Greek word · G4776

συγκαθίζω

synkathizō

to sit down with

Used intransitively it means "to sit down together" (Luke 22:55, people sitting around a fire). Used transitively/causatively it means "to make someone sit down with." Here it is causative: God seats them.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 30, 2026

What it means

περι-καθ-ίζω

[in LXX for חָנָה, לָחַם ni., etc. ;]

1. to invest, besiege (Diod., 4Ki.6:24, 1Ma.11:61, al.).

2. to sit around: Luke 22:55, L, txt.

† (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 Ephesians 2:6

Range of meaning: Used intransitively it means "to sit down together" (Luke 22:55, people sitting around a fire). Used transitively/causatively it means "to make someone sit down with." Here it is causative: God seats them.
Against the English: KJV "made us sit together" keeps the causative force. BSB/WEB "seated us with Him" is accurate. No major version misleads, but readers often miss the royal picture.
Used elsewhere in the period: The basic verb καθίζω ("to seat, to sit") is the verb of Psalm 109:1 LXX (110:1), "Sit at my right hand," the Old Testament verse the New Testament cites most often. Ephesians 1:20 has καθίσας ἐν δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ("having seated him at his right hand in the heavenlies"). Sharing a king's throne appears in Revelation 3:21, and in Daniel 7:18, 22, 27, where the holy ones receive the kingdom. Thrones for the faithful also appear in Matthew 19:28.

From the study of Luke 22:55

Range of meaning: Intransitive: to sit down together with others. Transitive: to make someone sit with you.
Against the English: "Sat down together" (BSB, WEB), "were set down together" (KJV, archaic wording). These are accurate.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Septuagint it is used of sitting together, e.g. Exodus 18:13 ("Moses sat to judge" in some forms of the text), 1 Esdras 9:6. In the New Testament it occurs only here and in Ephesians 2:6 ("seated us together with him in the heavenly places").

Similar words

συγκάθημαι synkathēmai · to sit with

Where it appears

Luke · 1

Luke 22:55 συγκαθισάντων when having sat down together

When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

Here: "When they had sat down together": the group settles in a circle round the fire. The only other New Testament use is Ephesians 2:6, where God has "seated us together" with Christ.

Ephesians · 1

Ephesians 2:6 συνεκάθισεν He seated [us] together

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Here: "He seated [us] with [him]." The verb is causative: God put them on the seat. Sitting is the posture of a ruler enthroned and of finished work. It echoes Christ being "seated at his right hand" (1:20, from Psalm 110:1).

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