συμπόσιον
sympósion
G4849 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A gathering for a shared meal or drinking party, especially in the sense of a formal banquet attended by invited guests. The word specifically denotes a group assembled for feasting or communal celebration, often centered around a meal with drinking and conversation. In extended usage, it may refer to the group of people participating in such a gathering.
Semantic Range
drinking party, formal banquet, meal gathering, group assembled for feasting, company of diners, event involving communal drinking/eating
Root / Etymology
From the verb συμπίνω (to drink together), itself from σύν (with, together) + πίνω (to drink); sympósion originally referred to the act of drinking together, then came to signify the gathering as such, and by extension the group of participants.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, συμπόσιον refers to the after-dinner drinking-party customarily held by elites, featuring conversation, entertainment, and philosophical discussion; famously, Plato's 'Symposium' draws on this context. In Hellenistic and Roman periods, the term expanded in usage to include any formal meal or banquet, not limited to drinking. In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 6:39), συμπόσιον refers specifically to organized meal gatherings (e.g., groups reclined for eating). Standard English translations often render the term as 'company,' 'group,' or 'banquet,' but these may obscure the formality and social context of the Greek custom. The semantic nuance of structured, communal celebration or feasting is especially important in ancient usage but less apparent in English equivalents.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
neuter of a derivative of the alternate of συμπίνω; a drinking-party ("symposium"), i.e. (by extension) a room of guests:--company.
Root Family
συμπόσιον (symposion) — drinking together, banquet, meal gathering, communal feast
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4849-01 |
συμπόσια | sumposia | N ACC N PL |
groups | banquet gatherings | banquet gatherings | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences