Greek word · G4934

συντίθημι

syntithēmi

to agree

In the middle voice: to agree together, make a compact, arrange or decide jointly.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

συν-τίθημι

[in LXX: 1 Samuel 22:13 (קָשַׁר), etc. ;]

to place or put together, in various senses. Mid.,

(a) to observe, perceive;

(b) to determine, agree, covenant: with inf., Luke 22:5; before τοῦ, with inf., Acts 23:20; before ἵνα, John 9:22.†

συν-επι-τίθημι,

[in LXX for שִׁית, etc. ;]

to help in putting on. Mid., to join in attacking (Thuc.): Acts 24:9 (RV, joined in the charge).†

(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 John 9:22

Range of meaning

In the middle voice: to agree together, make a compact, arrange or decide jointly.

Against the English

'Had agreed' (KJV, WEB) is literal. 'Had determined' (BSB) and 'had decided' (NIV-type) sound more like an official ruling, which is a stronger claim than the Greek requires.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 22:5 (the chief priests 'agreed' to give Judas money); Acts 23:20 ('the Jews have agreed to ask you'); used in Greek literature for pacts and arrangements.

From the study of Luke 22:5

Range of meaning

In the active voice it means 'put together' or 'compose'. In the middle voice, used here, it means to agree among or with others, settle terms, make an arrangement, or decide jointly. Greek writers and contracts on papyrus use it for agreements, bargains and pacts of all kinds.

Against the English

Most modern versions have 'agreed'. KJV and YLT have 'covenanted', which in 1611 English meant 'contracted' or 'formally agreed'. NLT has 'promised', which makes it one-sided, as if only the priests were committing themselves.

How it drifted

When KJV readers today see 'covenant', they tend to think of God's covenant (diathēkē, Hebrew berit). The Greek has nothing of that here. It is an ordinary business word.

Used elsewhere in the period

Elsewhere in the New Testament: John 9:22, where the Jewish leaders 'had already agreed' to put out of the synagogue anyone who confessed Jesus; Acts 23:20, where they 'have agreed' to ask for Paul to be brought down so they can ambush him. In both, as here, it is a hostile plan settled among Jesus' or Paul's opponents. BDAG lists 'agree, decide' and gives Luke 22:5 under the sense of agreeing on terms.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 22:5 συνέθεντο they agreed

    They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

    Here: Literally 'put together'. In this form it means to reach an agreement or settle terms with someone. It is ordinary deal-making language, used for contracts and arrangements, not a religious 'covenant'.

John · 1

  1. John 9:22 συνετέθειντο had agreed together

    His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

    Here: Pluperfect middle: they had 'put it together' among themselves, meaning a joint, settled decision already in force. It describes an agreement or resolution, not necessarily a formal written law.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 23:20 συνέθεντο have agreed

    He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

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