συνέχω (G4912) — Greek Lexicon

συνέχω

synéchō

G4912 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To hold together, bind, or enclose, often with the nuance of restraint or pressure. In physical contexts, it denotes compressing or enclosing within tight limits (e.g., a crowd pressing together); in metaphorical and extended contexts, it can mean to be gripped, constrained, or compelled by internal or external forces—such as severe illness, mental preoccupation, or powerful emotion.

Semantic Range

to hold together physically, to restrain movement, to confine or compress (as by a crowd), to afflict (as with illness), to be compelled or constrained (psychologically or emotionally), to preoccupy, to grip or control, to be afflicted or dominated by an inner or outer force

Root / Etymology

From the preposition σύν (with, together) and ἔχω (to have, hold), forming a compound meaning 'to hold together.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, συνέχω commonly means 'to hold together,' 'to contain,' or 'to keep in check' (used of bodies, walls, or fences keeping things in). With the rise of metaphorical and psychological usage in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the term broadens to mean 'to constrain,' 'to be pressed from all sides,' or even 'to be dominated or gripped (by emotion, sickness, or necessity).' In the Septuagint and the New Testament, it frequently depicts people as overwhelmed or heavily afflicted (by crowds, illness, grief, or circumstances). Context determines whether the focus is literal physical containment or metaphorical/internal constraint (such as being compelled by the Spirit, gripped by distress, or controlled by reason). English translations vary significantly between contexts (e.g., 'to be sick,' 'to be constrained,' 'to be taken with'). This variability sometimes obscures the basic sense of holding or binding with force or pressure.

Translation Consistency

primary "hold" 2 occurrences

“Hold” is a simple, natural English verb that covers the primary semantic range of συνέχω — physically keeping together or enclosing, restraining or constraining movement, and metaphorically being gripped, compelled, or afflicted. It is flexible for active and passive senses (hold/held/being held) and reads naturally across the typical contexts in which this lemma appears.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):

"constrained" (4x) "those being afflicted" (1x) "press" (1x) "confine" (1x) "restraining" (1x) "restrained" (1x) "afflicted" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σύν and ἔχω; to hold together, i.e. to compress (the ears, with a crowd or siege) or arrest (a prisoner); figuratively, to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy:--constrain, hold, keep in, press, lie sick of, stop, be in a strait, straiten, be taken with, throng.

Root Family

συνέχω (synechō) — hold together, restrain, confine, bind

Root συν-ἔχ- to hold together, restrain, confine, bind

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4912-02`	συνέχομαι	sunechomai	`V PRS PASS IND 1P SG`	I am distressed	I am being constrained	I am being constrained	2
`G4912-06`	συνέχοντες	sunechontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	were holding	holding together	were restraining	1
`G4912-03`	συνεχομένη	sunechomene	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	held	being constrained	being held	1
`G4912-01`	συνέχει	sunechei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	controls	holds tightly together	holds tightly together	1
`G4912-04`	συνεχόμενον	sunechomenon	`V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M SG`	afflicted	being constrained	being afflicted	1
`G4912-08`	συνείχετο	suneicheto	`V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG`	was pressed	was being constrained	was being constrained	1
`G4912-07`	συνέχουσίν	sunechousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	press	they are holding together	press	1
`G4912-10`	συνέσχον	suneschon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they stopped	they restrained	they restrained	1
`G4912-11`	συνέξουσίν	sunexousin	`V FUT ACT IND 3P PL`	will hem in	they will confine	they will confine	1
`G4912-09`	συνείχοντο	suneichonto	`V IMPF PASS IND 3P PL`	they were seized	they were being constrained	they were being constrained	1
`G4912-05`	συνεχομένους	sunechomenous	`V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M PL`	afflicted	those being constrained	those being afflicted	1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4912-05`	Matthew 4:24	συνεχομένους	sunechomenous	`V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M PL`	afflicted	those being constrained	those being afflicted
`G4912-03`	Luke 4:38	συνεχομένη	sunechomene	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	held	being constrained	being held
`G4912-09`	Luke 8:37	συνείχοντο	suneichonto	`V IMPF PASS IND 3P PL`	they were seized	they were being constrained	they were being constrained
`G4912-07`	Luke 8:45	συνέχουσίν	sunechousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	press	they are holding together	press
`G4912-02`	Luke 12:50	συνέχομαι	sunechomai	`V PRS PASS IND 1P SG`	I am distressed	I am being constrained	I am being constrained
`G4912-11`	Luke 19:43	συνέξουσίν	sunexousin	`V FUT ACT IND 3P PL`	will hem in	they will confine	they will confine
`G4912-06`	Luke 22:63	συνέχοντες	sunechontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	were holding	holding together	were restraining
`G4912-10`	Acts 7:57	συνέσχον	suneschon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they stopped	they restrained	they restrained
`G4912-08`	Acts 18:5	συνείχετο	suneicheto	`V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG`	was pressed	was being constrained	was being constrained
`G4912-04`	Acts 28:8	συνεχόμενον	sunechomenon	`V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M SG`	afflicted	being constrained	being afflicted
`G4912-01`	2 Corinthians 5:14	συνέχει	sunechei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	controls	holds tightly together	holds tightly together
`G4912-02`	Philippians 1:23	συνέχομαι	sunechomai	`V PRS PASS IND 1P SG`	I am hard-pressed	I am being constrained	I am being constrained

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