Word Study for G4838 (συμπαραλαμβάνω)

symparalambánō /soom-par-al-am-ban'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom σύν and παραλαμβάνω

Meaningto take along in company

KJV usagetake with.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of symparalambánō — 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 symparalambánō, represented by G4838, means to take along in company or to take with. It is a compound word derived from σύν (with) and παραλαμβάνω (to take). According to usage statistics, it appears 6 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, indicating a specific and focused application.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G4838 is used exclusively to describe the act of choosing and bringing a companion on an apostolic journey. Paul uses the word when he recounts that he took Titus with him when he went up to Jerusalem Galatians 2:1. Similarly, Barnabas and Saul took with them John Mark upon returning from Jerusalem after fulfilling their ministry Acts 12:25. The word becomes a point of conflict when Barnabas determined to take with them John Mark again, but Paul disagreed, refusing to take him because he had previously departed from them Acts 15:37-38.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context surrounding the decision to take a companion:

G1011 bouleúō (determine, consult, purpose): This word highlights the intentionality behind choosing a partner. It is used when Barnabas determined to take John Mark on a mission Acts 15:37.
G868 aphístēmi (depart, draw away, withdraw self): This term provides the reason for Paul's objection to taking John Mark. Paul argues against taking him because he had departed from them during a previous journey Acts 15:38.
G305 anabaínō (go up, ascend): This word describes the travel for which a companion is taken. Paul states that he went up to Jerusalem and at the same time took Titus with him Galatians 2:1.

Theological Significance

The significance of G4838 is found in its narrative role in the formation of ministry teams in the early church.

Purposeful Selection: The word is not used for casual travel but for the deliberate inclusion of an individual in apostolic work. The decision to take with someone like Titus or John Mark was a conscious choice for partnership in ministry Galatians 2:1.
Apostolic Partnership: Being "taken with" signifies entry into the inner circle of a mission. The action is central to fulfilling a ministry, as when Barnabas and Saul took John Mark after completing their service Acts 12:25.
Basis for Contention: The decision of who to take with was critical enough to cause a major disagreement between Paul and Barnabas, demonstrating the high stakes of choosing a reliable companion for the work Acts 15:38.

Summary

In summary, G4838 is a precise term that moves beyond simple accompaniment. It denotes the intentional and strategic selection of a companion for a specific mission or ministry. Its usage in Acts and Galatians illustrates the importance of partnership, the process of forming missionary teams, and the serious consideration given to the character of those chosen for the journey.

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 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

2nd Aorist Active Infinitive 1×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Present Active Infinitive 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
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 4 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (3 verses); never once in the other 25.

Acts

Galatians

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.