"to throttle, choke; trop. to choke the growth or increase of seed or plants, Mt. 13:22; Mk. 4:7, 19; Lk. 8:14; to press upon, crowd, Lk. 8:42*"
Definition and meaning
to throttle, choke; trop. to choke the growth or increase of seed or plants, Mt. 13:22; Mk. 4:7, 19; Lk. 8:14; to press upon, crowd, Lk. 8:42*
In the original Greek the word is written: συμπνίγω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of sympnigo (G4846) across the King James Bible.
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
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Common questions
Strong's G4846 (sympnigo) is a Greek word that means: to throttle, choke; trop. to choke the growth or increase of seed or plants, Mt. 13:22; Mk. 4:7, 19; Lk. 8:14; to press upon, crowd, Lk. 8:42* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word sympnigo (G4846) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4846 is sympnigo, a Greek word defined as: to throttle, choke; trop. to choke the growth or increase of seed or plants, Mt. 13:22; Mk. 4:7, 19; Lk. 8:14; to press upon, crowd, Lk. 8:42*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
sympnigo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.