Greek word · G4787

συγκινέω

synkineō

to stir up

To move or shake together, to set in commotion, to arouse or agitate a group. It is built from the common verb for "move" (κινέω) with a prefix meaning "together."

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

συν-κινέω (Rec. συγκ-), -ῶ,

to move together. Metaphorical, to excite, stir up: τ. λαόν, Acts 6:12 (Arist., Polyb., al.).†

(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 Acts 6:12

Range of meaning

To move or shake together, to set in commotion, to arouse or agitate a group. It is built from the common verb for "move" (κινέω) with a prefix meaning "together."

Against the English

"Stirred up" (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT and most others) is a good rendering. NLT's "roused" is close, though it can sound more like waking people than agitating them.

Used elsewhere in the period

This is the only use in the New Testament. Thayer lists it in non-biblical Greek writers such as Polybius and Plutarch. Luke uses the simple verb for the same kind of event: the whole city "was stirred" against Paul (Acts 21:30), and Paul is accused of "stirring up" riots (Acts 24:5).

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 6:12 συνεκίνησάν They stirred up

    So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,

    Here: To set people in agitated motion, to whip up. Placed first for emphasis: the agitation is the news. The subject is still the opponents of verses 9-11, the men from the Greek-speaking synagogue.

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