συνεσθίω (sunesthiō)
sunesthiō
to eat with
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sunesthiō means to eat together with someone, emphasizing shared meals rather than just the act of eating. It combines a prefix meaning "with" and a root for "eating," creating a term that highlights social connection through food.
In the New Testament, this word appears five times, primarily in Luke’s Gospel and Acts, with one instance in 1 Corinthians. For example, Luke 15:2 uses it to describe how Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners, underscoring his willingness to share table fellowship with those marginalized by society. Similarly, Acts 10:41 and 11:3 refer to Jesus eating with his disciples after his resurrection, reinforcing the reality of his physical presence.
This word carries significant theological weight in passages where sharing a meal signifies acceptance or community. In Galatians 2:12, it describes how Peter withdrew from eating with Gentile believers under pressure, illustrating how food can become a marker of division when social boundaries override unity. The term thus serves as both a literal description of dining and a metaphor for relationships.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sunesthiō reminds us that faith is lived out at the table. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus uses shared meals to show his love for those society pushes aside. When he eats with tax collectors and sinners, he breaks down walls of shame and offers a place where everyone belongs. This simple act reveals a God who does not stand far away but draws near to share life.
Yet this word also warns us about the power of food to divide. In Galatians, we see Peter pull back from eating with Gentile believers because he feared criticism. His hesitation showed how social pressure can override unity in Christ. We are invited to reflect on our own tables: do we use meals to build bridges or reinforce barriers? True community requires courage to sit with those who are different.
After his resurrection, Jesus continued this practice, eating with his disciples to prove he was truly present among them. This physical sharing of food points to a spiritual reality: we are connected not just by ideas, but by shared life. May your own meals become moments of grace and connection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you ate with1×
- we ate with1×
- to eat.1×
- he was eating;1×
- he eats with1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συνήσθιεν·1×
- συνέφαγες1×
- συνεφάγομεν1×
- συνεσθίειν.1×
- συνεσθίει1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 15:2
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
This verse highlights Jesus' deliberate choice to share table fellowship with those marginalized by religious leaders, showing acceptance rather than judgment.
-
Acts 10:41
not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
The phrase emphasizes the physical reality of the resurrected Christ, confirming his bodily presence through the ordinary act of eating and drinking.
-
Galatians 2:12
For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
Peter's withdrawal from eating with Gentiles illustrates how fear of social opinion can create division within the early church community.