synagōgē · synagogue

What it means

synagōgē (συναγωγή) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “synagogue”.

The gathering of Jews to read Scripture and pray, and the building where they met.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. The place where Jews gathered for Scripture and prayer.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

Gathering, assembly; above all the synagogue: the gathering of the Jews to read Scripture and pray on the Sabbath, and the building where they met. It is the noun of συνάγω (‘gather’, G4863).

• Jesus teaches in the synagogues Luke 4:15Luke 4:16Matthew 4:23
• Healing in the synagogue on the Sabbath Luke 6:6Luke 13:10
• The first seats in the synagogues Luke 11:43Mark 12:39
• Handed over to the synagogues Luke 21:12Mark 13:9
• Paul in the synagogues; the meeting of James 2:2 Acts 9:20James 2:2

Historical and cultural background

Acts 15:21 says that Moses, from ancient generations, was “being read in the synagogues every Sabbath” in every city. A centurion had built the synagogue of Capernaum (Luke 7:5).

How we translate it

“Synagogue” 31 times and “synagogues” 23. In James 2:2, where it designates the meeting of the believers, “your meeting”.

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• synagogue ×31
• synagogues ×23
• meeting ×2

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×9
• Mark×8
• Luke×15
• John×2
• Acts×19
• James×1
• Revelation×2

• Matthew 4:23

  And he went around in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

• Matthew 6:2

  So when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by people. Truly I tell you, they have received in full their reward.

• Matthew 6:5

  “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they are fond of praying standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the main streets, so that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have received in full their reward.

• Matthew 9:35

  And Jesus went around all the towns and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness.

• Matthew 10:17

  But beware of people; for they will hand you over to councils, and in their synagogues they will flog you;

• Matthew 12:9

  And moving on from there, he went into their synagogue.

• Matthew 13:54

  And coming to his hometown, he was teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and the miracles?

• Matthew 23:6

  and they hold dear the place of honor at the dinners and the first seats in the synagogues,

• Matthew 23:34

  Because of this, look, I am sending to you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,

• Mark 1:21

  And they go into Capernaum. And at once on the Sabbath he was teaching in the synagogue.

• Mark 1:23

  And at once there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

• Mark 1:29

  And at once, having gone out of the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

• Mark 1:39

  And he went proclaiming in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and driving out the demons.

• Mark 3:1

  And he went again into a synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand.

• Mark 6:2

  And when the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue; and the many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? And what is the wisdom given to him, and such miracles done by his hands?

• Mark 12:39

  and the first seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at the banquets,

• Mark 13:9

  But watch yourselves; they will hand you over to councils, and in synagogues you will be beaten, and before governors and kings you will stand for the sake of me, as a testimony to them.

• Luke 4:15

  And he was teaching in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

• Luke 4:16

  And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and according to his custom he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

• Luke 4:20

  And rolling up the scroll and giving it back to the attendant, he sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

• Luke 4:28

  And all in the synagogue were filled with rage when they heard these things;

• Luke 4:33

  And in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice,

• Luke 4:38

  And rising to go from the synagogue, he went into Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was gripped by a high fever, and they asked him about her.

• Luke 4:44

  And he was proclaiming in the synagogues of Judea.

• Luke 6:6

  And it happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there and his right hand was withered.

• Luke 7:5

  for he loves our nation, and he himself built the synagogue for us.”

• Luke 8:41

  And look, there came a man whose name was Jairus, and he was a leader of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet, he begged him to come into his house,

• Luke 11:43

  Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the first seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.

• Luke 12:11

  And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry how or what you will say in your defense or what you will say;

• Luke 13:10

  Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

• Luke 20:46

  “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and hold dear greetings in the marketplaces and the first seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets,

• Luke 21:12

  But before all these things they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons, you being led away before kings and governors for the sake of my name.

• John 6:59

  He said these things in a synagogue, teaching in Capernaum.

• John 18:20

  Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews come together, and I have said nothing in secret.

• Acts 6:9

  But some of those from the synagogue called that of the Freedmen and of Cyrenians and of Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up, arguing with Stephen.

• Acts 9:2

  and asked from him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• Acts 9:20

  And at once in the synagogues he was proclaiming Jesus, that he is the Son of God.

• Acts 13:5

  And when they were in Salamis, they were announcing the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their assistant.

• Acts 13:14

  But they went on from Perga and arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and going into the synagogue on the Sabbath day they sat down.

• Acts 13:43

  And when the meeting broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were persuading them to remain in the grace of God.

And 16 more times.