Greek word · G4908

συνετός

synetos

intelligent

Intelligent, discerning, sensible: able to understand and to act well on that understanding. In the Greek Old Testament it often translates Hebrew forms of bîn (understand) and śākal (act prudently).

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

συνετός, ή, -όν

(συνίημι), [in LXX for בִּין, חָכָם, etc. ;]

intelligent, sagacious, understanding: Matthew 11:25, Luke 10:21, Acts 13:7, 1 Corinthians 1:19" (LXX) .†

(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 Sirach 25:8

Range of meaning

Intelligent, discerning, sensible: able to understand and to act well on that understanding. In the Greek Old Testament it often translates Hebrew forms of bîn (understand) and śākal (act prudently).

Against the English

'Of understanding' (Brenton/KJV/WEB) is right but abstract. 'Intelligent' can sound like book-learning, and 'sensible' (NRSV and others) catches the practical side. The Hebrew of this line, where it survives, is usually read as 'ishshah maśkelet, 'a prudent / capable wife', the same phrase as Proverbs 19:14 ('a prudent wife is from the LORD').

Used elsewhere in the period

Sirach 7:19 ('Do not deprive yourself of a wise and good wife'); 26:13–14 (a silent, sensible wife is a gift of the Lord); 40:23; Proverbs 19:14 in Hebrew; Proverbs 31:10–31 (the capable wife who runs the household).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 1:19

Range of meaning

Intelligent, sagacious, discerning, shrewd.

Against the English

KJV 'prudent' follows the Latin Vulgate (prudentium). In 1611 'prudent' meant wise or discerning. Today it mostly means cautious or careful with money, which misses the sense.

How it drifted

English 'prudent' narrowed after the 17th century toward caution and thrift. Its older sense (Latin prudens, 'foreseeing, skilled, wise') faded.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 29:14 LXX; Matthew 11:25 / Luke 10:21 ('hidden these things from the wise and intelligent [synetōn] and revealed them to infants'). That saying of Jesus closely parallels Paul's thought here.

From the study of Acts 13:7

Range of meaning

From syniēmi, "to bring together, understand". It means intelligent, discerning, sagacious: able to put things together and judge them rightly. It refers to practical judgment as much as cleverness.

Against the English

BSB/ESV/NASB have "a man of intelligence"; WEB "a man of understanding"; YLT "intelligent"; KJV "prudent". In 1611 "prudent" meant wise and discerning (Latin prudens). Today it usually means cautious or careful with money, which is not the point.

How it drifted

English "prudent" narrowed over time from "wise, judicious" to "careful, risk-averse".

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint it often translates Hebrew nabon (discerning), e.g. Genesis 41:33, 39 of Joseph; Proverbs often. In the New Testament: Matthew 11:25 / Luke 10:21 ("the wise and intelligent"); 1 Corinthians 1:19. Greek writers use it in praise of statesmen.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 11:25 συνετῶν learned

    At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

    Here: People of understanding, able to put things together. The pair "wise and understanding" repeats Isaiah 29:14 almost word for word.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 10:21 συνετῶν intelligent

    At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

    Here: People of trained understanding, the educated and clever. Not “prudent” in the modern sense of cautious.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 13:7 συνετῷ. an intelligent.

    an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.

    Here: Someone who can understand and judge well. Luke's compliment explains why the governor wanted to hear the missionaries for himself, and it hints that he could tell real from fake.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:19 συνετῶν intelligent

    For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

    Here: 'The discerning / clever ones': people known for sharp insight. It mirrors 'the wisdom of the wise' with the same pattern of noun plus matching adjective.

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