Greek word · G1997

ἐπισυναγωγή

episynagōgē

gathering

A gathering together, an assembling; either the act of coming together or the assembled group. The prefix epi- adds the sense of gathering to a point or to someone.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 22, 2026

What it means

ἐπι-συν-αγωγή, -ῆς, ἡ

(ἐπισυνάγω), [in LXX: 2Ma.2:7 * ;]

a gathering together, assembly: Hebrews 10:25; before ἐπί, 2 Thessalonians 2:1 (cf. 2Mac, l.with).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 10:25

Range of meaning: A gathering together, an assembling; either the act of coming together or the assembled group. The prefix epi- adds the sense of gathering to a point or to someone.
Against the English: KJV 'the assembling of ourselves together' and BSB 'meeting together' are accurate. What English loses is the word's overtone: it is not the ordinary word for a meeting but one tied to God's end-time gathering of his people.
How it drifted: Modern readers hear 'a church service' in a dedicated building at a fixed time. There were no church buildings; believers met in homes, typically around a shared meal.
Used elsewhere in the period: Only twice in the NT: here and 2 Thess 2:1, 'our being gathered together to him' at Christ's coming. The related verb describes the Son of Man gathering his elect (Matt 24:31; Mark 13:27) and Jesus longing to gather Jerusalem 'as a hen gathers her chicks' (Matt 23:37). In 2 Maccabees 2:7 it names the hoped-for day when 'God gathers his people together again'. The more common synagōgē ('synagogue, assembly') is used for a Christian meeting in James 2:2; whether Hebrews chose episynagōgē deliberately to distinguish the Christian gathering is debated.

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 2:1

Range of meaning: 'A gathering together, an assembling.' In the New Testament it appears only here and in Heb 10:25, where it means the believers' regular assembling for worship ('not neglecting to meet together'). The related verb episunagō means 'to gather together' (Matt 23:37, the hen gathering her chicks; Mark 13:27, Matt 24:31, the Son of Man's angels gathering the elect 'from the four winds').
Against the English: 'Gathering together' (KJV, WEB, YLT) and 'being gathered together' (BSB, ESV) are both accurate. The passive 'being gathered' brings out that someone else does the gathering, God through his Lord and his angels, and that believers do not gather themselves.
Used elsewhere in the period: 2 Maccabees 2:7 hopes for the time 'when God gathers his people together' (episunagōgēn tou laou), and 2 Macc 2:18 prays that God 'will gather us together' (episunaxei) from everywhere under heaven. These texts draw on the prophets' promise that God will gather scattered Israel (Deut 30:3–4; Isa 43:5–6; 52:12 Greek; Ps 106:47). Jesus' saying in Mark 13:27 takes up the same hope.

Similar words

ἐπισυνάγω episynagō · to gather

Where it appears

2 Thessalonians · 1

2 Thessalonians 2:1 ἐπισυναγωγῆς gathering together

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers,

Here: The gathering of God's people to their Lord. It echoes the Jewish hope that God would gather his scattered people (2 Maccabees 2:7) and Jesus' saying that the Son of Man will 'gather his elect' (Mark 13:27).

Hebrews · 1

Hebrews 10:25 ἐπισυναγωγὴν assembling together

Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Here: The coming-together of the believers, almost certainly in homes. The word is rare and carries an echo of God gathering his scattered people at the end (2 Thess 2:1; 2 Macc 2:7), so the small house meeting is a foretaste of that final gathering.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.