notably Romans 8:17, 1 Corinthians 12:26). In these contexts, it typically describes a close relational or communal suffering—expressing not only the act of undergoing hardship together, but also a mutuality or bond formed by a shared ordeal. It is not limited to physical pain—emotional or social afflictions (such as persecution for allegiance to a group or teaching) are included in the meaning. Notably, the word does not mean mere empathy but denotes actual participation in suffering. English versions often render it as 'suffer with,' sometimes as 'sympathize,' but 'sympathize' is a later abstraction; in Koine Greek, the focus is on the real, shared suffering rather than emotional alignment. Related terms include συγχαίρω (to rejoice with), marking a parallel structure for shared emotions. There is no direct parallel in Hebrew scripture, though the concept of communal suffering is pervasive in biblical literature. The range in the Septuagint is limited; in the New Testament, it especially conveys the close interrelation among members of a group (e.g., followers of Christ in suffering).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σύν and πάσχω (including its alternate); to experience pain jointly or of the same kind (specially, persecution; to "sympathize"):--suffer with.

Root Family

συμπάσχω (sympaschō) — to suffer, to experience, to undergo together

Root συν-πασχ- to suffer, to experience, to undergo

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4841-01 συνπάσχει sunpaschei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG suffers with suffers together with suffers together with 1
G4841-02 συνπάσχομεν sunpaschomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we suffer with we suffer together we suffer together 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4841-02 Romans 8:17 συνπάσχομεν sunpaschomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we suffer with we suffer together we suffer together
G4841-01 1 Corinthians 12:26 συνπάσχει sunpaschei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG suffers with suffers together with suffers together with
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