συναυξάνομαι

I grow together

Definition

The verb συναυξάνομαι means 'to grow together' or 'to increase jointly.' It describes a process of mutual or simultaneous growth, where two or more entities develop in conjunction with one another. In its sole New Testament occurrence in Matthew 13:30, it is used in Jesus' Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, where the wheat and the weeds are said to 'grow together' until the harvest. This emphasizes a period of co-existence and shared development, not merely side-by-side existence but intertwined growth.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 13:30. It appears in the specific context of Jesus' agricultural parable, explaining the kingdom of heaven. The usage is metaphorical, describing the simultaneous growth of the good seed (wheat, representing the sons of the kingdom) and the weeds (representing the sons of the evil one) within the same field (the world). The pattern is singular but theologically significant, illustrating a period of shared, inseparable development until the final judgment.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition σύν (syn, G4862), meaning 'with' or 'together,' combined with the verb αὐξάνομαι (auxanomai, G837), meaning 'to grow' or 'to increase.' It is a compound verb that literally means 'to grow with.' The root αὐξάνομαι is common in the New Testament for organic growth (e.g., of plants, the kingdom, or believers). The prefix σύν intensifies the communal or joint aspect of that growth.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it captures a key reality of the present age according to Jesus' teaching. It illustrates the doctrine of the 'already but not yet' nature of God's kingdom, where good and evil coexist and develop in the world until the final eschatological separation. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that this co-growth is active and intertwined, not passive coexistence, emphasizing God's patient forbearance and the certainty of future judgment.

In its original agricultural setting, the concept of wheat and weeds 'growing together' was a familiar and frustrating reality for farmers. The specific weed (likely darnel) closely resembled wheat in its early stages, making separation impossible without damaging the crop. This cultural knowledge underscores the parable's point: premature human judgment is risky and destructive. The command to let them 'grow together' acknowledges a practical agricultural necessity that Jesus uses for a spiritual lesson.

αὐξάνομαι (auxanomai, G837) — simple growth or increase, without the 'together' component. | συμβιβάζω (symbibazō, G4822) — to unite or knit together, more about joining than mutual growth. | πληθύνω (plēthynō, G4129) — to multiply or increase in number, often used for populations or blessings.

Word Details

Scripture References