συνθλάω (sunthlaō)
sunthlaō
to shatter
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sunthlaō describes a violent physical action: to crush together or shatter into pieces. It combines the prefix syn-, meaning "together," with thlaō, which means to press or crush. This etymology highlights the forceful nature of the act, suggesting not just breaking something apart, but doing so through intense pressure that reduces it to fragments.
In the New Testament, this word appears in two parallel passages where Jesus uses a metaphor of stone and ruin. In Matthew 21:44 and Luke 20:18, He speaks of a stone that falls on someone, resulting in them being "shattered" or crushed to pieces. The imagery is stark and irreversible, contrasting with the idea of mere damage; it implies total destruction of the object struck.
Translators typically render this as "shatter" or "crushed," capturing the finality of the action. The word carries significant weight in these contexts, emphasizing the severe consequences of rejecting the cornerstone that God has established. It serves as a vivid warning about the destructive power of opposing divine authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word συνθλὴω paints a picture of total fragmentation. It describes a violent shattering, where pressure is so intense that something is reduced to dust. In the Gospels, Jesus uses this stark imagery to describe what happens when we stand against the foundation God has laid. The image is not one of minor damage but of complete ruin.
For your faith, this serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of resistance. We are invited to rest on Christ, the cornerstone, rather than trying to withstand Him. When we align ourselves with His truth, we find stability. When we oppose it, we face destruction that leaves no room for repair.
This word calls us to examine our hearts. Are we leaning on the rock of salvation, or are we resisting it? The invitation is clear: find your security in Him. There is peace in submission and safety in alignment with God’s established order.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will be broken;2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συνθλασθήσεται·2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 21:44
He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.”
This verse highlights the irreversible nature of opposing Christ, using 'shattered' to show that rejection leads to total fragmentation rather than mere disagreement.
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Luke 20:18
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.”
Here the word emphasizes the crushing weight of divine judgment on those who reject the stone, illustrating the finality of being reduced to dust.