### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **syngéneia**, represented by `{{G4772}}`, refers to a **relationship** or, more concretely, **relatives** or **kindred**. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. The term defines a group of people connected by family ties.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{G4772}}` highlights the importance of family and lineage. It is used when God commands a patriarch to depart from his **kindred** and country to go to a new land [[Acts 7:3]]. The word also quantifies a large family group, as when Joseph called for his father Jacob and all his **kindred**, totaling seventy-five souls, to come to him [[Acts 7:14]]. It is also used to refer to a family line when noting that no one among someone's **kindred** shared a particular name [[Luke 1:61]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of family and group identity:
* `{{G3962}}` **patḗr** (father): A primary word for "father," it represents a near or more remote parent. It is central to the concept of family and is seen alongside kindred in the account of Joseph calling for his **father** Jacob [[Acts 7:14]].
* `{{G1093}}` **gē** (country): Defined as soil, a region, or the earth, this word is often used to describe the land of one's origin. It is used in God's command to leave one's **country** and kindred [[Acts 7:3]].
* `{{G5590}}` **psychḗ** (soul): This word means breath, life, or mind. It is used to quantify the individuals within a family group, such as the seventy-five **souls** that constituted Joseph's kindred [[Acts 7:14]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G4772}}` is tied to themes of divine calling and identity.
* **Separation and Calling:** The call to leave one's **kindred** establishes a theme of separation for a divine purpose. This act of leaving familiar relationships is a prerequisite for entering into a promised inheritance from God [[Acts 7:3]].
* **Familial Preservation:** The term is used in the context of God's providence. Joseph gathering his **kindred** in Egypt demonstrates the preservation of the family line, ensuring the survival of the people through whom divine promises would be kept [[Acts 7:14]].
* **Identity and Heritage:** **Kindred** serves as a marker of identity and heritage. This is seen in the context of naming, where a name's absence within the family line highlights a break from tradition and the start of a new spiritual chapter [[Luke 1:61]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G4772}}` **syngéneia** is more than a simple term for relatives. It defines the foundational social and familial unit through which key biblical events unfold. It represents the ties that must be left behind in an act of faith, the people group that is divinely preserved, and the heritage that gives context to new acts of God. The word illustrates how personal relationships are woven into the larger narrative of divine calling and salvation.
TRV