συζεύγνυμι (suzeugnumi)
suzeugnumi
to join
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb suzeugnumi literally means to fasten two animals under one yoke. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both times in the Gospels where Jesus uses this agricultural image to describe marriage. By choosing a word associated with labor and partnership, He emphasizes that the marital bond is an active, shared commitment rather than a passive state.
In Matthew 19:6 and Mark 10:9, Jesus declares that what God has suzeugnumi together, humans must not separate. The term highlights the permanence of this union; just as a yoke physically links two creatures for a common purpose, marriage joins two people in a way that transcends individual will. This usage underscores the divine origin and enduring nature of the covenant.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word suzeugnumi paints a vivid picture of two animals fastened under one yoke for shared labor. When Jesus uses this term in Matthew and Mark, He is not describing a loose association but a permanent, active partnership. This image reminds us that marriage is a covenant designed by God to be enduring. It calls couples to walk together through life's work and challenges as one unit.
Understanding this deep connection can bring comfort when relationships feel strained. The bond Jesus speaks of originates from Him, meaning it carries divine strength beyond human effort. While we face difficulties, we can trust that the foundation laid by God is solid. This perspective encourages patience and faithfulness, knowing that the union itself has a purpose that outlasts temporary struggles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- united together,1×
- has joined together,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συνέζευξεν,2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 19:6
So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
This verse captures Jesus' declaration that the divine joining creates a new unity ('one flesh') that human intervention cannot undo.
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Mark 10:9
What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
Here the same command appears, reinforcing the serious prohibition against separating what God has actively fastened together.