### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb συναπόλλυμι (synapóllymi, `{{G4881}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition σύν (syn, `{{G4862}}`), meaning "with" or "together with," and the verb ἀπόλλυμι (apóllymi, `{{G622}}`), meaning "to destroy," "to perish," or "to lose." Consequently, the core meaning of συναπόλλυμι is "to perish together with," "to be destroyed in company with," or "to be lost alongside." The base definition highlights its use in the middle or passive voice, implying that the subject experiences the destruction or perishing, often as a shared fate or consequence of association. The semantic range is narrow, focusing exclusively on the concept of shared destruction or ruin.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb συναπόλλυμι (synapóllymi, `{{G4881}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, making its singular occurrence particularly significant.
* **[[Hebrews 11:31]]**: "By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace."
* In this pivotal verse within the "faith hall of fame," Rahab is commended for her faith. The phrase "did not perish with those who were disobedient" directly employs συναπόλλυμι. The context is the impending destruction of Jericho by the Israelites. The inhabitants of Jericho, characterized as "disobedient" (ἀπειθήσασιν), were destined for destruction. Rahab, by an act of faith—receiving the spies in peace—was supernaturally separated from the corporate judgment that befell her city and its inhabitants. The use of συναπόλλυμι here powerfully underscores the shared fate of the disobedient and Rahab's miraculous exemption from it due to her individual faith. It highlights a divine distinction made in the midst of widespread judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the root verb ἀπόλλυμι (apóllymi, `{{G622}}`), which signifies destruction, ruin, or loss. The addition of the prefix σύν (syn, `{{G4862}}`) intensifies or specifies the nature of this destruction, emphasizing its communal or shared aspect. While ἀπόλλυμι can refer to individual perishing, συναπόλλυμι explicitly brings in the element of perishing *alongside* others.
Related concepts include:
* **Divine Judgment**: The context of [[Hebrews 11:31]] is God's judgment upon the city of Jericho. The word points to the consequence of disobedience.
* **Salvation/Deliverance**: In contrast to perishing, Rahab's experience is one of deliverance, achieved through faith.
* **Corporate Solidarity**: The word implies a shared destiny or consequence for a group (the disobedient of Jericho).
* **Individual Faith**: Rahab's story demonstrates that individual faith can transcend corporate solidarity in sin, leading to a distinct outcome.
* **Separation**: The core idea is Rahab's separation from the fate of those with whom she was otherwise geographically and socially connected.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of συναπόλλυμι (synapóllymi, `{{G4881}}`) in [[Hebrews 11:31]] carries profound theological weight. It serves as a stark illustration of several key biblical doctrines:
1. **The Nature of Divine Judgment**: God's judgment is real and its consequences (perishing) are severe for the disobedient. The "perishing with" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of this judgment upon a community.
2. **The Efficacy of Faith**: Rahab's faith is presented as the sole differentiating factor that spared her from the common destruction. This powerfully demonstrates that faith is not merely intellectual assent but an active trust that leads to salvific action and divine intervention. It underscores the New Testament emphasis on faith as the means of righteousness and deliverance.
3. **Individual vs. Corporate Accountability**: While sin often has corporate consequences, God's justice also recognizes individual faith. Rahab, despite being part of a condemned city, was individually redeemed. This offers a hopeful counterpoint to corporate solidarity in sin, highlighting God's ability to discern and save individuals within a broader context of judgment.
4. **Grace and Mercy**: Rahab, a Gentile prostitute, was an unlikely recipient of divine favor. Her deliverance, mediated by faith, speaks volumes about God's expansive grace and mercy, which extends beyond ethnic or social boundaries. The term underscores the severity of the judgment she escaped, thereby magnifying the grace she received.
### Summary
The Greek verb συναπόλλυμι (synapóllymi, `{{G4881}}`) precisely captures the concept of "perishing together with" or "being destroyed in company with." Its sole New Testament occurrence in [[Hebrews 11:31]] is profoundly illustrative, depicting Rahab's miraculous deliverance from the corporate judgment that befell the disobedient inhabitants of Jericho. This singular usage underscores the potent theological themes of divine judgment, the saving power of individual faith, and God's capacity to separate the righteous from the condemned, even within a context of widespread destruction. It stands as a testament to the transformative and delivering power of faith in the face of impending doom.
TRV