συνοικέω (sunoikeō)
sunoikeō
to live with
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sunoikeō means to dwell together or share a household, specifically describing the domestic union of a husband and wife. It combines the prefix syn- ("with") and oikeō ("to live in a house"), creating a term that emphasizes shared residence and daily life rather than just legal status.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 3:7, where husbands are instructed to live with their wives in an understanding way. The context highlights mutual respect and honor within this shared domestic space, treating the wife as a co-heir of God’s grace. By using this specific term for marital cohabitation, the text underscores the physical and relational reality of marriage.
While often translated simply as "live with," the word carries the weight of establishing a common home. It reflects the ancient understanding of marriage as a shared household where partners navigate life together. The singular usage in Scripture focuses attention on the quality of this cohabitation, urging husbands to consider their wives' needs and dignity within that shared dwelling.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sunoikeō describes more than just sharing a roof; it means to dwell together in a shared household, combining presence with daily life. In 1 Peter 3:7, husbands are called to live with their wives according to knowledge. This implies that marital harmony requires intentional understanding of your partner’s heart and needs, rather than assuming familiarity is enough.
This shared living space is meant to be a place of mutual honor. Wives are recognized as co-heirs of God’s grace, meaning both partners share equally in spiritual blessings. When spouses treat each other with this deep respect, their relationship becomes a source of strength and prayerful connection rather than division.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- dwelling with [them]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συνοικοῦντες1×
Key Verses
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I Peter 3:7
You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
This verse uniquely uses sunoikeō to command husbands to live with wives according to knowledge, linking domestic harmony directly to spiritual vitality and unhindered prayer.