"pr. a sending together, a junction, as of streams; met. understanding, intelligence, discernment, Lk. 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:19; meton. the understanding, intellect, mind, Mk. 12:33; Eph. 3:4; Col. 1:9; 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:7*"
Definition and meaning
pr. a sending together, a junction, as of streams; met. understanding, intelligence, discernment, Lk. 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:19; meton. the understanding, intellect, mind, Mk. 12:33; Eph. 3:4; Col. 1:9; 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:7*
In the original Greek the word is written: σύνεσις
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
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 synesis (G4907) across the King James Bible.
And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
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Common questions
Strong's G4907 (synesis) is a Greek word that means: pr. a sending together, a junction, as of streams; met. understanding, intelligence, discernment, Lk. 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:19; meton. the understanding, intellect, mind, Mk. 12:33; Eph. 3:4; Col. 1:9; 2:2; ... It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word synesis (G4907) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4907 is synesis, a Greek word defined as: pr. a sending together, a junction, as of streams; met. understanding, intelligence, discernment, Lk. 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:19; meton. the understanding, int. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
synesis is a Greek word found in the New Testament.