"to draw together, contract, straiten; to enwrap; hence, i.q. περιστέλλω, to lay out, prepare for burial, Acts 5:6; pass. to be shortened, 1 Cor. 7:29*"
Definition and meaning
to draw together, contract, straiten; to enwrap; hence, i.q. περιστέλλω, to lay out, prepare for burial, Acts 5:6; pass. to be shortened, 1 Cor. 7:29*
In the original Greek the word is written: συστέλλω
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 systello (G4958) across the King James Bible.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
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Common questions
Strong's G4958 (systello) is a Greek word that means: to draw together, contract, straiten; to enwrap; hence, i.q. περιστέλλω, to lay out, prepare for burial, Acts 5:6; pass. to be shortened, 1 Cor. 7:29* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word systello (G4958) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4958 is systello, a Greek word defined as: to draw together, contract, straiten; to enwrap; hence, i.q. περιστέλλω, to lay out, prepare for burial, Acts 5:6; pass. to be shortened, 1 Cor. 7:29*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
systello is a Greek word found in the New Testament.