Greek word · G4821

συμβασιλεύω

symbasileuō

to reign with

To reign together with, share in kingship. Rare in Greek; Polybius and Lucian use it of co-rulers.

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

What it means

συμ-βουλεύω

[in LXX chiefly for יָעַץ ;]

1. to advise, counsel: with dative of person(s), John 18:14; id. before inf., Revelation 3:18.

2. Mid., to take counsel, consult: before ἵνα, Matthew 26:4 ("reciprocal middle," see M, Pr., 157); with inf., Acts 9:23.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: To reign together with, share in kingship. Rare in Greek; Polybius and Lucian use it of co-rulers.
Against the English: English versions agree ('reign with you', 'be kings with you'). The 'with' is the point.
Used elsewhere in the period: 2 Tim 2:12: 'if we endure, we will also reign with him' (future tense, after suffering). Polycarp, Philippians 5.2, uses it the same way.

Range of meaning: To reign together with someone, to share royal rule. It is a rare compound of syn- ("with") and basileuō ("to be king").
Against the English: Most versions say "reign with him" (KJV adds "him" in italics). That is accurate. What English can lose is the "with" running through the whole saying: died-with, live-with, reign-with. The believer's future is to share Christ's own history.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the New Testament it appears elsewhere only at 1 Cor 4:8, where Paul mocks the Corinthians for acting as if they already reign: "I wish you did reign, so that we might reign with you." The idea goes back to Daniel 7:18, 22, 27, where "the holy ones of the Most High" receive the kingdom after being oppressed. Jesus promises the disciples "who have stood by me in my trials" a share in his kingdom (Luke 22:28–30), and Revelation promises that the faithful will reign with Christ (Rev 3:21; 5:10; 20:4–6). Around AD 110 Polycarp quotes the same idea: "if we live as citizens worthy of him, we shall also reign with him" (Polycarp, Philippians 5.2).

1 Corinthians · 1

1 Corinthians 4:8 συμβασιλεύσωμεν. may reign with.

Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!

Here: 'Might reign together with you.' A rare compound. Elsewhere in early Christian writing it describes believers sharing Christ's future reign (2 Tim 2:12).

2 Timothy · 1

2 Timothy 2:12 συμβασιλεύσομεν· we will reign with [Him];

if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;

Here: "We will co-reign." The prefix syn- ("with") echoes "died with" and "live with" in verse 11. The people who endure will share in Christ's royal rule, so their present shame is reversed. Future tense: this is promised, not enjoyed yet.

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