συμπνίγω (sumpnigō)
sumpnigō
to choke
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sumpnigō means to choke or suffocate completely. In the Gospels, it describes a physical crowding that presses against Jesus, nearly stopping his movement (Luke 8:42). It also serves as a vivid metaphor for spiritual obstruction, where the "word of God" is stifled before it can grow.
This word combines a prefix meaning "together" with a root related to breath or wind. The sources note its use in Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:7 and 19, and Luke 8:14 to describe how thorns choke the seed. Here, it illustrates how worldly anxieties, wealth, and desires crowd out spiritual life, leaving no room for fruit to develop.
Unlike terms that simply mean "hinder," sumpnigō implies a total blockage of breath or growth. Translators often render it as "choked" or "crowded," capturing the sense of being overwhelmed by competing pressures that suffocate the initial spark of faith.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word sumpnigō paints a vivid picture of something being completely stifled. It describes a pressure so intense that breath or growth is cut off entirely. In the Gospels, this term appears in two striking contexts: first, when large crowds physically press against Jesus, and second, in the Parable of the Sower, where thorns choke the seed before it can mature.
Spiritually, this word warns us about the subtle dangers that suffocate our faith. It is not merely a distraction but a complete blockage of spiritual life. Worldly cares, the lure of wealth, and endless desires can crowd out the Word of God, leaving no room for fruit to develop. This imagery reminds us that what we feed with our attention determines what grows in our hearts.
Recognizing these pressures is the first step toward protecting your spiritual vitality. By identifying what threatens to choke your faith, you can make conscious choices to prioritize the Word above all else. May you find peace in keeping your heart open to God’s voice, free from the crushing weight of competing demands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- were pressing around1×
- they choke1×
- choked1×
- choke1×
- are choked1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συνέπνιξαν1×
- συνέπνιγον1×
- συμπνίγουσιν1×
- συμπνίγονται1×
- συμπνίγει1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 13:22
What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
This verse explicitly links the choking action to 'the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches,' showing how external pressures can render a believer unfruitful.
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Mark 4:19
and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Here the list of choking agents expands to include 'lusts of other things,' emphasizing that multiple competing desires work together to stifle spiritual growth.
-
Luke 8:14
What fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life; and they bring no fruit to maturity.
This account highlights that the choking happens 'as they go on their way,' illustrating how daily routines and lifestyle choices can gradually suffocate faith over time.
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Luke 8:42
for he had an only born daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him.
In this physical instance, the word describes the multitudes pressing against Jesus, demonstrating its root meaning of intense crowding that impedes movement.