Quick Definition
συμβάλλω v. I ponder, encounter, confer or dispute with
Strong's Definition
from 4862 and 906; to combine, i.e. (in speaking) to converse, consult, dispute, (mentally) to consider, (by implication) to aid, (personally) to join, attack
KJV Usage: confer, encounter, help, make, meet with, ponder
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | aor.inf. συμβαλεῖν · aor.midd. συνεβαλόμην | βάλλω
30.7 · Think · To Think, Thought
to reflect on, to think about seriously, to think deeply about to give careful consideration to various implications of an issue
33.159 · Communication · Converse, Discuss
to confer to confer, implying a series of proposals In some languages the equivalent of ‘to confer’ is ‘to discuss what should be done’ or ‘to talk about plans.’
33.439 · Communication · Dispute, Debate
to debate, to discuss forcefully to express differences of opinion in a forceful way, involving alternative opportunities for presenting contrasting viewpoints
15.79 · Linear Movement · Come Near, Approach
to join up with, to meet to meet and join up with, with either friendly or hostile intent In instances in which meeting up with someone may be either friendly or hostile, it is frequently necessary to select terms which will indicate clearly the relation or intention of the participants. In most languages a purely neutral term of ‘meeting’ would be misleading.
35.1 · (συμβάλλομαι) · Help, Care For · Help
to help to assist in supplying what may be needed
1 The various terms noted in 35.1 (ἀντιλαμβάνω[a], ἐπιλαμβάνομαι[d], ὑπολαμβάνω[c], συμβάλλω[e], παρίστημι[l], ἀντέχω[c], ἐπαρκέω[a], βοηθέω, βοήθεια[a]) with a generic meaning of ‘help’ no doubt possess certain contrastive features of meaning, at least of a connotative type, but there is no specific evidence of this in NT usage.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
συμ-βάλλω [συν- WH (so Tdf. exc. Lk. xiv. 31); ef. σύν, II. fin.]; impf. συνέβαλλον; 2 aor. συνέβαλον; 2 aor. mid. συνεβαλόμην ; fr. Hom. down; to throw together, to bring together ; a. Adyous (Lat. sermones conferre), to converse, Eur. Iphig. Aul. 830; with λόγους omitted [ef. Eng. confer], Plut. mor. p. 222 ο. (W. 593 (552); [B. 145 (127)]): τινί, to dispute with one, Acts xvii. 18 [where A. V. encountered (cf. c. below) ]; πρὸς ἀλλήλους, to confer with one another, deliberate among themselves, Acts iv. 15. b. to bring together in one’s mind, confer with one’s self [ef. σύν, 11. 4], to consider, ponder: ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ, to revolve in the mind, Lk. ii. 19 (συμβαλὼν τῷ λογισμῷ τὸ ὄναρ, Joseph. antt. 2, 5, 8). ο. intrans. (ΥΥ. §38, 1; [B. §130, 4]), to come together, meet : τινί, to meet one (on a journey), Acts xx. 14 (Hom. Od. 21, 15; Joseph. antt. 2,7, 5); to encounter in a hostile sense: τινί, to fight with one (1 Mace. iv. 34; 2 Mace. viii. 23; xiv. 17; Polyb. 1, 9, 7; 3,111, 1, and often), with eis πόλεμον added, Lk. xiv. 31 (εἰς μάχην, Polyb. 3, 56, 6; Joseph. antt. 12, 8,4; πρὸς μάχην, Polyb. 10, 37, 4). Mid. to bring together of one’s property, to contribute, aid, help: πολύ τινι, one, Acts xviii. 27; often so in Grk. auth. also, esp. Polyb.; οἵ. Schweighduser, Lex. Polyb. p-576; Passow 8. v.1b.a.; [Land S.s.v.I.2]; Grimm, Exeget. Hdbch. on Sap. v. 8.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
συμβάλλω symballō 6x
pr. to throw together; absol. to meet and join, Acts 20:14; to meet in war, to encounter, engage with, Lk. 14:31; to encounter in discourse or dispute, Acts 17:18; to consult together, Acts 4:15; mid. to contribute, be of service to, to aid, Acts 18:27; συμβάλλειν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ, to revolve in mind, ponder upon, Lk. 2:19*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
