from σύν and πνίγω; to strangle completely, i.e. (literally) to drown, or (figuratively) to crowd:--choke, throng.
Transliteration:sympnígō
Pronunciation:soom-pnee'-go
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb `{{G4846}}` (συμπνίγω, sympnígō) is a compound word formed from the preposition σύν (syn), meaning "with" or "together," and the verb πνίγω (pnigō), meaning "to choke" or "to strangle." The prefix σύν serves to intensify the action of the base verb, indicating a complete, thorough, or overwhelming choking. Thus, `{{G4846}}` carries the primary meaning of "to strangle completely" or "to suffocate entirely."
In its literal sense, it denotes the act of drowning, where life is extinguished by an overwhelming force of water, effectively "choking" the breath out of a living being. Figuratively, it extends to the idea of being "crowded" or "thronged" in a manner that stifles or suppresses. When applied to spiritual or agricultural contexts, it signifies the act of something being so thoroughly overwhelmed or suppressed that its growth, vitality, or fruitfulness is completely inhibited or destroyed. The semantic range therefore covers both a physical, fatal strangulation and a metaphorical, debilitating suppression.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{G4846}}` appears in the New Testament in both its literal and figurative senses.
1. **Literal Drowning:**
* [[Mark 5:13]] recounts the legion of demons entering a herd of pigs, which then "ran violently down the steep place into the sea (about two thousand), and were **drowned** in the sea." Here, `{{G4846}}` describes the literal and complete suffocation by water, resulting in the death of the animals. This usage vividly portrays the destructive power of the demonic realm and the ultimate fate of those possessed.
2. **Figurative Stifling/Choking (Parable of the Sower):**
The majority of occurrences of `{{G4846}}` are found in the Synoptic Gospels within the Parable of the Sower and its explanation. In this context, the word of God (the seed) is sown, but its growth is hindered or destroyed by external forces, preventing it from bearing fruit.
* [[Matthew 13:22]]: "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches **choke** the word, and he becomes unfruitful."
* [[Mark 4:7]]: "And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and **choked** it, and it yielded no fruit."
* [[Mark 4:19]]: "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in **choke** the word, and it becomes unfruitful."
* [[Luke 8:7]]: "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and **choked** it."
* [[Luke 8:14]]: "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are **choked** with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity."
In these instances, `{{G4846}}` metaphorically describes how worldly anxieties (μέριμνα, `{{G3309}}`), deceptive wealth (πλοῦτος, `{{G4149}}`), and the allure of other desires (ἡδονή, `{{G2237}}`) act like thorns, growing around and over the "word" (the spiritual seed) in a person's heart. This "choking" action is so complete that it prevents the word from taking root deeply, developing, and ultimately producing the desired spiritual fruit. The implication is not merely a hindrance, but a complete suppression of life and productivity.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several terms and concepts are closely related to `{{G4846}}` due to shared root meanings or contextual associations:
* **πνίγω (pnigō, `{{G4171}}`):** The root verb, meaning "to choke" or "to strangle." `{{G4846}}` intensifies this action with the prefix σύν.
* **ἀποπνίγω (apopnígō, `{{G606}}`):** Another compound verb from πνίγω, meaning "to choke off" or "to suffocate." It is used similarly in some textual variants of the Parable of the Sower (e.g., [[Luke 8:42]] in a literal sense of drowning, or [[Matthew 13:7]] in some manuscripts). Both `{{G4846}}` and `{{G606}}` convey the idea of complete suffocation.
* **θλίψις (thlípsis, `{{G2347}}`):** Often translated as "tribulation" or "pressure." The "cares of this world" that choke the word can be understood as forms of pressure or affliction that crowd out spiritual priorities.
* **μέριμνα (mérimna, `{{G3309}}`):** "Anxiety," "worry," or "care." This is explicitly identified as one of the "thorns" that `{{G4846}}` the word in the Parable of the Sower.
* **πλοῦτος (ploûtos, `{{G4149}}`):** "Riches" or "wealth." The "deceitfulness of riches" is another specific agent that chokes the word, highlighting the spiritual danger of materialism.
* **ἡδονή (hēdonē, `{{G2237}}`):** "Pleasure" or "desire." The "pleasures of life" are also listed as elements that `{{G4846}}` the word, emphasizing the allure of worldly gratification over spiritual commitment.
* **Fruitfulness/Barrenness:** The concept of `{{G4846}}` is intrinsically linked to the absence of spiritual fruit (ἄκαρπος, `{{G175}}` or καρπός, `{{G2590}}`). The choking action directly leads to unfruitfulness, contrasting with the desired outcome of bearing much fruit for the Kingdom of God.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G4846}}` is profound, particularly in its metaphorical use within the Parable of the Sower. It serves as a stark warning about the **threats to spiritual vitality and fruitfulness**.
1. **The Danger of Worldly Concerns:** The repeated use of `{{G4846}}` to describe the effect of "cares, riches, and pleasures" underscores the insidious power of worldly distractions. These elements, though seemingly innocuous or even desirable, can effectively nullify the transformative power of God's word in a person's life. They do not merely distract; they actively suppress and destroy spiritual growth.
2. **The Necessity of Unhindered Reception:** The "choking" implies that the word, though sown, cannot take root deeply or receive the necessary "nutrients" for growth because it is overwhelmed by external pressures. This highlights the need for a heart that is not only open to hearing the word but also diligently protected from influences that would stifle its development.
3. **Complete Suppression of Fruit:** The intensity of `{{G4846}}` (complete strangulation) indicates that the outcome is not just diminished fruit, but a total lack of fruit. This emphasizes the serious consequence of allowing worldly concerns to dominate one's life—the word becomes unfruitful, and the purpose of spiritual growth is thwarted.
4. **Call to Discernment and Prioritization:** The word challenges believers to critically examine what occupies their hearts and minds. Are the "thorns" of anxiety, materialism, and hedonism being allowed to grow unchecked, thereby choking out the life-giving word of God? It calls for a radical prioritization of God's kingdom and righteousness above all else.
5. **Divine Judgment/Consequence:** In its literal sense (drowning of the pigs), `{{G4846}}` also carries a connotation of ultimate destruction or judgment. While the spiritual choking is a self-inflicted consequence, it nevertheless points to a spiritual death or barrenness that results from neglecting the word.
### Summary
`{{G4846}}` (συμπνίγω, sympnígō) signifies "to strangle completely" or "to suffocate entirely," whether literally through drowning or figuratively through overwhelming suppression. Its most prominent biblical usage is within the Parable of the Sower, where it vividly describes how the "cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life" act like thorns that `{{G4846}}` the word of God sown in the heart. This choking action prevents the word from taking root, developing, and ultimately bearing spiritual fruit. Theologically, `{{G4846}}` serves as a profound warning about the insidious power of worldly concerns to stifle spiritual growth and render one unfruitful in the Kingdom of God, underscoring the critical need for discernment, prioritization, and a protected heart for the word to thrive.
TRV