"a collecting, gathering; a Christian assembly or congregation, Jas. 2:2; the congregation of a synagogue, Acts 9:2; hence, the place itself, a synagogue, Lk. 7:5"
Definition and meaning
a collecting, gathering; a Christian assembly or congregation, Jas. 2:2; the congregation of a synagogue, Acts 9:2; hence, the place itself, a synagogue, Lk. 7:5
In the original Greek the word is written: συναγωγή
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 synagoge (G4864) across the King James Bible.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
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Common questions
Strong's G4864 (synagoge) is a Greek word that means: a collecting, gathering; a Christian assembly or congregation, Jas. 2:2; the congregation of a synagogue, Acts 9:2; hence, the place itself, a synagogue, Lk. 7:5 It appears 57 times in the King James Bible.
The word synagoge (G4864) appears 57 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4864 is synagoge, a Greek word defined as: a collecting, gathering; a Christian assembly or congregation, Jas. 2:2; the congregation of a synagogue, Acts 9:2; hence, the place itself, a synagog. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
synagoge is a Greek word found in the New Testament.