συντρέχω

I run with

Definition

The verb συντρέχω means 'to run together with' or 'to rush together as a crowd.' It describes a physical gathering of people moving quickly toward a common point, often driven by curiosity, urgency, or a shared purpose. In Mark 6:33, it depicts the crowds running together on foot to reach Jesus ahead of his boat. In Acts 3:11, it describes people running together in amazement to Solomon's Colonnade after a healing. In 1 Peter 4:4, it is used metaphorically for non-belvers rushing together into the same flood of reckless, sinful behavior, contrasting with the believer's new life.

Biblical Usage

Syntrechō is used three times in the New Testament, always in narrative contexts describing group movement. Twice it describes literal, physical rushing of crowds toward a significant person or event (Mark 6:33, Acts 3:11). Once, in 1 Peter 4:4, it is used figuratively to describe people running together into a lifestyle of excess. The pattern shows a movement from a specific location toward a focal point, whether physical or moral.

Etymology

A compound verb from the preposition σύν (syn, meaning 'with' or 'together') and the verb τρέχω (trechō, meaning 'I run'). Its literal meaning, 'I run with,' is straightforward. The prefix συν- emphasizes the collective, communal nature of the action, distinguishing it from individual running.

Semantic Range

This word highlights the powerful social and communal dynamics at play in both following Jesus and living in the world. The literal 'running together' to Jesus (Mark 6:33) illustrates eager, collective pursuit of Christ. The metaphorical use in 1 Peter 4:4 underscores the pressure of conformity, where the Christian's break from sin causes bewilderment as the world continues to 'run together' in its old ways. It reminds believers they are called out of one collective rush (sin) and into another (the pursuit of God).

In the Greco-Roman world, public gatherings, especially spontaneous ones, were common at notable events, speeches, or miracles. The image of a crowd 'running together' conveys excitement, urgency, and a shared, almost uncontrollable, public impulse. This differs from a modern, organized assembly, capturing the raw, collective energy of a pre-media society drawn to a spectacle or significant figure.

τρέχω (trechō, G5143) — The root verb meaning simply 'I run,' without the communal emphasis. συνάγω (synagō, G4863) — Means 'I gather together,' but is a more general term for assembling, without the specific connotation of running or rushing.

Word Details

Scripture References