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συνεσθίω

synesthíō

G4906 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To eat together with others; the primary lexical sense is sharing a meal, in the physical sense. In context, the word emphasizes the communal or social act of dining together, not simply the act of eating but doing so in the presence and fellowship of others. It can refer to joining in table fellowship or associating at meals, an action which, in some social and religious contexts, may carry connotations of solidarity, acceptance, or communal participation. The term is always used intransitively, describing the action of eating in companionship.

Semantic Range

to eat together, to partake of food in company, to share a meal with, to associate at table, to have table fellowship

Root / Etymology

Formed from the preposition σύν ('with, together with') and the verb ἐσθίω ('to eat'), signifying 'to eat together.' In some instances, ἐσθίω appears as the alternate form ἔσθω; the compound construction follows standard Greek patterns for creating verbs that specify joint action by adding σύν to a primary verb.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested in Koine Greek, especially in Hellenistic and early Christian sources. In the New Testament, συνεσθίω appears notably in descriptions of table fellowship among early followers of Jesus, often signifying more than mere eating—social boundaries and group identity are sometimes reinforced or transgressed through the act of eating together (e.g., Galatians 2:12, regarding association of Judean and non-Judean believers). While in classical Greek, similar compounds exist (e.g., συναντλέω), συνεσθίω is characteristic of later Greek, especially in Jewish and early Christian literature, and rarely found in earlier Attic texts. Standard English translations usually render this phrase as 'eat with' or 'eat together,' but may not always capture the cultural implications of table fellowship in ancient contexts, which involved questions of purity, group association, and social boundaries that are often distinct from modern notions of simply sharing a meal.

Translation Consistency

primary "eat" 5 occurrences

The basic sense is sharing a meal; the simple, natural verb 'eat' best covers the physical action and easily conveys companionship when used with context or prepositions (e.g. 'eat with'). It is the most common, everyday rendering and fits the intransitive, communal usage of συνεσθίω.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σύν and ἐσθίω (including its alternate); to take food in company with:--eat with.

Root Family

συνεσθίω (synesthiō) — to eat, to consume, to eat together, to share a meal

Root ἐσθι- to eat, to consume

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4906-03 συνεσθίει sunesthiei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG eats eats together eats together 1
G4906-05 συνήσθιεν sunesthien V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he ate he was eating with others he was eating with others 1
G4906-01 συνέφαγεν sunephagen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG you ate ate together ate together 1
G4906-04 συνεσθίειν sunesthiein V PRS ACT INF to eat to be eating together to be eating together 1
G4906-02 συνεφάγομεν sunephagomen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL ate we ate together we ate together 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4906-03 Luke 15:2 συνεσθίει sunesthiei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG eats eats together eats together
G4906-02 Acts 10:41 συνεφάγομεν sunephagomen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL ate we ate together we ate together
G4906-01 Acts 11:3 συνέφαγεν sunephagen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG you ate ate together ate together
G4906-04 1 Corinthians 5:11 συνεσθίειν sunesthiein V PRS ACT INF to eat to be eating together to be eating together
G4906-05 Galatians 2:12 συνήσθιεν sunesthien V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he ate he was eating with others he was eating with others
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