Greek · G4851 · unreviewed

συμφέρω

Be profitable

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συμφέρω G4851

Pronunciation symphérō

What does συμφέρω (symphérō) mean in the Bible?

συμφέρω (symphérō) is a Greek word meaning "be profitable". συμ-φέρω [in LXX: Jer. Reveals political calculation behind Christ’s death. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah.

Full entry for συμφέρω (G4851) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

be profitable

Extended definition

Profit or advantage from God's perspective, often expressing what serves spiritual benefit rather than personal desire.

1trans. to bring together: with accusative of thing(s), Act.19:19.

2Intrans., and mostly impers., συμφέρει, it is expedient, profitable or an advantage: 1Co.6:12 10:23, 2Co.8:10; with inf. (M, Pr., 210), Mat.19:10, Jhn.18:14; with dative, before ἵνα (Bl., § 69, 5), Mat.5:29-30 18:6, Jhn.11:50 16:7. Ptcp., ςυμφέρων, profitable: 1Co.12:7; pl., Act.20:20; (οὐ σ. sc. ἐστιν; = οὐ συμφέρει; cf. Thuc., iii, 44, 2), 2Co.12:1; as subst., τὸ σ., profit, Heb.12:10.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Reveals political calculation behind Christ’s death. John 11:45–57

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Present Aorist

Voices

Active

Indicative states a fact or reality 10×

Present Active Matt 5:29 · Matt 5:30 · Matt 18:6 · Matt 19:10 · John 11:50 · John 16:7 · John 18:14 · 1 Cor 6:12 · 1 Cor 10:23 · 2 Cor 8:10 10×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 5×

Present Active 1 Cor 12:7 · Heb 12:10 · Acts 20:20 · 2 Cor 12:1 4×

Aorist Active Acts 19:19 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 15 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

ongoing 10 participle 5

Tense

present 14 aorist 1

Voice

active 15

Mood

indicative 10 participle 5

NT Occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Canonical Themes

Messiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

John 11:45–57 συμφέρει symphérō Indicative · Present Active

expedient

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 10 — Learn from Israel, Flee Idolatry, and Seek the Good of Others for God’s Glory 1 Corinthians 12 — One Spirit, Many Gifts, and One Body in Christ 1 Corinthians 6 — Judge Righteously, Flee Sexual Immorality, and Glorify God in Your Body Acts 20 — Paul’s Farewell Charge to Shepherd the Church of God Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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