συμπάσχω (sumpaschō)
sumpaschō
to suffer with
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sumpaschō describes the experience of suffering alongside another person. Formed from the prefix syn ("with") and paschō ("to suffer"), it literally means to feel pain together. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, yet it carries significant weight in how early Christians understood community and identity.
In Romans 8:17, Paul uses it to explain that believers are co-heirs with Christ only if they share in his sufferings. This is not merely emotional sympathy but a shared participation in hardship. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 12:26, the apostle applies the term to the church body, stating that when one member suffers, all members suffer with it. The word thus bridges personal pain and corporate solidarity.
Translators often render sumpaschō as "suffer with" or "sympathize," though the Greek implies a deeper, active sharing in the burden rather than passive pity. This distinction highlights the New Testament view that Christian community involves tangible participation in each other’s struggles, reflecting the shared fate of Christ and his followers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sumpaschō reminds us that faith is rarely a solitary journey. It describes suffering alongside someone else, sharing in their pain as if it were your own. In Romans 8:17, Paul links this shared suffering with our identity as children of God. He suggests that walking closely with Christ means entering into the difficulties he faced, not to earn love, but because that is what union with him looks like.
This same word appears in 1 Corinthians 12:26 to describe how we treat one another in the church. When a brother or sister hurts, we do not just feel sorry for them; we suffer with them. This creates a deep bond where no one carries their burden alone. It is a call to active presence rather than distant pity.
Knowing this can bring comfort when you are hurting. You are not isolated in your pain. The community of believers is called to stand with you, sharing the weight so it becomes lighter. This shared life reflects the very heart of God, who suffered with us in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- we suffer with [Him]1×
- suffer with [it]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συμπάσχομεν1×
- συμπάσχει1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 8:17
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
This verse establishes that sharing in Christ's sufferings is the pathway to also sharing in his future glory.
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I Corinthians 12:26
When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Here the word defines the practical reality of church unity, where one member's pain becomes the collective burden of the body.