συν-βάλλω
(Rec. συμ-), [in LXX: II Ch 25:19 (גּרה hith.), Is 46:6 (זוּל), Je 50 (43):3 (סוּת hi.), Wi 5:8, al. ;]
to throw together, hence,
of speech (seq. λόγους, Eur., al.), to discuss, confer (sc. λόγους): c. dat. pers., Lk 11:53, WH, mg., Ac 17:18; seq. πρὸς ἀλλήλους, Ac 4:15;
to reflect, consider, ponder: ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ, Lk 2:19;
to meet with, fall in with: Ac 20:14; in hostile sense, εἰς πόλεμον, c. dat. (εἰς μάχην, Polyb.), Lk 14:31;
mid., to contribute (Polyb., al.; cf. MM, xxiv): Ac 18:27.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
συνβάλλω. This favourite Lukan word is found with a variety of connotations—(1) ‘‘throw together” and hence “‘ discuss,” “confer” {(sc. λόγους) c. dat., as in Lk 1193 (ν.1), Ac 418 : P Fay 129? (iii/aA.p.) ᾿Απολλῶτι συνέβαλον καὶ ἐτάξατο πάντως καταβῆναι τῇ ἑνδεκάτῃ, ‘I arranged with Apollos and he appointed for certain the eleventh for his coming down” (Edd.), and OGZS 669 (i/a.p.) ἵν[α μηδ]εὶς τῶι τοιούτωι συνβάλληι. (2) ‘‘ meet with,” ‘‘ fall in with,” as in Ac 204: P Oxy XIV. 16684 (iii/A.D.) συνέβαλον τῷ Σκωρὺ χάριν τῶν ἐργαστηρίων, “1 had a meeting with Skoru respecting the workshops” (Edd.), and 74. 16698 (iii/A.D.) ἐνετειλάμην σοι... συμβαλεῖν IItodkepalw τῷ σειτολόγῳ καὶ τὸν λόγον πέμψαι αὐτοῦ, “1 bade you to meet Ptolemaeus the sitologus and send his account” (Edd.). (3) in mid. ‘‘ contribute to,” ‘‘help,” as in Ac 1877: P Hal I. 1198. (mid. iii/B.c.) συμβαλλέσθω τὸ μέρος ἕκαστος [el]s τὸ ἀ[νάλωμα, ‘let each contribute his share towards the expense,” P Par 637% (B.c. 164) (=P Petr III. p. 24) συμβαλεῖται ῥοπὴν εἰς TO προκίμενον, ‘it would turn the scale in favour of the matter in hand” (Mahaffy), P Vor I. rv. (p.c. 116) (= Chrest. 11. p. 34) μέγα τι συμβάλλεσθαι τεκμήριον, cf. 25.116 85 (p. 98 f.), P Lond 191518 (c. A.D. 330-340) ὑμῖς γνώντες συμβάλλεσθε αὐτῷ, ‘you, knowing thereof, may help him,” cf.3°, and Syd? 187 ( =*346)* (B.C. 302-1) γνώμην δὲ συμβάλλεσθαι [τῆς βουλῆς e]i[s] τὸν δῆμον.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
συμβάλλω (sumballō) — to ponder/confer. συμβάλλω, future -βᾰλῶ: aorist -έβᾰλον, infinitive -βᾰλεῖν: perfect -βέβληκα: aorist 1 passive -εβλήθην:—of these tenses [Refs 8th c.BC+]present active, aorist active and middle, but most commonly Epic dialect intransitive aorist forms συμβλήτην, -βλήμεναι, middle σύμβλητο, -βληντο, -βλήμενος, subjunctive 2nd pers. singular -βλήεαι probably conjecture for -βλήσεαι in [Refs 8th c.BC+], 3rd.pers. singular contraction -βληται[Refs 8th c.BC+]:—throw together, dash together, σύν ῥ᾽ ἔβαλον ῥινούς, of men in close combat, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; bring together, unite, e.g. of rivers that fall into one another, ἐς μισγάγκειαν συμβάλλετον ὄβριμον ὕδωρ [Refs 8th c.BC+]:— middle, πολλοὶ ποταμοὶ σ. τὸ σφέτερον ὕδωρ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ Ἀκεσίνης τῷ Ἰνδῷ τὸ ὕδωρ σ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; σ. τὰ ὦτα πρὸς τὴν γῆν have their ears reaching to.., [Refs 4th c.BC+] —passive, κατὰ τὰς ῥᾶγας συμβεβλημένων [τῶν δακτύλων] [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. collect, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; store up, accumulate, κριθὰς ἵπποις συμβεβλημένας πολλάς [Refs]
3. jumble up together, διαφέροντα σ. εἰς ταὐτόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]
4. intransitive in active, fit [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to be suitable, τὰ χεδροπὰ σ. εἰς τὰς νέας [Refs 4th c.BC+] (unless = sow, set).
