Quick Definition
συνίστημι, συνιστάνω v. I commend, prove, am composed of, cohere
Strong's Definition
to set together, i.e. (by implication) to introduce (favorably), or (figuratively) to exhibit; intransitively, to stand near, or (figuratively) to constitute
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | aor. συνέστησα · pf. συνέστηκα · ptc. συνεστώς | ἵστημι
33.344 · Communication · Recommend, Propose
to recommend to indicate approval of a person or event, with the implication that others adopt the same attitude
ROM 16:1 · 2CO 3:1 · 2CO 4:2 · 2CO 5:12 · 2CO 10:12 · 2CO 10:18 · 2CO 10:18 · 2CO 12:11
28.49 · Know · Well Known, Clearly Shown, Revealed
to make known by action, to demonstrate, to show to cause something to be known by action In a number of languages the expression ‘to show oneself to be’ may best be rendered as ‘to cause people to know that one is,’ and therefore this expression in 2CO 6:4 may be rendered as ‘in everything causing people to know by what we do that we are servants of God.’
63.6 · Whole, Unite, Part, Divide · Unite
to hold together to bring together or hold together something in its proper or appropriate place or relationship In COL 1:17 it may not be easy to indicate clearly the relationship of the phrase ‘in him’ to the rest of the expression, namely, ‘all things hold together.’ Some translations have expanded the expression ‘in him’ to ‘in union with him’ or ‘in view of the fact that we are joined together with him.’
It is also possible to understand ἐν αὐτῷ as indicating agent, so that this expression in COL 1:17 may mean ‘by means of him all things hold together.’
17.2 · (συνίσταμαι (and perfect active)) · Stances and Events Related to Stances · Stand
to stand with to stand together with someone It is, of course, essential to avoid the idiomatic meaning of ‘to stand with’ in a sense of ‘to support.’ In this context the emphasis is simply upon being present with.
13.82 · (συνίσταμαι (and perfect active)) · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · Exist
to come into existence, to be formed to come into existence, with the implication of acquiring form and substance
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
συν-ίστημι (Ro. iii. 5; v. 8; xvi. 1; 2 Co. x. 18; Gal. ii. 18 Rec.; ptep. συνιστάντες, 2 Co. iv. 21, Τ Tr; vi. 41, T Tr), or συνιστάνω (2 Co. ν. 12; Gal. ii. 18 GLTTr WH; inf. συνιστάνειν, 2 Co. iii. 1 R GT WH; ptep. συνἱστάνων, 2 Co. iv. 2 WH; vi. 4 WH; x. 12,.18 LT Tr WH), or συνιστάω (inf. συνιστᾶν, 2 Co. iii. 1L Tr; ptep συνιστῶν, 2 Co. iv. 2 RG; vi.4 RG; x. 18 Rec.; see ἵστημι) ; 1 aor. συνέστησα; pf. συνέστηκα; 2 pf. ptep. συνeoras[nom. plur. neut. -τῶτα, 2 Pet. iii. 5 WHaurg.]; pres. pass. inf. συνίστασθαι; fr. Hom. Il. 14, 96 down; 2. to place together, to set in the same place, to bring or band together; in the 2 aor., pf. and plupf. intransitively, to stand with (or near): συνεστώς τινι, Lk. ix. 32. 2. to set one with another i.e. by way of presenting or introducing him, i. e. to commend (Xen., Plat., Dem., Polyb., Joseph., Plut.) : τινά, 2 Co. iii. 1; Wie Ais) χα, 1. 18; τινά τινι, Ro. xvi. 1; 2 Co. v. 12 [ef. B. 393 (836)]; τινὰ πρὸς συνείδησίν twos, 2 Co. iv. 2; pass. ὑπό τινος, 2 Co. xii. 11, (1 Mace. xii. 43; 2 Mace. iv. 24). 3. to put together by way of composition or combination, to teach by combining and comparing, hence to show, prove, establish, exhibit, [W. 23 (22)]: τί, Ro. iii. 53 v. 8, (εὔνοιαν, Polyb. 