Word Study for G4846 (συμπνίγω)

sympnígō /soom-pnee'-go/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom σύν and πνίγω

Meaningto strangle completely, i.e. (literally) to drown, or (figuratively) to crowd

KJV usagechoke, throng.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of sympnígō — 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 sympnígō, represented by G4846, means to choke or throng. Its definition is to strangle completely. Appearing 5 times across 5 unique verses, this term is used both literally to describe a crowd pressing in, and figuratively to illustrate a spiritual obstruction.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G4846 appears in two distinct contexts. It is used figuratively in the Parable of the Sower to describe how thorns choked the seed Mark 4:7. This is further explained as the "care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches," which choke the word and cause it to become unfruitful (Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:19). The word is also used literally to describe a crowd of people that thronged Jesus as he was on his way to heal a dying girl Luke 8:42.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of being choked or crowded out:

G173 ákantha (thorn): These are the agents of the figurative choking. In the parable, the thorns grew up and choked the seed that fell among them Mark 4:7.
G175 ákarpos (unfruitful): This is the direct result when the word is choked. The seed choked by worldly cares "becometh unfruitful" (Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:19).
G3308 mérimna (care): This is one of the primary spiritual forces that performs the choking. The "cares of this world" are explicitly identified as a cause of spiritual unfruitfulness Mark 4:19.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4846 lies in its powerful depiction of spiritual hindrance.

Spiritual Obstruction: The word illustrates how external pressures can overwhelm and neutralize the effect of God's word. These pressures are identified as cares G3308, riches G4149, and pleasures of this life Luke 8:14.
Cause of Unfruitfulness: To be choked is to become spiritually barren. The hearer of the word who is overcome by these worldly concerns is unable to "bring fruit to perfection" Luke 8:14.
Overwhelming Pressure: Whether it is a literal crowd pressing in on Jesus Luke 8:42 or the figurative cares of the world, G4846 conveys a sense of being completely crowded out and constricted, preventing forward movement or growth.

Summary

In summary, G4846 is a vivid term that means to choke or throng. Its use in scripture highlights both a literal, physical crowding and a more profound, figurative strangling of spiritual life. It serves as a stark warning of how the deceitfulness G539 of riches G4149 and worldly cares G3308 can prevent the word of God from producing fruit in a believer's life.

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 5 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Passive Indicative 3rd Plural 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
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.

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 5 verses across 3 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Mark and Luke (2 verses each); never once in the other 24.

Matthew

Mark

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.