συστέλλω

I shorten, swathe

Definition

The verb συστέλλω (systellō) primarily means 'to shorten,' 'to contract,' or 'to wrap up tightly.' In a literal, physical sense, it refers to the act of wrapping or swathing a body for burial, as seen in Acts 5:6 where the young men wrap up (συστέλλω) Ananias's body. In a metaphorical sense, it conveys the idea of shortening or compressing time, indicating that an opportunity or period is limited. This figurative usage appears in 1 Corinthians 7:29, where Paul says 'the time is short' (ὁ καιρὸς συνεσταλμένος ἐστίν), urging believers to live with focused urgency.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, each in a distinct context. In Acts 5:6, it describes the practical, physical action of wrapping a corpse for burial following divine judgment. In 1 Corinthians 7:29, it is used metaphorically within Paul's pastoral teaching on marriage and priorities, emphasizing the constrained nature of the present age before Christ's return. The two uses show a clear pattern: one literal (physical preparation) and one figurative (temporal limitation).

Etymology

Derived from σύν (syn, meaning 'together') and στέλλω (stellō, meaning 'to send, to set, to arrange'). The compound thus carries the core idea of 'drawing together' or 'contracting.' This root meaning naturally extends to both the physical act of wrapping something tightly together and the abstract concept of shortening or compressing something, like time.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant in 1 Corinthians 7:29, where it underpins Paul's eschatological ethic. The statement that 'the time is shortened' (συνεσταλμένος) is not about general busyness but about the unique, pressing nature of the period between Christ's resurrection and return. This understanding directly informs Christian living, calling for a detachment from worldly affairs and a focused, urgent devotion to the Lord's work, enriching our reading by highlighting the early church's lived expectation.

In the cultural context of Acts 5:6, the act of 'wrapping' (συστέλλω) a body was a standard part of Jewish burial practice, involving swathing the corpse in linen cloths. This immediate, respectful treatment of the dead was a crucial social and religious duty. The modern reader might simply see a report of a cleanup, but the original audience would have recognized this as a specific, culturally mandated funerary procedure.

ἐντελίσσω (entelissō, G1794) — also means to wrap or roll up, used specifically for wrapping a body in linen (e.g., Matthew 27:59). συστέλλω in Acts 5:6 implies the entire process of preparing the body, while ἐντελίσσω focuses more on the act of winding the cloths. συνίστημι (synistēmi, G4921) — can mean 'to commend' or 'to prove,' but in some classical contexts, 'to bring together'; it lacks the specific connotations of shortening or burial preparation found in συστέλλω.

Word Details

Scripture References