Brief Overview of συμπίνω (Strong’s G4844: sympino)

Strong’s G4844: A compound verb combining συν- (with) and πίνω (to drink), meaning “to drink together with.” Used significantly in Acts to describe the disciples’ shared meals with the risen Messiah, emphasizing the physical reality of His resurrection and the fellowship aspect of these encounters.

U- Unveiling the Word

συμπίνω represents the profound act of shared drinking, particularly in contexts of fellowship and communion. As a compound word, it combines togetherness (συν-) with drinking (πίνω) to express intimate fellowship through shared meals. In the New Testament, it appears specifically in reference to the risen Messiah’s meals with His disciples, serving as tangible proof of His bodily resurrection. The early church saw this term as significant in understanding both the reality of the resurrection and the fellowship aspect of Christian communion. Today, it continues to remind us of the physical reality of the resurrection and the importance of shared meals in Christian fellowship.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: συμπίνω, sympino, /soom-pee-no/
• Detailed pronunciation: soom (unstressed) – PEE (stressed) – no
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• Prefix: συν-/συμ- (syn-/sym-) meaning “with, together”
• Root word: πίνω (pino) meaning “to drink”
• Related to πόσις (posis) meaning “drinking, beverage”
• Base meaning: “to drink together”

D – Defining Meanings

• To drink together with
• To share in drinking
• To participate in common meals

For compound words:
The prefix συν- indicates joint participation
The root πίνω contributes the act of drinking
Together they express shared fellowship through drinking

Translation Options:

1. To drink with – Most literal translation
2. To share drinks with – Emphasizes fellowship aspect
3. To drink together – Stresses communal nature

E – Exploring Similar Words

• συνεσθίω (synesthio) /soon-es-thee-o/ – to eat with – See G4906
• πίνω (pino) /pee-no/ – to drink – See G4095
• συναλίζομαι (synalizomai) /soon-al-id-zom-ahee/ – to eat salt with, gather with – See G4871

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Tense: Present, Aorist
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Indicative, Participle
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Continuous (Present), Punctiliar (Aorist)

Example English morphing:
Present: drink with
Future: will drink with
Past: drank with
Participle: drinking with

• Cross-references include the noun συμπόσιον (drinking party) and πότης (drinker)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its use in contexts of fellowship meals. Thayer’s highlights its significance in post-resurrection appearances. LSJ notes its common use in contexts of social fellowship. Vine’s connects it to communion and fellowship. Strong’s emphasizes the joint nature of the drinking. Moulton and Milligan document its use in social gatherings.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who [συμπίνω] ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. Acts 10:41

Additional References:
This word appears only once in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

συμπίνω powerfully testifies to the physical reality of the risen Messiah and the fellowship nature of Christian faith. It proclaims the good news that King Jesus rose bodily and shared intimate fellowship with His disciples. This word reminds us that our faith is grounded in historical reality and expressed in genuine fellowship.

D – Did You Know?

1. This word appears in Peter’s testimony about the resurrection, emphasizing its physical reality.
2. Shared drinking was a significant proof of physical presence in ancient culture.
3. Early church writers used this term to defend the bodily resurrection against gnostic interpretations.

Strong’s G4844: A compound verb combining συν- (with) and πίνω (to drink), meaning “to drink together with.” Used in Acts to describe the disciples’ shared meals with the risen Messiah, emphasizing the physical reality of His resurrection and the fellowship aspect of these encounters.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: fellowship, communion, resurrection, meals, physical-presence, testimony, witnesses, drinking, sharing, community, post-resurrection, table-fellowship​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​