from σύν and χράομαι; to use jointly, i.e. (by implication) to hold intercourse in common:--have dealings with.
Transliteration:synchráomai
Pronunciation:soong-khrah'-om-ahee
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb συγχράομαι (synchráomai, `{{G4798}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition σύν (syn), meaning "with" or "together," and the verb χράομαι (chráomai), meaning "to use," "to employ," or "to deal with." Etymologically, its core meaning is "to use jointly" or "to have common use of something." This literal sense extends semantically to imply "to have dealings with," "to associate with," or "to hold intercourse in common." The emphasis is on shared activity, interaction, or mutual engagement, often in a social or transactional sense. It denotes a relationship where parties are not entirely separate but engage in some form of common practice or interaction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term συγχράομαι (synchráomai, `{{G4798}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in the Gospel of John:
* **[[John 4:9]]**: "Then the Samaritan woman said to Him, 'How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?' For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans."
In this singular, yet profoundly significant, occurrence, the word highlights the deep-seated cultural, ethnic, and religious animosity between Jews and Samaritans. The woman's question underscores a widely recognized social barrier: Jews typically avoided all forms of interaction, including common use of utensils or even conversation, with Samaritans. This prohibition stemmed from historical conflicts, differing religious practices (e.g., Samaritan worship on Mount Gerizim vs. Jewish worship in Jerusalem), and mutual disdain. Jesus's request for water, and indeed His entire engagement with the Samaritan woman, directly challenges and transcends this deeply ingrained social norm expressed by συγχράομαι. His action demonstrates a radical inclusivity that prefigures the breaking down of all such barriers in the new covenant.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept conveyed by συγχράομαι (synchráomai, `{{G4798}}`) relates to several broader New Testament themes and words. The prefix σύν (syn) itself is ubiquitous in Greek, indicating "togetherness" or "fellowship," as seen in words like συνεργός (synergos, `{{G4904}}`, "fellow worker") or συμφωνέω (symphōneō, `{{G4856}}`, "to agree together"). In contrast to the separation implied by the Samaritan woman's statement, the New Testament often promotes κοινωνία (koinōnia, `{{G2842}}`), which signifies "fellowship," "communion," or "sharing in common." While συγχράομαι describes the *absence* of dealings due to prejudice, κοινωνία describes the *presence* of shared life and purpose among believers, transcending former divisions. Concepts of purity laws, ritual separation, and social ostracism, prevalent in the ancient world, stand in stark contrast to the inclusive nature of the Gospel, which seeks to unite all peoples in Christ.
### Theological Significance
The solitary use of συγχράομαι (synchráomai, `{{G4798}}`) in [[John 4:9]] carries immense theological weight. It serves as a stark backdrop against which Jesus's revolutionary ministry is illuminated. By deliberately "having dealings" with a Samaritan woman, Jesus not only defied social custom but also demonstrated the universal scope of God's redemptive plan. His actions prefigured the breaking down of "the dividing wall of hostility" ([[Ephesians 2:14]]) between different peoples, a central tenet of the Gospel. This encounter illustrates that God's grace extends beyond ethnic, social, or religious boundaries, inviting all into relationship with Him. It underscores the truth that in Christ, there is "neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" ([[Galatians 3:28]]). The implicit challenge to human-made divisions, conveyed through the woman's observation, highlights the inclusive and transformative nature of the Kingdom of God.
### Summary
συγχράομαι (synchráomai, `{{G4798}}`) literally means "to use jointly" and by extension "to have dealings with" or "to associate with." Its singular appearance in [[John 4:9]] is pivotal, describing the historical and social barrier that Jews maintained with Samaritans. The Samaritan woman's astonished question, "For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans," sets the stage for Jesus's profound act of crossing cultural and ethnic divides. This word, therefore, functions as a powerful linguistic marker of the prejudice that Jesus deliberately dismantled through His ministry, emphasizing the radical inclusivity of the Gospel and God's desire for all humanity to come into relationship with Him, irrespective of societal distinctions.
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