Greek word · G4832

σύμμορφος

symmorphos

conformed

Having the same form, sharing the form, being formed together with. Morphē means the outward form or shape that expresses what something is. The prefix sym- means 'with.'

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

What it means

σύμ-μορφος, -ον

(σύν, μορφή),

1. absol., similar (Luc.).

2. conformed to: with dative, Philippians 3:21; with genitive, Romans 8:29 (see B1., § 36, 11; 37, 6).†

(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 Romans 8:29

Range of meaning: Having the same form, sharing the form, being formed together with. Morphē means the outward form or shape that expresses what something is. The prefix sym- means 'with.'
Against the English: English 'conformed' now usually means fitting in with a norm or standard, or behaving the way others expect. The Greek says the believer comes to share the actual form the Son has. That includes character, but in Paul it centres on sharing Christ's path of suffering and his resurrection body.
How it drifted: 'Conformity' in modern English is about social or behavioural compliance. 'Conformed to the image of Christ' is often preached only as gradual moral improvement, which is part of the picture but not the whole of Paul's word.
Used elsewhere in the period: Only here and in Philippians 3:21, where Christ 'will transform the body of our humble state to be symmorphon with the body of his glory.' Related verb: Philippians 3:10, 'being symmorphizomenos to his death.' Related ideas: 2 Corinthians 3:18 ('transformed into the same image from glory to glory'), 1 Corinthians 15:49 ('we will bear the image of the man of heaven').

From the study of Philippians 3:21

Range of meaning: Having the same form as; sharing the shape or nature of; conformed to. The word is rare before Paul, and he may have shaped it for his purpose.
Against the English: "To be like" (BSB, ESV, NIV) is smooth but weaker. It suggests resemblance, while the Greek means sharing the same form. "Conformed to" (WEB) keeps the morph- root and the link to 3:10.
Used elsewhere in the period: NT: only here and Rom 8:29 ("conformed to the image of his Son"). The related verb summorphizomai appears in Phil 3:10 ("being conformed to his death"). The root morphē appears in Phil 2:6–7 ("form of God", "form of a slave").

Similar words

συμμορφόομαι symmorphoomai · to make like

Where it appears

Romans · 1

Romans 8:29 συμμόρφους conformed to

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Here: 'Sharing the form [of].' It works as the goal of the predestining: God decided that they would come to share the form of his Son. The prefix 'with-' (sym-) ties it to Paul's other 'with' words in this chapter: heirs with, suffering with, glorified with (8:17).

Philippians · 1

Philippians 3:21 σύμμορφον conformed

who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

Here: "Sharing the same form with". The adjective describes the result: he re-shapes the body so that it then shares the form of Christ's body. It picks up 3:10, where Paul is now being "conformed to his death".

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