4822. sumbibazó
Lexical Summary
sumbibazó: To unite, to bring together, to instruct, to prove

Original Word: συμβιβάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sumbibazó
Pronunciation: soom-bee-BAH-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (soom-bib-ad'-zo)
KJV: compact, assuredly gather, intrust, knit together, prove
NASB: concluded, concluding, held, held together, instruct, knit together, proving
Word Origin: [from G4862 (σύν - along) and bibazo "to force" (causative (by reduplication) of the base of G939 (βάσις - feet))]

1. to drive together, i.e. unite (in association or affection), (mentally) to infer, show, teach

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
to hold together, to instruct

From sun and bibazo (to force; causative (by reduplication) of the base of basis); to drive together, i.e. Unite (in association or affection), (mentally) to infer, show, teach -- compact, assuredly gather, intrust, knit together, prove.

see GREEK sun

see GREEK basis

HELPS Word-studies

4822 symbibázō (from 4862 /sýn, "identified with" and 1688 /embibázō, "to board a ship") – properly, bring together (combine), "causing to stride together" (TDNT); (figuratively) to grasp a truth by intertwining ideas needed to "get on board," i.e. come to the necessary judgment (conclusion); "to prove" (J. Thayer).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from sun and the caus. form of the same as basis
Definition
to join together, hence to consider, by ext. to teach
NASB Translation
concluded (1), concluding (1), held (1), held together (1), instruct (1), knit together (1), proving (1), together* (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4822: συμβιβάζω

συμβιβάζω (WH συνβιβάζω (so Tdf. in Ephesians 4:16; Colossians 2:19); cf. σύν, II. at the end); 1 aorist βυνεβίβασα (Acts 19:33 L T Tr WH, but see below); passive, present participle συμβιβαζόμενος; 1 aorist participle συμβιβασθεις; (βιβάζω to mount the female, copulate with her; to leap, cover, of animals; allow to be covered, admit to cover);

1. to cause to coalesce, to join together, put together: τό σῶμα, passive, of the parts of the body 'knit together' into one whole, compacted together, Ephesians 4:16; Colossians 2:19; to unite or knit together in affection, passive, Colossians 2:2 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 63, 2 a.; Buttmann, § 144, 13 a.) (to reconcile one to another, Herodotus 1, 74; Thucydides 2, 29).

2. to put together in one's mind, to compare; by comparison to gather, conclude, consider: followed by ὅτι, Acts 16:10 (Plato, Hipp., min., p. 369 d.; de rep. 6, p. 504 a.).

3. to cause a person to unite with one in a conclusion or come to the same opinion, to prove, demonstrate: followed by ὅτι, Acts 9:22 ((Aristotle, top. 7, 5, p. 151a, 36); followed by ὡς (Aristotle, rhet. Alex. 4, p. 1426a, 37: etc.); Jamblichus, vit. Pythagoras c. 13 § 60; followed by the accusative with infinitive, Ocellus Lucanus, 3, 3); by a usage purely Biblical, with the accusative of a person, to teach, instruct, one: 1 Corinthians 2:16; for הֵבִין, Isaiah 40:14; for הודִיעַ , Exodus 18:16; Deuteronomy 4:9; Isaiah 40:13, Alex., Ald., etc.; for הורָה, Exodus 4:12, 15; Leviticus 10:11; בִּינָה הִשְׂכִּיל, Theod., Daniel 9:22. (The reading συνεβίβασαν in Acts 19:33, given by manuscripts א A B etc. (and adopted by L T Tr WH) yields no sense; (but it may be translated (with R. V. marginal reading) 'some of the multitude instructed Alexander', etc.; R. V. text translates it they brought Alexander out of the multitude, etc.).)

Topical Lexicon
Overview of New Testament Usage

The verb translated variously as “instruct,” “knit together,” “prove,” “conclude,” or “prompt” appears seven times. In each setting it portrays a dynamic act of bringing separate elements into coherent unity—whether thoughts, believers, evidence, or decisions.

Instruction and Spiritual Insight (1 Corinthians 2:16)

Paul cites Isaiah to show that no one can direct the Lord’s mind, then adds, “But we have the mind of Christ.” The term underlines the Spirit-given capacity of believers to be brought into shared understanding with the Lord’s own thoughts. Christian instruction is never mere data transfer; it is the Spirit’s work of uniting redeemed minds with divine wisdom.

Bond of Love and Understanding within the Church (Colossians 2:2; Ephesians 4:16; Colossians 2:19)

Colossians 2:2: Paul prays that the churches be “knit together in love,” so that assurance and full knowledge might flourish. Intellectual conviction and heartfelt affection meet where the Spirit binds hearts.
Ephesians 4:16: From Christ “the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love.” The term depicts living connections that turn diverse members into one thriving organism.
Colossians 2:19: Those who lose connection with the Head also lose the vital cohesion that “knit[s] together” the body; true growth is God-given and Christ-centered. Unity is therefore not optional but essential to genuine maturity.

Reasoned Proof and Apologetic Witness (Acts 9:22)

“Saul grew more powerful and kept confounding the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.” The word stresses logical linkage: Old Testament prophecy, historical fact, and personal testimony are woven into a persuasive case. Early Christian apologetics relied on Scripture and reason, joined by the Spirit, to demonstrate Jesus’ messiahship.

