συγχράομαι (sugchraomai)
sugchraomai
to associate with
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sugchraomai means to associate with someone or to have dealings with them. It combines a prefix meaning "together" with a root related to use or handling, suggesting a practical interaction between people. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in John 4:9, where it describes the social distance between Jesus and a Samaritan woman.
This single usage highlights a significant cultural boundary. By noting that Jews do not associate with Samaritans, the text uses sugchraomai to mark a deep-seated ethnic and religious separation. The word captures more than simple contact; it implies a shared social space or mutual engagement that was considered forbidden by the prevailing customs of the time.
Translators typically render this term as "associate with" or "have dealings with," preserving the sense of social interaction rather than mere physical proximity. Its rarity in Scripture makes this instance particularly notable, serving as a concrete example of how language reflects the rigid social divisions of first-century Judea and Samaria.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sugchraomai describes a deep social connection, one that goes beyond simple proximity to include shared life and mutual engagement. In John 4:9, it highlights the strict boundary Jews maintained against Samaritans, refusing to associate with them in any meaningful way. This cultural divide was so strong that even asking for water was seen as crossing a forbidden line.
Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well deliberately breaks this barrier. By engaging her directly, He shows that the gospel is not confined by ethnic or religious boundaries. His actions invite us to look past social labels and see every person as someone worthy of relationship and grace.
This word reminds us that true fellowship requires intentional effort to bridge divides. It challenges us to consider who we might be excluding from our lives and how we can follow Christ’s example of inclusive love. The call is to build bridges where others have built walls, finding common ground in shared humanity and faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- have association1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συγχρῶνται1×
Key Verses
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John 4:9
The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
This verse uses sugchraomai to explicitly state the cultural prohibition against Jews having social dealings with Samaritans, highlighting the depth of the division Jesus was about to cross.