συμπίπτω (sumpiptō)
sumpiptō
be downcast
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sumpiptō literally means "to fall together," but in the New Testament it carries a specific emotional weight: to be downcast or despondent. It describes the inward collapse of spirit that occurs when bad news arrives, leaving a person feeling crushed by circumstances rather than merely surprised by them.
This word appears only once in Scripture, in Luke 24:17, as the two disciples walk to Emmaus after Jesus’ crucifixion. They are confused and heartbroken because their hopes have seemingly fallen apart. The term captures that heavy sense of disappointment where one’s expectations meet a harsh reality.
Its root combines "together" with "to fall," suggesting a convergence of events that pulls the spirit downward. Translators typically render it as "downcast" or "sad," highlighting not just temporary grief but a state of discouragement that clouds understanding until hope is restored.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life delivers news that shatters our expectations, it is natural to feel a heavy weight in the chest. The Greek word sumpiptō captures this specific moment of inward collapse. It describes the spirit sinking under the pressure of circumstances, where confusion and heartbreak cloud our vision. This feeling is not a failure of faith; even Jesus’ closest followers experienced this deep discouragement after the crucifixion.
In Luke 24:17, the disciples walking to Emmaus are described with this term. They were downcast because their hopes seemed destroyed. Yet, in that very state of despair, Jesus drew near and walked with them. This word reminds us that God meets us in our lowest moments. He does not scold us for feeling crushed; instead, He offers presence and clarity when we can see no way forward.
Your current season of disappointment is known to Him. You do not have to carry this weight alone. As the disciples found, hope returns when we allow Christ to join us in our walk, turning our downcast eyes toward the light of resurrection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it fell,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- συνέπεσεν,1×