συστρέφω (sustrephō)
sustrephō
to gather
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sustrephō describes the physical act of twisting or rolling things together into a single mass. Its core meaning involves combining separate elements through motion, creating a unified bundle from distinct parts. This concrete imagery grounds its use in the New Testament, where it appears only twice.
In Acts 28:3, Paul uses this word when a viper bites his hand. The text notes that he shook the creature off into the fire, but the surrounding context emphasizes how the snake was twisted or coiled around his grip before being freed. This usage highlights the tight, twisting nature of the animal's hold.
The second occurrence in Matthew 17:22 describes Jesus’ disciples gathering themselves together. Here, the sense shifts from physical twisting to people assembling or clustering near one another after a significant event. The word captures the motion of coming together, whether it is a snake coiling or a group huddling for safety.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sustrephō paints a vivid picture of things coming together through motion. In Acts 28:3, it describes how Paul gathered sticks into a bundle before placing them on the fire. This simple action shows us that gathering is often a practical step toward a larger purpose. Just as those separate pieces of wood were united for warmth, our own lives are brought together by God’s providence.
In Matthew 17:22, the same word describes the disciples drawing close to one another after Jesus spoke of His coming suffering. This image reminds us that difficult news often brings believers into closer fellowship. We find strength not in isolation but in the shared presence of others who walk the same path of faith.
Whether we are gathering resources or gathering with friends, this word highlights the beauty of unity. God uses these moments of coming together to prepare us for what lies ahead. May you feel encouraged by the sense of community and purpose that surrounds your own journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- When having gathered1×
- When are abiding1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συστρέψαντος1×
- Συστρεφομένων1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 28:3
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
This verse uses the word to describe the physical act of gathering sticks into a bundle, grounding the abstract concept of unity in a concrete, everyday action.
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Matthew 17:22
While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men,
Here the term shifts to people, capturing the disciples' instinctive movement to cluster together for support after hearing Jesus’ difficult prediction about His death.