4. b to be profitable, σ. τῷ πολιτικῷ.. δικαίῳ εἶναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
5. intransitive, come together, ἔνθα δίστομοι.. σ. ὁδοί where two roads join, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ συμβάλλοντα the watersmeet, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; [φλὲψ] σ. τῇ ἀποσχίσει [Refs 4th c.BC+]; collide, τοὺς τύπους ἀνάγκη συμβάλλειν ἑαυτοῖς [Refs 4th c.BC+]: Geometry texts, meet, τὸ σημεῖον, καθ᾽ ὃ συμβάλλουσιν the point in which (the straight lines) meet, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
6. βλέφαρα σ. ὕπνῳ close the eyes in sleep, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; how shall I meet her eyes with mine? [Refs 5th c.BC+]
7. generally, join, unite, σ. σχοινία twist ropes (compare συμβολεύς), [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὠμόλινον σ. πεντάπλουν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; fit together, ἁρμούς [Refs 4th c.BC+]; κεραῖαι συμβεβλημέναι [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; δεξιὰς σ. ἀλλήλοισι join hands, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
8. σ. συμβόλαιά τινι or πρός τινα make a contract with a person, especially lend him money on bond, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; συμβόλαιον εἰς τἀνδράποδα συμβεβλημένον money lent on the security of the slaves, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: absolutely, in same sense, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; make a contract, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of a marriage contract, Mitteis [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; advance, lend, πέρα μεδίμνου κριθῶν [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἱμάτια, χρυσία, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπί τισι on certain terms, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ συμβαλών the lender, creditor, [Refs 4th c.BC+]. the borrowers, debtors, [Refs]:— middle, with perfect passive, pay a share, contribute, ὁλκάδα οἱ συμβαλέεσθαι give him a merchant-vessel, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. χρήματά τινι εἰς τροφὴν τῶν στρατιωτῶν advance it, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τριήρεις εἰς κίνδυνον [Refs 5th c.BC+]
9. generally, contribute:— passive, συμβάλλεταί τις.. μερίς [Refs 2nd c.AD+] —in this sense mostly in middle, τέμενος συμβάλλεσθαι add thereto, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ μὴ ἀγανακτεῖν.. ἄλλα τέ μοι πολλὰ συμβάλλεται, καὶ.. many circumstances contribute to my feeling no vexation, and especially.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τιμὴν καὶ δόξαν τῇ πόλει σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; frequently with μέρος as object, ἔργων οὐκ ἐλάχιστον μέρος σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν μεγίστην εἰς αὐτὰ μοῖραν [Refs 5th c.BC+] contributes to its volume, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; συμβαλλόμενα contributory causes, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: absolutely, to be helpful, πολλά ἐστι τὰ συμβαλλόμενα τοῖς βουλομένοις [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φόνου κηκὶς ξ. contributes to the proof, [Refs 4th c.BC+] many things contribute [their share] of this fear, i.e. join in causing it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
10. συμβάλλεσθαι γνώμας contribute one's opinion to a discussion, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λόγον σ. περὶ βίου contribute an opinion about life, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also συμβαλέσθαι τι to have something to say, [Refs]; ταῦτά σοι περὶ Ἔρωτος σ. [Refs]; συμβαλοῦ γνώμην contribute your opinion, help in judging, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. τὴν γνώμην τῆς βουλῆς, with or without εἰς τὸν δῆμον, communicate it, [Refs]; cast votes, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. συμβάλλειν (i.e. λόγους) converse, σ. τινί or πρός τινα, [NT+1st c.AD+]middle, ἀτὰρ τί ἐγὼ περὶ κλοπῆς σ.; [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. bring men together in hostile sense, pit them against each other, match them, ἀμφοτέρους θεοὶ σύμβαλον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; σ. σκύμνον λέοντος σκύλακι κυνός set one to fight with the other, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄνδρα ἀνδρὶ καὶ ἵππον ἵππῳ σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀλεκτρυόνας σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+] make him contend with.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. b middle, join in fight, σὺν δ᾽ ἐβάλοντο μάχεσθαι ἐναντίον [Refs 8th c.BC+]
II. c intransitive, come together, σύμβαλον μάχεσθαι [Refs]; also ς. alone, come to blows, engage, πρίν γ᾽ ἠὲ ξυμβλήμεναι ἠὲ δαμῆναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ἄρης Ἄρει δυμβαλεῖ, Δίκα Δίκᾳ [Refs 4th c.BC+]; Ἕλληνες Μήδοις σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; συμβάλλων coming into collision, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. σ. πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα engage in war, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; so in Trag., σ. βάκχαις μάχην [Refs 5th c.BC+] bandy reproaches, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. middle, fall in with one, meet him, with dative, frequently in [Refs 8th c.BC+]aorist forms beginning ξυμβλη- or συμβλη- solely in this sense, Νέστορι δὲ ξύμβληντο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὅτε κεν συμβλήσεαι (to be read -βλήεαι) αὐτῷ [Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.4. so in active, συμβαλών having met, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; οἱ συμβάλλοντες those who come in contact with one, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; φιλοσόφῳ σ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. compare, σμικρὰ μεγάλοισι [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ Βαβυλώνιον πρὸς τὸ Εὐβοικὸν συμβαλλόμενον τάλαντον the Babyl. talent being compared with, reduced to, the Euboic, [Refs]
III. b compare for the purpose of checking, μέτρῳ συμβεβλημένῳ πρὸς τὸ χαλκοῦν Wilcken [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
III.2. middle, reckon, compute, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἡμερησίη ἀνὰ διηκόσια στάδια συμβέβληταί μοι [Refs]
III.3. conclude, infer, conjecture, interpret, συμβαλεῖν τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. ὅτι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοῦτο σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοῦτο σ., ὅτι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ πρὶν οὐκ εὔγνωστα σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, absolutely, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with accusative, make out, understand, τὸ πρῆγμα[Refs]infinitive, [Refs]
IV. agree, arrange, καθάπερ ξυνέβαλον ἢ διέθεντο [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, make a treaty, Foed. cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; agree upon, fix, settle, λόφον εἰς ὃν δέοι ἁλίζεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]