4802. suzéteó
Lexical Summary
suzéteó: To discuss, to dispute, to debate, to question

Original Word: συζητέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: suzéteó
Pronunciation: soo-zay-teh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (sood-zay-teh'-o)
KJV: dispute (with), enquire, question (with), reason (together)
NASB: arguing, discussing, argue, argued, debated, discuss
Word Origin: [from G4862 (σύν - along) and G2212 (ζητέω - seek)]

1. to investigate jointly, i.e. discuss, controvert, cavil

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
dispute, enquire, question, reason together.

From sun and zeteo; to investigate jointly, i.e. Discuss, controvert, cavil -- dispute (with), enquire, question (with), reason (together).

see GREEK sun

see GREEK zeteo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from sun and zéteó
Definition
to examine together, hence to dispute
NASB Translation
argue (1), argued (1), arguing (3), debated (1), discuss (1), discussing (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4802: συζητέω

συζητέω (L T Tr WH συνζητέω (cf. σύν, II. at the end)), συζήτω; imperfect 3 person singular συνεζήτει;

a. to seek or examine together (Plato).

b. in the N. T. to discuss, dispute (question (A. V. often)): absolutely (Mark 12:28); Luke 24:15; τίνι, with one, Mark 8:11; Mark 9:14 (R G L); Acts 6:9; in the same sense πρός τινα, Mark 9:14 (T Tr WH), 16 (where read πρός αὐτούς, not with Rec.bez elz G πρός αὑτούς (see αὑτοῦ, p. 87)); Acts 9:29, πρός ἑαυτούς (L Tr WH marginal reading or πρός αὑτούς Rbez elz G) equivalent to πρός ἀλλήλους, Mark 1:21 (where T WH text simply αὐτούς as subjunctive); πρός ἑαυτούς with the addition of an indirect question τό τίς etc. with the optative (cf. Buttmann, § 139, 60; Winer's Grammar, § 41 b. 4c.), Luke 22:23; τί, with the indicative, Mark 9:10.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usage

Strong’s 4802 describes verbal interaction that ranges from courteous questioning to vigorous debate. Every New Testament occurrence links the verb to a moment when truth is being weighed, contested, or clarified.

Association with Rabbinic and Synagogue Disputation

First–century Jewish life prized theological dialogue. Synagogue services commonly ended with question-and-answer exchanges, and travelling teachers were expected to defend their views in open disputation. In Acts 6:9 Luke records, “But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen … rose up and disputed with Stephen.” The same pattern re-appears in Acts 9:29, where Saul “talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews.” These scenes portray the early church stepping into recognized public forums to present the gospel, showing that Christianity from its inception engaged prevailing ideas rather than retreating from them.

Encounters with the Authority of Jesus

Mark preserves several episodes in which religious specialists challenge Jesus. Mark 8:11: “Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him, and they asked Him for a sign from heaven.” Mark 9:14 depicts scribes “arguing” with the disciples after an exorcism attempt, and Jesus’ arrival immediately reorients the dispute. In each case the debate exposes human impotence and Christ’s sovereign power. Even positive curiosity is reshaped when Jesus speaks; after hearing His answer, the scribe in Mark 12:28-34 moves from dispute to affirmation of the greatest commandment.

Disciples’ Intra-Community Dialogue

The same verb also describes believers weighing matters they do not yet understand.
Mark 1:27 records the crowd in Capernaum who “asked one another” about His authoritative teaching.
Mark 9:10 shows Peter, James, and John “discussing what ‘rising from the dead’ meant.”
Luke 22:23 pictures the Twelve “questioning among themselves” which one might betray Him.
Luke 24:15 depicts the despairing journey to Emmaus: “And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.”

In every instance, honest dialogue becomes the setting for fresh revelation. The risen Christ meets confused disciples on the road; the indwelling Spirit later guides the church into all truth.

Apostolic Apologetics

Stephen and Paul illustrate the evangelistic face of disputation. Stephen’s bold defense (Acts 6) provokes martyrdom yet plants seeds for Saul’s conversion. Afterward, the transformed Saul “debated with the Hellenistic Jews” (Acts 9:29) until threats forced him to flee. Spirit-filled argument, therefore, is not quarrelsome self-assertion but reasoned testimony to the risen Lord.

Theological Themes

1. Revelation versus Human Reason: Human debate often stalls in speculation, but divine revelation settles the issue (Mark 9:16-27).
2. Authority of Christ: Disputes climax not in a stalemate but in recognition of Jesus’ superior wisdom and power (Mark 1:27).
3. Community Formation: Robust, respectful questioning deepens discipleship and equips the church for witness (Luke 24:32-35).

