συνήδομαι

I delight inwardly in

Definition

The verb συνήδομαι (synēdomai) means 'to delight inwardly in' or 'to rejoice together with.' It conveys a sense of shared, internal joy or satisfaction, often implying a deep, personal alignment with something. In its only New Testament occurrence (Romans 7:22), it describes the inner person's delight in God's law, highlighting a spiritual agreement and pleasure in divine standards. While not used elsewhere in the New Testament, the concept extends to congratulating or taking pleasure in another's good fortune, emphasizing a communal or empathetic dimension of joy.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Romans 7:22. In this context, the Apostle Paul uses it to express the inner conflict of a believer: the 'inner self' delights in God's law, even while struggling with sin. The usage is deeply personal and theological, focusing on the spiritual alignment of the renewed mind with God's commandments. No other patterns exist due to its single occurrence.

Etymology

Συνήδομαι is a compound verb derived from σύν (syn), meaning 'with' or 'together,' and the root ἡδ- (hēd-), related to pleasure or delight, as seen in ἡδονή (hēdonē, 'pleasure,' Strong's G2237). The prefix σύν intensifies the sense of shared or mutual delight. Cognates include ἡδέως (hēdeōs, 'gladly') and ἀνθήδομαι (anthēdomai, 'to delight in'), showing a family of words centered on pleasure and satisfaction.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it captures the believer's renewed nature in Romans 7:22. It illustrates the inner transformation where one's deepest self aligns with and delights in God's moral law, despite ongoing struggles with sin. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting the contrast between the Spirit-led inner person and the flesh, emphasizing that true spiritual life involves an inherent joy in God's standards, a key concept in Pauline anthropology and sanctification.

In ancient Greek culture, words from the ἡδ- root often related to sensory or intellectual pleasure, sometimes with hedonistic connotations. However, in the New Testament, Paul redirects this concept to a spiritual delight in God's law, which would have contrasted with common Greco-Roman pursuits of pleasure. This reflects a Christian redefinition of true joy as found in alignment with divine will, rather than in worldly gratification.

χαίρω (chairō, G5463) — a broader term for general rejoicing or being glad, without the specific 'shared' or 'inward' nuance of συνήδομαι. εὐφραίνω (euphrainō, G2165) — to make glad or celebrate, often in a festive or communal context, more external than the internal delight of συνήδομαι. ἀγαλλιάω (agalliaō, G21) — to exult or rejoice greatly, often with a sense of jubilation, whereas συνήδομαι implies a quieter, inward satisfaction.

Word Details

Scripture References