English · KJV
G4870

συνακολουθέω

synakolouthéō /soon-ak-ol-oo-theh'-o/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom σύν and ἀκολουθέω
Meaningto accompany
KJV usagefollow.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of synakolouthéō — 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 synakolouthéō, represented by G4870, means to accompany. Derived from σύν and ἀκολουθέω, its core meaning is to follow. It appears 2 times in 2 unique verses, highlighting specific instances of accompaniment in the Gospels.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The use of G4870 provides insight into different aspects of following Christ. In one instance, it describes a group of loyal supporters. At the crucifixion, his acquaintance and the women that followed him from Galilee stood at a distance, beholding the events Luke 23:49. In another context, it denotes a chosen, inner circle. Jesus suffered no man to follow him into a private setting, except for Peter, James, and John Mark 5:37, indicating a selective form of accompaniment.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which G4870 is used:

  • G1135 gynḗ (a woman; specially, a wife): This term identifies the group of loyal women who followed Jesus from Galilee to the site of his crucifixion Luke 23:49.
  • G3708 horáō (to discern clearly, behold, see): This word describes the action of those who followed, as they were beholding the crucifixion from afar Luke 23:49.
  • G863 aphíēmi (to send forth, leave, let, suffer): This verb is used to show Jesus's control over who could accompany him, as he suffered or permitted only his closest disciples to follow Mark 5:37.
  • G3762 oudeís (not even one, none, no man): This word emphasizes the exclusivity of the accompaniment in Mark 5:37, where Jesus allowed no man to follow him except his three chosen disciples.

Theological Significance

The two uses of G4870 reveal distinct dimensions of what it means to be a follower:

  • Witnessing from afar: The women who followed Jesus demonstrated a persistent loyalty, accompanying him to the very end and serving as witnesses to his suffering Luke 23:49. Their following was one of faithful observation.
  • Privileged access: Jesus's choice to allow only Peter, James, and John to follow him illustrates a more intimate level of discipleship, where accompaniment is a privilege granted to a select few Mark 5:37.

Summary

In summary, G4870 is a specific term for following that, despite its infrequent use, captures a significant dynamic in the Gospels. It contrasts the faithful, public witness of a larger group of followers with the exclusive, inner-circle access granted only to a chosen few. The word illustrates that to follow can mean both to be a loyal observer and a selected companion.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • Aorist Active Infinitive 1×
  • Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
  • Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Feminine 1×
Nominative
The subject of the verb.
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
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.
Indicative
A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G1135 γυνή probably from the base of γίνομαι; a woman; specially, a wife:--wife, woman. G3708 ὁράω properly, to stare at (compare ὀπτάνομαι), i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extensi G863 ἀφίημι from ἀπό and (to send; an intensive form of , to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow):--cry, forgive G3762 οὐδείς from οὐδέ and εἷς; not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing:--any (man), aught, man, neither any (

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 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Mark and Luke (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

1
Mark
1
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.