Brief Overview of συναυξάνω (Strong’s G4885: synauxanō)

Strong’s G4885: A compound verb combining σύν (with) and αὐξάνω (to grow), meaning to grow together. In NT usage, it appears in the parable of the wheat and tares, describing the simultaneous growth of good and evil until the final harvest.

U- Unveiling the Word

συναυξάνω represents concurrent growth and development. As a compound word, it combines togetherness with growth, creating a term that describes parallel development. In the New Testament, it appears specifically in Jesus’s parable of the wheat and tares, illustrating the reality that both righteousness and evil develop side by side in this age. The early church understood this term as explaining why God permits evil to continue alongside good until the final judgment. Today, it continues to inform our understanding of kingdom growth amidst opposition and the temporary coexistence of good and evil in the world.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: συναυξάνω, synauxanō, /soon-owx-AN-oh/
• Detailed Pronunciation: soon (as in ‘soon’) + owx (as in ‘ox’) + AN (as in ‘man’) + oh (as in ‘go’)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• σύν (syn): prefix meaning “with, together”
• αὐξάνω (auxanō): verb meaning “to grow, increase”
• The combination creates the concept of joint growth

D – Defining Meanings

• To grow together
• To increase simultaneously
• To develop in parallel
• To mature alongside
• To grow up together

For compound words:
σύν emphasizes concurrent action, while αὐξάνω contributes the concept of growth and development, creating a word that describes parallel growth.

Translation Options:

1. “To grow together” – Best captures the simultaneous development
2. “To increase together” – Emphasizes parallel progression
3. “To mature alongside” – Highlights concurrent development

E – Exploring Similar Words

• αὐξάνω (auxanō) /owx-AN-oh/ – to grow individually. See G837
• συμφύω (symphyō) /soom-FYO-oh/ – to grow together naturally. See G4855
• παραυξάνω (parauxanō) /par-owx-AN-oh/ – to grow beside. See G3873

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

For this verb:

• Tense: Present, Aorist
• Voice: Active, Passive
• Mood: Indicative, Infinitive
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Imperfective (present), Perfective (aorist)

Example morphological changes:

• Present Active: συναυξάνω (I grow together)
• Aorist Active: συνηύξησα (I grew together)
• Present Passive: συναυξάνομαι (I am grown together)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes the simultaneous nature of the growth. Thayer’s notes its use in agricultural contexts. LSJ provides evidence of use in botanical descriptions. Vine’s connects it to spiritual realities. Strong’s emphasizes the compound nature of joint growth. LEH notes its use in describing natural processes. Moulton and Milligan find evidence of its use in agricultural documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:

Matthew 13:30: “Let both grow together [συναυξάνεσθαι] until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'”

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

συναυξάνω powerfully illustrates the current reality of kingdom growth. The good news of King Jesus advances in a world where good and evil coexist, reminding us that final separation awaits the harvest. This word teaches us patience and perspective, knowing that God permits temporary coexistence while working toward His perfect resolution.

D – Did You Know?

1. The word appears only once in the New Testament, in a crucial kingdom parable
2. It was commonly used in ancient agricultural and botanical writings
3. Early church writers used this term to explain God’s patience with evil

Strong’s G4885: A compound verb combining σύν (with) and αὐξάνω (to grow), meaning to grow together. In NT usage, it appears in the parable of the wheat and tares, describing the simultaneous growth of good and evil until the final harvest.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: growth, development, kingdom parables, wheat and tares, simultaneous growth, judgment, patience, evil, good, agricultural metaphors, divine timing, final harvest​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​