Corporate Discernment in Mission Direction (Acts 16:10)

After Paul’s Macedonian vision, “we got ready at once… concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” The believers collectively put together the vision’s meaning and their calling. Missional guidance emerges when the body pieces together divine indications under the Spirit’s leading.

Prompting within the Public Square (Acts 19:33)

During the Ephesian riot, “the Jews in the crowd put forward Alexander,” literally coordinated or prompted him to speak a defense. Even amid chaotic civic settings, the term shows deliberate action to present an ordered response.

Doctrinal Themes

1. Christ as the cohesive center: Whether thought (1 Corinthians 2:16) or church life (Ephesians 4:16), everything coheres in Him.
2. The Spirit’s role in coherence: From revelation to mission decisions, the Spirit makes sense of scattered data and people.
3. Unity and growth: True spiritual increase is impossible where members or ideas remain isolated; growth presupposes Spirit-wrought connection.

Historical Setting

The first-century church faced fragmented societies—Jew and Greek, slave and free. By consistently using this verb, Luke and Paul highlight how the gospel answered that fragmentation through compelling proof, affectionate unity, and shared purpose.

Pastoral and Ministry Significance

• Teaching: Aim beyond information toward Spirit-enabled comprehension and alignment with Christ’s mind.
• Fellowship: Cultivate environments where hearts are “knit together in love,” guarding against detachment from the Head.
• Apologetics: Present a well-woven case for Christ, integrating Scripture, reason, and testimony.
• Leadership: Seek corporate discernment, piecing together God’s guidance with the community.
• Public Engagement: Prepare believers to give ordered, thoughtful responses amid cultural upheaval.

Key Points for Teaching and Application

– Authentic unity arises from Christ, not merely human organization.

– Doctrinal instruction should produce both understanding and affection.

– Mission decisions flourish when believers collaboratively discern God’s leading.

– Reasoned defense remains a biblical mandate, demonstrating Jesus as Messiah.

– Every member’s contribution is a Spirit-supplied ligament holding the body together for growth in love.

Forms and Transliterations
συμβιβάζειν συμβιβαζόμενον συμβιβάζοντες συμβιβάζω συμβιβάζων συμβιβάσαι συμβιβάσει συμβιβάσεις συμβιβασθέντες συμβιβασθέντων συμβιβάσω συμβιβώ σύμβλημα σύμβλησιν συμβοηθοί συμβολαίς συμβολάς συμβολή συμβολήν συμβόλοις συμβολοκοπών συμβοσκηθήσεται συνβιβαζομενον συνβιβαζόμενον συνβιβαζοντες συνβιβάζοντες συνβιβαζων συνβιβάζων συνβιβασει συνβιβάσει συνβιβασθεντες συνβιβασθέντες συνεβιβασαν συνεβίβασαν συνεβίβασεν sumbibasei sumbibasthentes sumbibazomenon sumbibazon sumbibazōn sumbibazontes sunebibasan symbibasei symbibásei symbibasthentes symbibasthéntes symbibazomenon symbibazómenon symbibazon symbibazōn symbibázon symbibázōn symbibazontes symbibázontes synebibasan synebíbasan
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Englishman's Concordance
Acts 9:22 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: ἐν Δαμασκῷ συμβιβάζων ὅτι οὗτός
NAS: at Damascus by proving that this
KJV: at Damascus, proving that this
INT: in Damascus proving that this

Acts 16:10 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: εἰς Μακεδονίαν συμβιβάζοντες ὅτι προσκέκληται
NAS: into Macedonia, concluding that God
KJV: Macedonia, assuredly gathering that
INT: to Macedonia concluding that had called

Acts 19:33 V-AIA-3P
GRK: τοῦ ὄχλου συνεβίβασαν Ἀλέξανδρον προβαλόντων
NAS: Some of the crowd concluded [it was] Alexander,
INT: the crowd they put forward Alexander having thrust forward

1 Corinthians 2:16 V-FIA-3S
GRK: Κυρίου ὃς συμβιβάσει αὐτόν ἡμεῖς
NAS: OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have
KJV: that he may instruct him?
INT: of [the] Lord who will instruct him we

Ephesians 4:16 V-PPM/P-NNS
GRK: συναρμολογούμενον καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον διὰ πάσης
NAS: being fitted and held together by what
KJV: and compacted by
INT: fitted together and held together by every

Colossians 2:2 V-APP-NMP
GRK: καρδίαι αὐτῶν συμβιβασθέντες ἐν ἀγάπῃ
NAS: may be encouraged, having been knit together in love,
KJV: might be comforted, being knit together in
INT: hearts of them having been knit together in love

Colossians 2:19 V-PPM/P-NNS
GRK: ἐπιχορηγούμενον καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον αὔξει τὴν
NAS: being supplied and held together by the joints
KJV: and knit together, increaseth
INT: being supplied and knit together increases [with] the

Strong's Greek 4822
7 Occurrences


συμβιβάσει — 1 Occ.
συμβιβασθέντες — 1 Occ.
συμβιβάζων — 1 Occ.
συμβιβαζόμενον — 2 Occ.
συμβιβάζοντες — 1 Occ.
συνεβίβασαν — 1 Occ.

4821
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