συνευδοκέω

I consent, agree, am of one mind with

Definition

The verb συνευδοκέω means to fully consent, agree with, or approve of something, often implying active participation or shared responsibility in an action. It goes beyond passive agreement to denote a willing partnership in a decision or deed. In Romans 1:32, it describes those who not only know God's righteous decree but also 'approve' of those who practice evil, indicating moral complicity. In Acts 8:1 and 22:20, it refers to Saul's active consent and approval of Stephen's execution, showing personal involvement. In the domestic context of 1 Corinthians 7:12-13, it carries the sense of a spouse being 'willing' or 'content' to live with an unbelieving partner.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used six times in the New Testament, primarily in narrative and epistolary contexts to highlight moral or active agreement. In Luke 11:48, it describes building the tombs of the prophets, implying the present generation shares in the ancestors' deeds by approving of them. In Acts (8:1, 22:20), it underscores personal endorsement of violent persecution. Paul uses it in Romans 1:32 to stress the gravity of condoning sin and in 1 Corinthians 7:12-13 for marital consent. The usage consistently implies a deliberate, conscious alignment of will with an action or stance.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition σύν (syn, meaning 'with' or 'together') and the verb εὐδοκέω (eudokeō, meaning 'to be pleased, to consent, to decide'). Εὐδοκέω itself comes from εὖ (eu, 'well') and δοκέω (dokeō, 'to think, seem'). Thus, συνευδοκέω literally means 'to think well together with' or 'to jointly approve,' emphasizing shared pleasure or consent in a decision.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the concept of human responsibility and complicity in sin. In Romans 1:32, it reveals that judgment falls not only on those who practice evil but also on those who give it their moral approval, underscoring the depth of human depravity. In the context of persecution in Acts, it illustrates how endorsement of injustice implicates the conscience. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by showing that biblical consent is not a neutral act but an active alignment of the will that carries moral weight and accountability before God.

In the Greco-Roman world, public approval and consensus were important in legal and social decisions. Συνευδοκέω implies a formal or deliberate consent, often in a communal setting. This differs from a modern, more individualistic notion of private agreement; it often carried a sense of public endorsement or shared culpability, as seen in the collective responsibility for Stephen's stoning (Acts 8:1).

συγκατατίθεμαι (synkatatithemai, G4784) — to consent by depositing one's vote or to agree formally; more about official assent. συμφωνέω (symphōneō, G4856) — to agree or harmonize, often in opinion or sound; less about moral complicity. εὐδοκέω (eudokeō, G2106) — to be pleased or take delight; the root, lacking the 'with' (σύν) element of shared action.

Word Details

Scripture References