Word Study for G4816 (συλλέγω)

syllégō /sool-leg'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom σύν and λέγω in its original sense

Meaningto collect

KJV usagegather (together, up).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of syllégō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word syllégō, represented by G4816, means to collect or gather. It appears 9 times across 8 unique verses in the Bible. The word is formed from two parts, suggesting a collection or gathering together, and is often used in contexts of harvesting or sorting.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G4816 is primarily used within parables to illustrate a process of separation and judgment. In the parable of the tares, the servants ask if they should go and gather the tares from the wheat Matthew 13:28, but are told to wait lest they uproot the wheat as well Matthew 13:29. At the harvest, the angels will gather out of the kingdom all things that cause offense Matthew 13:41, and the tares are gathered to be burned Matthew 13:40. The word is also used to teach about discernment; one cannot gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, for a tree is known by its fruit (Matthew 7:16, Luke 6:44). Similarly, in the parable of the net, fishermen gathered the good fish into vessels after drawing the net to shore Matthew 13:48.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the action and context of gathering:

G4863 synágō (to lead together, i.e. collect or convene): This word is used in parallel with G4816 in Matthew 13:30, where the tares are gathered G4816 for destruction, but the wheat is gathered G4863 into the barn.
G1610 ekrizóō (to uproot): This word highlights the danger of improper gathering. The master warns against gathering the tares prematurely, lest the gatherers also uproot the wheat Matthew 13:29.
G2327 theristḗs (a harvester): These are the agents, identified as angels Matthew 13:39, who are commanded to gather the tares at the time of harvest Matthew 13:30.
G1210 déō (to bind): This action immediately follows the gathering of the tares. They are first gathered G4816 and then bound in bundles to be burned Matthew 13:30.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4816 is significant, particularly in eschatology.

Divine Sorting: The act of gathering is consistently linked to a final separation. This is seen in the sorting of tares from wheat Matthew 13:30, the good fish from the bad Matthew 13:48, and the removal of all that offends from the kingdom Matthew 13:41.
Identification and Discernment: The principle that one cannot gather good fruit from a bad source Matthew 7:16 establishes a key theological test: a person's or a movement's true nature is revealed by its "fruit." You shall know them by their fruits Matthew 7:16.
Final Disposition: The purpose of the gathering is to assign a final destiny. The things gathered G4816 are not left in a neutral state; they are either collected for preservation, as with the good fish Matthew 13:48, or for destruction, as with the tares Matthew 13:40.

Summary

In summary, G4816 moves beyond a simple agricultural term to become a powerful metaphor for divine action. It illustrates a deliberate and purposeful collection, whether of fruit from a tree or souls at the end of the age. The word carries a sense of finality, underscoring the biblical themes of discernment, judgment, and the ultimate separation of good from evil.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 8 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Indicative 3rd Plural 2×
Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 1st Plural 1×
Future Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 8 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (7 verses); never once in the other 25.

Matthew

Luke

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.