συγκύπτω (sugkuptō)
sugkuptō
to bend
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sugkuptō describes a physical posture of bending forward or being bowed down. It conveys a sense of weight pressing the body into a stooped position, often implying weakness or exhaustion. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Luke 13:11, where it depicts a woman crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.
The image is vivid and specific: she was "bowed over" so completely that she could not straighten up at all. This usage highlights the severity of her condition, not just as a limp, but as a total restriction of her posture and dignity. The prefix suggests a bending together or inward, emphasizing how the affliction constrained her entire form.
Translators typically render this as "bowed down" to capture the physical reality without adding theological interpretation. The word itself does not carry moral judgment; it simply states the fact of her bent state. This concrete description allows readers to visualize the human cost of spiritual oppression, grounding the miracle of healing in a tangible, bodily need.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sugkuptō paints a stark picture of someone bowed so low they cannot stand upright. In Luke 13:11, it describes a woman held in this posture for eighteen years by a spirit of infirmity. This is not just a physical limp but a total restriction that affected her dignity and daily life. The image reminds us that some burdens feel too heavy to bear alone.
Jesus saw her condition and called her forward, offering freedom from what had held her down for nearly two decades. His response shows that He cares about the whole person—body, spirit, and soul. When we feel weighed down by circumstances beyond our control, this story offers hope. It invites us to trust that God sees our struggles and can bring restoration.
This word encourages believers to remember that no burden is too great for Christ’s power. Whether facing illness, grief, or other hardships, we can look to Him as our source of strength and healing. His grace meets us where we are, lifting what weighs us down.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bent over1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συγκύπτουσα1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 13:11
Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. She was bent over and could in no way straighten herself up.
This verse uses sugkuptō to describe a woman completely unable to straighten herself due to an eighteen-year affliction, highlighting the severity of her condition.