συνευωχέομαι (suneuōcheomai)
suneuōcheomai
to feast with
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb suneuōcheomai describes the act of feasting together or entertaining guests in a sumptuous manner. It combines the prefix syn, meaning "with," and euōcheomai, which refers to enjoying good food or fare well. This word paints a picture of shared abundance and social intimacy, focusing on the communal aspect of dining rather than just the consumption of food.
Its occurrence is quite rare in the New Testament, appearing only twice: in Jude 12 and 2 Peter 2:13. In both contexts, the term carries a sharp negative tone. The authors use it to criticize false teachers who indulge in selfish pleasure and exploit others for their own benefit during these shared meals. Rather than highlighting fellowship, the word here exposes a corruption of hospitality where generosity is replaced by greed.
Translators typically render this verb as "feast with" or "entertain together," capturing the physical act of dining while relying on context to convey the moral judgment. The sources note that while the root implies being in good condition or fare well, its biblical usage serves as a warning against the misuse of social bonds for self-indulgence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word suneuōcheomai describes a shared meal where one person feasts with another. In Jude and 2 Peter, it highlights how false teachers used these gatherings to exploit others. They turned acts of hospitality into opportunities for selfish gain, treating the community as a resource rather than a family.
For your faith life, this word serves as a gentle warning about the heart behind our interactions. It invites you to examine whether your relationships are marked by mutual care or hidden agendas. True fellowship thrives when generosity flows freely, without expecting anything in return.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- feasting with1×
- feasting together [with you]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συνευωχούμενοι,1×
- συνευωχούμενοι1×
Key Verses
-
II Peter 2:13
receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and defects, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you;
This verse shows how the word exposes the hypocrisy of those who use shared meals to mask their deceit and greed.
-
Jude 1:12
These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Here the term illustrates how false teachers corrupted love feasts by feeding themselves at the expense of others.