συνθάπτω (G4916) — Greek Lexicon

συνθάπτω

syntháptō

G4916 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to bury together, to be joined with someone or something in burial; primarily indicates the act of being interred or buried jointly with another, either literally sharing a burial or, more commonly in the New Testament, figuratively participating in a shared burial (especially with reference to union or identification with a person or event). The term often refers to a collective or participatory aspect of burial, signifying close association in death or burial rite, and in Christian texts is frequently used metaphorically for identification with Christ's death.

Semantic Range

to bury together, to join in burial, to participate jointly in burial (literal or figurative), to be closely associated with someone in death or burial rites, to be identified in shared burial (especially in ritual or symbolic contexts)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the preposition σύν ('with, together with') and the verb θάπτω ('to bury, inter'), forming a compound with the sense 'to bury together with.' Attested as a Koine and later Hellenistic Greek formation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek literature, the compound συνθάπτω is rare or unattested; it emerges in Hellenistic Greek and is found in the writings of the New Testament, notably in Pauline usage (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). In these contexts, it functions primarily in a metaphorical sense, signifying not literal joint burial but a symbolic or participatory act—specifically, being united with someone (typically Christ) in burial, and thus also in death and resurrection. This metaphor reflects the language of ritual identification, particularly in reference to baptismal practices—an act understood as participation in Christ's death and burial. English translations sometimes render the term as 'buried with,' which captures the general association but may obscure the participatory and symbolic nuance of shared identity in burial found in Koine Greek usage. There is no clear parallel in contemporary Greek literature for the precise Pauline metaphor, but the construction follows regular Greek compounding patterns. The word is distinct from simple burial terms (e.g., θάπτω) by its emphasis on collective or associational burial.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σύν and θάπτω; to inter in company with, i.e. (figuratively) to assimilate spiritually (to Christ by a sepulture as to sin):--bury with.

Root Family

συνθάπτω (synthaptō) — to bury, to inter, to bury together

Root θάπτ- to bury, to inter

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4916-02`	συνταφέντες	suntaphentes	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	having been buried with	having been buried together	having been buried together	1
`G4916-01`	συνετάφημεν	sunetaphemen	`V AOR PASS IND 1P PL`	we have been buried	we were buried together	we were buried together	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4916-01`	Romans 6:4	συνετάφημεν	sunetaphemen	`V AOR PASS IND 1P PL`	we have been buried	we were buried together	we were buried together
`G4916-02`	Colossians 2:12	συνταφέντες	suntaphentes	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	having been buried with	having been buried together	having been buried together

← G4915 Greek Lexicon G4917 →