Greek word · G4799

σύγχυσις

synchysis

confusion

From syn- ('together') + cheō ('pour'): a pouring-together, mixing. It came to mean confusion or disorder of any kind: confused language, mixed-up categories, or a public commotion and tumult. In civic settings it describes a city thrown into disorder (BDAG: 'confusion, tumult').

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

σύγχυσις, -εως, ἡ

(συγχέω), [in LXX: Genesis 11:9 (בָּבֶל), 1 Kings 5:6 5:12(11) 1 Samuel 14:20 (מְהוּמָה) * ;]

confusion: of a popular uproar, Acts 19:29.†

(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 19:29

Range of meaning

From syn- ('together') + cheō ('pour'): a pouring-together, mixing. It came to mean confusion or disorder of any kind: confused language, mixed-up categories, or a public commotion and tumult. In civic settings it describes a city thrown into disorder (BDAG: 'confusion, tumult').

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have 'confusion', which is accurate as long as it is heard as public turmoil rather than mental puzzlement. BSB 'disarray' and NIV 'uproar' bring out the noise and disorder. 'Confusion' does carry one real nuance, though: v. 32 says 'the assembly was confused (synkechymenē), and most of them did not know why they had come together.'

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (LXX), Genesis 11:9 actually names Babel 'Synchysis' ('Confusion') because there God 'confused' (synecheen) the languages. Luke uses the related verb at Pentecost, where the crowd 'was confused' (synechythē) at hearing their own languages (Acts 2:6). He uses it again in Acts 19:32 and 21:27, 31, where Jerusalem is 'in confusion' during the riot against Paul. Greek historians use it for civil disorder.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 19:29 συγχύσεως· with confusion;

    Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

    Here: Literally a 'pouring-together' or mixing-up. Here it means a public commotion where nobody knows what is going on. Verse 32 says most of the crowd did not even know why they had come.

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