Greek word · G260

ἅμα

hama

together

ἅμα on its own means "at the same time, together." Placed before σύν ("with"), it strengthens it to "together with."

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἅμα

adv.,

at once (Lat. simul): Acts 24:26 27:40, Romans 3:12 (one and all = יַחַד, Psalms 14:3), Colossians 4:3, 1 Timothy 5:13, Phm 22; before σύν, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 5:10; as prep. with dative, together with: Matthew 13:29 (see MM, VGT, see word); also, with adv., ἅ. πρωΐ (cl., ἅ. ἕω, etc.), early in the morning: Matthew 20:1.†

(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 1 Thessalonians 5:10

Range of meaning

ἅμα on its own means "at the same time, together." Placed before σύν ("with"), it strengthens it to "together with."

Against the English

The KJV, WEB, BSB and NASB have "together with him." The ESV and some others have only "with him," which loses the hint of "together" and the echo of 4:17.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses the identical phrase in 4:17: "we who are alive… will be caught up together with them (ἅμα σὺν αὐτοῖς)… and so we will always be with the Lord." The combination ἅμα σύν does occur elsewhere in Greek, but it is uncommon in the New Testament.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 13:29 ἅμα together [with]

    ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them.

  2. Matthew 20:1 ἅμα in [the]

    “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

    Here: With 'early morning' it means 'right at daybreak', literally 'together with the dawn'.

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 24:26 ἅμα At the same time

    At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.

  2. Acts 27:40 ἅμα at the same time

    Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 3:12 ἅμα together

    All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

    Here: 'Together, all alike.' It presents humanity as one body that went bad as a group, not as a collection of separate failures. It translates Hebrew yachdav, 'together'.

Colossians · 1

  1. Colossians 4:3 ἅμα at the same time

    as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

    Here: "At the same time." Prayer for the apostles is to go alongside the Colossians' own watchful, thankful praying, not replace it.

1 Thessalonians · 2

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 ἅμα together

    After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

    Here: Together with 'with' (syn), it stresses that the two groups go at the same moment and in company. The dead are not left out.

  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:10 ἅμα together

    He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

    Here: "Together." Combined with σύν it repeats 4:17 ("together with them… with the Lord"). It may also hint that the living and the dead will share the outcome together, with neither group left behind.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 5:13 ἅμα At the same time

    At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.

    Here: Links this verse to the one before. On top of breaking their earlier pledge (5:11–12), something else happens at the same time.

Philemon · 1

  1. Philemon 1:22 ἅμα At the same time

    In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

    Here: Links this request to what came just before. While Philemon is acting on Paul's appeal about Onesimus, he should also do this. It adds a second request without dropping the first.

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