from σύν and a compound of κατά and ψηφίζω; to count down in company with, i.e. enroll among:--number with.
Transliteration:synkatapsēphízō
Pronunciation:soong-kat-aps-ay-fid'-zo
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb συγκαταψηφίζω (synkatapsēphízō), `{{G4785}}`, is a compound word rich in meaning. It is formed from three components: σύν (syn), meaning "with" or "together"; κατά (kata), which can mean "down," "against," or serve as an intensifier; and ψηφίζω (psēphízō), meaning "to count with pebbles," "to vote," or "to determine by vote." The presence of ψηφίζω points to a process of calculation or decision-making, often associated with the use of pebbles (ψῆφος, `{{G5586}}`) for voting or counting.
Synthesizing these elements, the core meaning of συγκαταψηφίζω is "to count down in company with," or more broadly, "to enroll among" or "to number with" by a collective or definitive act. The σύν prefix emphasizes the communal or associative aspect of the counting or decision. The κατά prefix, in this context, likely functions as an intensifier, suggesting a conclusive or definitive counting, or perhaps a formal enrollment that places one "down" among a list or group. It implies not merely a casual tallying, but an authoritative inclusion or designation resulting from a collective process.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word συγκαταψηφίζω appears only once in the New Testament, found in [[Acts 1:26]]. This singular occurrence makes its context particularly significant for understanding its precise nuance and theological weight.
The passage in [[Acts 1:26]] describes the selection of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot among the twelve apostles: "And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was **numbered with** the eleven apostles." The Greek text reads: "καὶ ἔδωκαν κλήρους αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἔπεσεν ὁ κλῆρος ἐπὶ Ματθίαν, καὶ **συγκατεψηφίσθη** μετὰ τῶν ἕνδεκα ἀποστόλων."
The context reveals a process involving prayer ([[Acts 1:24]]), the setting of qualifications ([[Acts 1:21-22]]), the nomination of two candidates, and the casting of lots ([[Acts 1:26]]). The disciples understood this process to be a means by which God's will would be revealed. Therefore, Matthias was not simply added to a list; he was formally and divinely sanctioned as a legitimate member of the apostolic college, completing the symbolic number of twelve. The use of συγκαταψηφίζω here underscores the authoritative and communal nature of this inclusion, a decision that was seen as God's own, affirmed by the community. It was an act of official enrollment into a divinely appointed office.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Greek words and concepts illuminate the meaning of συγκαταψηφίζω:
* **σύν (syn) `{{G4862}}`**: The preposition "with" or "together," which forms the first part of the compound. It highlights the communal aspect of Matthias's inclusion, emphasizing that he was counted *with* the others, not merely by himself.
* **ψηφίζω (psēphízō) `{{G5586}}`**: The base verb meaning "to count" or "to vote." This word is notably used in [[Revelation 13:18]] in the command to "count the number of the beast." It signifies a process of calculation or determination.
* **ἀριθμέω (arithmeō) `{{G706}}`**: A more general verb meaning "to number" or "to count." While συγκαταψηφίζω implies a specific, often formal or collective, counting for inclusion, ἀριθμέω is a broader term for enumeration.
* **κληρόω (klēroō) `{{G2820}}`**: Meaning "to cast lots" or "to obtain by lot." This verb is directly related to the method used in [[Acts 1:26]] to determine God's choice, highlighting the divine agency perceived in the process.
* **ἐκλέγομαι (eklegomai) `{{G1586}}`**: "To choose out" or "to select." While συγκαταψηφίζω describes the *act of numbering* someone into a group, ἐκλέγομαι describes the *act of choosing* that person. In [[Acts 1:26]], the "numbering with" is the culmination of the divine choice made through the lot.
* The broader concept of **apostolic succession and authority**: The selection of Matthias was not merely filling a vacancy but maintaining the integrity and number of the apostolic office, which carried unique authority and witness within the early church.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of συγκαταψηφίζω in [[Acts 1:26]] carries profound theological significance:
1. **Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency:** The word underscores the interplay between God's sovereign will and human participation in the early church. While the disciples engaged in a human process (prayer, nomination, casting lots), they did so with the conviction that God would reveal His choice. Matthias's being "numbered with" was ultimately seen as a divine act, legitimizing his apostleship.
2. **Legitimacy and Continuity of Apostolic Office:** The act of "numbering with" ensured the continuity and numerical integrity of the twelve apostles, a number deeply symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel and the foundation of the new covenant community. This was crucial for the early church's understanding of its authoritative witness to Christ's resurrection. Matthias's inclusion was not casual but foundational, granting him the same authority and status as the original eleven.
3. **Communal Affirmation:** The σύν component highlights the communal aspect of this decision. While the lot revealed God's choice, the entire assembly of disciples was present and participated in the process, thus affirming Matthias's inclusion. This points to the early church's understanding of communal discernment and affirmation in matters of leadership and divine appointment.
4. **Theological Weight of Enrollment:** Being "numbered with" the apostles was far more than a statistical count; it was an act of spiritual and authoritative incorporation into a unique, divinely commissioned group. It signifies a formal, authoritative, and divinely sanctioned enrollment into a position of immense spiritual and ecclesial responsibility.
### Summary
συγκαταψηφίζω (synkatapsēphízō), `{{G4785}}`, is a unique and significant Greek verb found exclusively in [[Acts 1:26]]. Its core meaning, "to count down in company with" or "to enroll among," is derived from its components σύν ("with"), κατά (an intensifier or indicating definitive action), and ψηφίζω ("to count" or "to vote"). In its sole biblical context, the word describes the authoritative and divinely sanctioned inclusion of Matthias among the eleven apostles, completing the foundational number of twelve. Theologically, συγκαταψηφίζω illuminates the interplay of divine sovereignty and human agency in the early church's decisions, emphasizing the legitimacy, continuity, and communal affirmation of the apostolic office. It signifies a formal and weighty act of incorporation into a divinely appointed and authoritative role within the nascent Christian community.
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