συγκαταψηφίζω

I am voted or classed with

Definition

The verb συγκαταψηφίζω means 'to be voted or classed together with,' specifically in the context of a formal vote or casting of lots. It denotes being counted or grouped alongside others through a collective decision-making process. In its sole New Testament occurrence in Acts 1:26, it describes the apostles' action of casting lots to choose a replacement for Judas Iscariot, resulting in Matthias being 'voted in' or 'numbered with' the eleven apostles. The term implies a formal, participatory inclusion into a defined group.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 1:26, within the narrative of selecting a new apostle. The context is the early church's decision to restore the number of the Twelve, following Judas's betrayal and death. The apostles used a process of prayer, nomination of candidates (Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias), and then casting lots, with the result that Matthias was συγκαταψηφίζω—voted or counted with the eleven. This singular usage highlights a moment of formal, communal appointment in the apostolic community.

Etymology

Derived from the combination of three Greek elements: the prefix σύν (syn, meaning 'with' or 'together'), the preposition κατά (kata, often meaning 'down' or 'according to'), and the verb ψηφίζω (psēphizō, meaning 'to count' or 'to calculate,' originally from ψῆφος, psēphos, a 'small stone' or 'pebble' used in voting). Thus, the compound word literally means 'to count or vote down together with,' emphasizing a joint, deliberative tallying or reckoning.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it captures the early church's method of discerning God's will for leadership through prayer and a trusted, traditional practice (casting lots, cf. Proverbs 16:33). It underscores the importance of apostolic continuity and the community's role in confirming ministry appointments under divine guidance. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting the formal, participatory nature of Matthias's inclusion, which was not a casual choice but a solemn act to restore the foundational Twelve, symbolizing the renewed integrity of Israel's tribal leadership (Luke 22:30).

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman and Jewish world, casting lots (κληροῦν, klēroun) was a common method for making impartial decisions, believed to reveal divine will, as seen in the Old Testament (e.g., Leviticus 16:8, Joshua 18:6). The use of συγκαταψηφίζω reflects this cultural practice of using lots to allocate roles or determine outcomes in a way that removed human bias and acknowledged God's sovereignty. The 'voting' implied is not a modern ballot but a ritualized, communal act of seeking divine direction.

κληρόω (klēroō, G2820) — to choose by lot, emphasizing the means of selection rather than the result of being counted with a group; ἐκλέγομαι (eklegomai, G1586) — to choose or select, a broader term for divine or human choice without the specific connotation of voting or lot-casting.

Word Details

Scripture References