Practical Ministry Lessons

• Engage Culture Thoughtfully: Following apostolic example, believers can enter intellectual arenas with confidence that Scripture supplies coherent answers.
• Guard Motive and Tone: The Pharisees’ contentious spirit warns against debate for debate’s sake. James 3:17 reminds us that heavenly wisdom is “peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy.”
• Expect Transformation: Properly handled discussion often precedes decisive faith commitments, as seen in the scribe who drew near to the kingdom (Mark 12:34).

Historical Background

Greco-Roman education prized rhetoric, while Judaism honored midrashic dialogue. The New Testament church inherited both streams, yet subordinated them to the revelation of Jesus Christ. Consequently, early Christian argumentation combined rigorous logic with prophetic proclamation.

Conclusion

The ten New Testament occurrences of Strong’s 4802 reveal that God often advances His purposes amid earnest conversation and even heated debate. Whether silencing demons, clarifying doctrine, or defending the gospel before hostile audiences, the people of God are called to speak truth boldly, humbly, and always with a view to exalting Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
συζητείν συζητεῖν συζητείτε συζητεῖτε συζητούντας συζητοῦντας συζητούντες συζητοῦντες συζητούντων συνεζητει συνεζήτει συνζητειν συνζητεῖν συνζητειτε συνζητεῖτε συνζητουντας συνζητοῦντας συνζητουντες συνζητοῦντες συνζητουντων συνζητούντων sunezetei sunezētei suzetein suzētein suzeteite suzēteite suzetountas suzētountas suzetountes suzētountes suzetounton suzētountōn synezetei synezētei synezḗtei syzetein syzeteîn syzētein syzēteîn syzeteite syzeteîte syzēteite syzēteîte syzetountas syzetoûntas syzētountas syzētoûntas syzetountes syzetoûntes syzētountes syzētoûntes syzetounton syzetoúnton syzētountōn syzētoúntōn
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Mark 1:27 V-PNA
GRK: ἅπαντες ὥστε συζητεῖν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς
NAS: so that they debated among themselves,
KJV: insomuch that they questioned among
INT: all so that they questioned among themselves

Mark 8:11 V-PNA
GRK: καὶ ἤρξαντο συζητεῖν αὐτῷ ζητοῦντες
NAS: out and began to argue with Him, seeking
KJV: began to question with him,
INT: and began to dispute with him seeking

Mark 9:10 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς συζητοῦντες τί ἐστιν
NAS: upon that statement, discussing with one another
KJV: themselves, questioning one with another what
INT: among themselves questioning what is

Mark 9:14 V-PPA-AMP
GRK: καὶ γραμματεῖς συζητοῦντας πρὸς αὐτούς
NAS: them, and [some] scribes arguing with them.
KJV: and the scribes questioning with them.
INT: and scribes arguing with them

Mark 9:16 V-PIA-2P
GRK: αὐτούς Τί συζητεῖτε πρὸς αὐτούς
NAS: them, What are you discussing with them?
KJV: What question ye with
INT: them What are you disputing with them

Mark 12:28 V-PPA-GMP
GRK: ἀκούσας αὐτῶν συζητούντων ἰδὼν ὅτι
NAS: and heard them arguing, and recognizing
KJV: them reasoning together, and perceiving
INT: having heard them reasoning together having seen that

Luke 22:23 V-PNA
GRK: αὐτοὶ ἤρξαντο συζητεῖν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς
NAS: And they began to discuss among
KJV: began to enquire among
INT: they began to question together among themselves

Luke 24:15 V-PNA
GRK: αὐτοὺς καὶ συζητεῖν καὶ αὐτὸς
NAS: they were talking and discussing, Jesus
KJV: [together] and reasoned, Jesus
INT: they and reasoned that himself

Acts 6:9 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: καὶ Ἀσίας συζητοῦντες τῷ Στεφάνῳ
NAS: rose up and argued with Stephen.
KJV: and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
INT: and Asia disputing with Stephen

Acts 9:29 V-IIA-3S
GRK: τε καὶ συνεζήτει πρὸς τοὺς
NAS: And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic
KJV: and disputed against
INT: also and debated with the

Strong's Greek 4802
10 Occurrences


συνεζήτει — 1 Occ.
συζητεῖν — 4 Occ.
συζητεῖτε — 1 Occ.
συζητοῦντας — 1 Occ.
συζητοῦντες — 2 Occ.
συζητούντων — 1 Occ.

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