συγκύπτω

I am bent double

Definition

The verb συγκύπτω means to be bent over or bowed together, specifically describing a physical posture of being completely doubled over. In its sole New Testament occurrence in Luke 13:11, it describes a woman who was physically disabled, unable to straighten her body. The term emphasizes a severe, chronic condition of being folded in on oneself, likely due to a spinal infirmity. It carries no other distinct metaphorical or extended meanings in biblical usage, being a precise descriptor of a debilitating physical state.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 13:11. It describes the condition of a woman who had a 'spirit of infirmity' for eighteen years and was 'bent double' (συγκύπτω), unable to straighten up at all. The usage is purely descriptive of a severe physical ailment within a narrative of healing by Jesus.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek preposition σύν (syn, meaning 'together with') and the verb κύπτω (kyptō, meaning 'to bend forward, stoop'). The compound form intensifies the sense of bending, implying being completely folded or bent together upon oneself. It is a vivid, descriptive term for a specific physical posture.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a physical description, its use in Luke 13:11 is theologically significant. It illustrates the binding power of Satan (Luke 13:16) from which Christ brings liberation. The woman's physical posture, being 'bent double' and unable to look up, serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual bondage and oppression. Jesus' healing, described as 'loosing' her from her infirmity, directly confronts this bondage, showcasing his authority and compassion as the one who restores dignity and wholeness, enabling people to stand upright before God.

In the ancient world, chronic physical disabilities like being bent double often carried social and religious stigma. Such conditions could be interpreted as divine punishment (John 9:2) and would likely exclude a person from full participation in community life. The woman's condition for eighteen years marked her as an object of pity and possibly scorn. Jesus' public healing on the Sabbath not only restored her body but also reintegrated her into society, challenging cultural assumptions about suffering and Sabbath observance.

κάμπτω (kamptō, G2578) — a more general term for bending or bowing, often used of bowing the knee in worship. κύπτω (kyptō, G2955) — the root verb meaning to stoop or bend forward, without the intensive 'together' sense of συγκύπτω.

Word Details

Scripture References