συγκατατίθημι (sugkatatithēmi)
sugkatatithēmi
to consent
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sugkatatithēmi describes a specific kind of agreement: to cast one’s vote alongside another, thereby consenting or assenting to a decision. Its literal sense involves depositing a vote into the same urn as someone else, moving from individual choice to shared endorsement. This imagery highlights that consent here is not merely internal approval but an active participation in a collective outcome.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Luke 23:51, where it describes Joseph of Arimathea’s stance regarding Jesus’ crucifixion. The text notes that he had not consented to the council’s decision and its actions. By using this term for voting, the Gospel writer emphasizes that Joseph actively withheld his support from the judicial verdict, distinguishing his position from those who voted for condemnation.
The word’s root combines prefixes meaning "with" and "down/upon" with a verb related to placing or setting. This structure reinforces the idea of joining others in a formal act. While many words exist for general agreement, sugkatatithēmi carries the weight of civic or judicial procedure, marking a clear boundary between those who participate in a decision and those who stand apart from it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sugkatatithēmi describes a formal act of agreement, specifically casting a vote alongside others to endorse a decision. In Luke 23:51, it highlights Joseph of Arimathea’s refusal to join the council in condemning Jesus. This was not passive silence but an active withdrawal of support from a unjust verdict.
For your faith, this offers a powerful model of moral courage. Standing apart from popular opinion or institutional pressure requires clarity and conviction. It reminds us that true alignment with God often means maintaining integrity when others choose otherwise. Your quiet 'no' to wrong can be a significant witness to truth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having consented1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συγκατατεθειμένος1×
Key Verses
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Luke 23:51
(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom.
This verse uses the word to show Joseph actively withholding his vote from the council's decision, marking a clear boundary between his faith and their unjust actions.