### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb συντίθεμαι (syntíthemai, `{{G4934}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition σύν (syn, "with" or "together") and the verb τίθημι (títhēmi, "to place" or "to set"). The core meaning, therefore, is "to place together." Crucially, it appears in the middle voice, which often indicates an action performed by the subject upon itself or for its own benefit, or a reciprocal action. In the case of συντίθεμαι, the middle voice signifies a mutual or reciprocal "placing together" of wills, intentions, or conditions, leading to an agreement or compact.
Figuratively, and as primarily used in the New Testament, its semantic range extends to:
* **To consent:** To agree to a proposition or course of action.
* **To bargain/stipulate:** To make a formal arrangement or set conditions.
* **To concur:** To be in agreement, especially in a binding way.
* **To covenant:** To enter into a formal, often solemn, agreement.
The emphasis is not merely on a casual agreement but on a deliberate, often binding, compact or conspiracy formed by multiple parties.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb συντίθεμαι (syntíthemai, `{{G4934}}`) appears a limited number of times in the New Testament, and its usage consistently points to formal or conspiratorial agreements:
* **[[Luke 22:5-6]]**: "And they were glad and *agreed* (συνετίθεντο) to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd." Here, the chief priests and scribes "agreed" or "covenanted" with Judas Iscariot to pay him for the betrayal of Jesus. This is a dark compact, a conspiracy rooted in malice and greed, highlighting the calculated nature of their opposition to Christ. The agreement is binding, leading directly to the Passion.
* **[[John 9:22]]**: "His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews *had already agreed* (συντεθειμένοι ἦσαν) that if anyone confessed Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue." This verse reveals a pre-existing, formal decision made by the Jewish authorities. It was a binding stipulation, a collective agreement to excommunicate anyone who acknowledged Jesus' messianic identity. This demonstrates the power of a collective *syntíthemai* to enforce social and religious exclusion.
* **[[Acts 23:20]]**: "He said, 'The Jews *have agreed* (συντέθεινται) to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.'" Paul's nephew informs him of a plot by more than forty Jews who "agreed" or "conspired" to ambush and kill Paul on his way to the Sanhedrin. This is another instance of a malevolent, pre-meditated agreement aimed at harming God's servant.
Across these occurrences, συντίθεμαι consistently describes a deliberate, often sinister, and binding agreement or conspiracy among people, typically in opposition to Jesus or His followers. It is not used for agreements between God and humanity, nor for positive, harmonious agreements among believers, which are often described by words like ὁμολογέω (homologéō, `{{G3670}}`) or συμφωνέω (symphōnéō, `{{G4856}}`).
### Related Words & Concepts
The etymological components of συντίθεμαι (syntíthemai, `{{G4934}}`) are foundational to its meaning:
* **σύν (syn, `{{G4862}}`):** The prefix "with" or "together" emphasizes the communal or collective nature of the agreement. It is always about multiple parties coming together.
* **τίθημι (títhēmi, `{{G5087}}`):** The root verb "to place," "to set," or "to lay down" suggests the establishment or formation of something definite, in this case, a compact or stipulation.
Other related words and concepts include:
* **ὁμολογέω (homologéō, `{{G3670}}`):** To confess, acknowledge, or agree. While it can imply agreement, it often focuses on verbal declaration or confession, rather than the formal making of a compact.
* **συμφωνέω (symphōnéō, `{{G4856}}`):** To agree, to be in harmony, to sound together. This word often denotes agreement in opinion or a general consensus, rather than a binding, formal pact.
* **διαθήκη (diathēkē, `{{G1242}}`):** Covenant, testament. This noun refers to the *result* or *product* of a binding agreement, particularly God's covenants with humanity. While God's covenants are unilateral in their initiation, they call for human assent and obedience, which could be seen as a form of "agreement" in response.
* **Conspiracy/Plot:** The common usage of συντίθεμαι in the NT aligns closely with the concept of a conspiracy, where individuals secretly agree to a plan, often with malicious intent.
* **Stipulation/Pact:** The word denotes the setting of terms or conditions that become binding on the parties involved.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of συντίθεμαι (syntíthemai, `{{G4934}}`) in the New Testament is primarily illustrative of human opposition to divine will and truth. Though the word itself is neutral in its core meaning ("to agree"), its consistent application in the NT to negative, conspiratorial agreements is striking:
* **Human Agency in Opposition:** It highlights the capacity of human beings to collectively and deliberately form compacts that stand against God's purposes. The agreements to betray Jesus ([[Luke 22:5-6]]) and to excommunicate His followers ([[John 9:22]]), as well as the plot against Paul ([[Acts 23:20]]), demonstrate a concerted human effort to thwart the divine plan.
* **The Nature of Persecution:** The use in [[John 9:22]] underscores how collective human agreement can become a powerful tool of social and religious persecution, enforcing conformity and punishing dissent from prevailing human doctrines, even when those doctrines contradict divine truth.
* **Contrast with Divine Covenants:** While συντίθεμαι is not used for God's covenants, its presence in the biblical text implicitly contrasts human, often malevolent, agreements with God's steadfast and benevolent covenants (διαθήκη, `{{G1242}}`). God's covenants are initiated by Him and are binding promises, whereas human syntíthemai can be used for destructive ends.
* **Warning Against Unholy Alliances:** The repeated negative contexts serve as a subtle warning against entering into agreements or conspiracies that are contrary to righteousness or God's will.
### Summary
The Greek verb συντίθεμαι (syntíthemai, `{{G4934}}`) literally means "to place together" and, in its middle voice, denotes the act of mutually agreeing, consenting, or covenanting. It signifies a deliberate and often binding compact or stipulation between parties. In its New Testament occurrences, συντίθεμαι consistently describes negative or conspiratorial agreements: the compact between Judas and the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus ([[Luke 22:5-6]]), the formal decision by Jewish authorities to excommunicate those who confessed Jesus as Christ ([[John 9:22]]), and the plot by Jews to ambush Paul ([[Acts 23:20]]). Thus, while its core meaning is neutral, its biblical usage primarily illustrates the human capacity for forming collective agreements, often with malicious intent, in opposition to God's redemptive plan and His servants. The word emphasizes the binding nature of such human-made pacts, highlighting their significant, often detrimental, consequences.
TRV