συναλίζω (sunalizō)
sunalizō
to assemble
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sunalizō means to gather together or meet with a group. Its core sense is physical assembly, derived from roots indicating coming together in a crowd or throng. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Acts 1:4, where Jesus commands his disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promised Holy Spirit.
This single usage highlights a specific kind of communal waiting. The context involves the eleven apostles and other followers gathering as a unified body. The word emphasizes their collective presence rather than individual action, setting the stage for the Pentecost event where they receive power together.
Translators often render this as "wait" or "stay," but the original Greek carries the nuance of assembling. It suggests that the disciples were not merely idle; they were intentionally gathering in one place. This physical togetherness was essential for the birth of the church, marking a shift from Jesus’ earthly ministry to the apostolic era.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sunalizō describes a deliberate gathering, a coming together of people in one place. In Acts 1:4, Jesus instructs His followers to assemble and wait for the Holy Spirit. This was not a random meeting but a purposeful unification of the early community. Their physical presence together created the foundation for what would become the church.
For your faith life, this reminds us that spiritual growth often happens in community. We are not meant to walk alone. When we gather with other believers, we reflect the unity Jesus desired for His disciples. This shared presence prepares our hearts for God’s work among us.
May you find encouragement in knowing that God values your connection with others. As you come together with fellow believers, trust that He is present and working in those moments of shared waiting and worship.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- being assembled together1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συναλιζόμενος1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 1:4
Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
This verse uses sunalizō to show Jesus commanding the disciples to physically gather before receiving the Holy Spirit, emphasizing communal preparation over individual action.