4, 5, 6); ἑαυτοὺς ὥς τινες, 2 Co. vi. 4; with two acc. one of the object, the other of the predicate, Gal. ii. 18 (Diod. 13,91; συνίστησιν αὐτὸν προφήτην, Philo rer. div. haer. § 52); foll. by an ace. with inf. [ef. B. 274 (236)], 2 Co. vii. 11 (Diod. 14, 45). 4. to put together (i. e. unite parts into one whole), pf., plupf. and 2 aor. to be composed of, consist: ἐξ ὕδατος x. δι ὕδατος, 2 Pet. iii. 5 [ef. W. § 45,6 a.; (see above, init.) ]; to cohere, hold together : τὰ πάντα συνέστηκεν ἐν αὐτῷ, Col. i. 17 (Plat. de rep. 7 p. 530 a.; Tim. p. 61 a.; [Bonitz’s index to Aristotle (Berlin Acad. ed.) s. ν. συνιστάναι], and often in eccles. writ.; [ef. Bp. Lghtft. on Col. 1. c-]).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
συνίστημι synistēmi 16x
also spelled συνιστάνω and συνιστάω, to place together; to recommend to favorable attention, Rom. 16:1; 2 Cor. 3:1; 10:18; to place in a striking point of view, Rom. 3:5; 5:8; Gal. 2:18; to stand beside, Lk. 9:32; to have been permanently framed, Col. 1:17; to possess consistence, 2 Pet. 3:5
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
συν-ίστημι
[in LXX for צוה pi., קהל ni., etc.; I Mac 12:43, II Mac 4:24, III Mac 1:19 (and freq. in these books) ;]
trans.,
to commend, recommend: c. acc. pers., II Co 3:1 6:4 10:12, 18; id. c. dat., Ro 16:1 (as freq. at the beginning of a letter; Deiss., LAE, 226), II Co 5:12; seq. πρός, II Co 4:2; pass., seq. ὑπό, II Co 12:11;
to show, prove, establish: c. acc., Ro 3:5 5:8, II Co 6:4; dupl. acc., Ga 2:13; acc. et inf., II Co 7:11
Intrans., pf., συνέστηκα (as also 2 aor. and plpf.);
to stand with or near: Lk 9:32;
to be composed of, consist, cohere: Col 1:17 (v. Lft., in l.), II Pe 3:5.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
συνίστημι place of ἐπίσταμαι in the closely parallel 59060%. The literal meaning ‘‘bring together” is probable in PSI VI. 6657 (ili/B.C.) γεωργοὺς δὲ ods οὐ συνίημι, but unfortunately the verb is followed by a lacuna. ovvioTH it is very common in the papyri, and is used with a great variety of meanings. We can notice only the principal ones, and those most nearly related to the NT occurrences of the word. (1) From its original meaning ‘‘set together,” ‘*combine,’’ συνίστημι passes into the sense of ‘* bring together as friends,” ‘‘introduce,’’ ‘‘recommend,” as in P Petr II. 11(1)° (iii/B.c.) (= Selections, p. 7) πέπεισμαι ῥαιδίως pe τῶι βασιλεῖ συσταθήσεσθαι, “I am sure that I shall easily be introduced to the King,’ P Oxy IV. 787 (A.D. 16) ἐρωτῶ σε οὖν ἔχειν συνεσταμένον, “I ask you therefore to hold him as recommended,” 26, II. 2025 (a.D. 25) παρακαλῶ oe μετὰ πάσης δυνάμεως ἔχειν αὐτὸν συνεσταμένον : cf. Rom 161, 2 Cor 31, ad. (2) The meaning ‘‘appoint,” as a technical legal term, is seen in such passages as P Oxy II. 26118 (B.c. 55) where a woman states that she has appointed her grandson to act as her representative in a lawsuit—ovveorakévar αὐτὴν τὸν προγεγραμμένον υἱωνὸν Χα[ιρ]ήμονα ἔγδικον, 106. 1. 975} (B.C. 115-6) συνέστησα τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἐμοῦ Νικάνορα ἐπὶ mace (/. πᾶσι) τοῖς προκειμένοις, and P Giss I. 259 (li/A.D.) συνέστησα yap αὐτὸν διὰ τό σε τότε καταπεπλευκέναι. With this may be compared ὁ συνεσταμένος = ‘‘the nominee” in P Oxy II. 320 (a.pD. 59) Σεκούνδου Tov συνεσταμένου ὑπὸ τῶν μετόχων ayo(pavdpwv), and 330 (A.D. 78-83). See also P Tebt I. 27% (B.c. 113) ἐπὶ τοῦ συσταθέντος πρὸς σὲ διαλογισμοῦ, ‘‘at the inquiry instituted against you” (Edd.), P Amh 11. 335 (c. B.c. 157) σ]υνεστηκυίας ἡμῖν καταστάσεως ἐπὶ [Ζω]πύρου τοῦ ἐπι[μ]ελητοῦ, ‘a trial has been arranged before Zopyrus the epimeletes,” and P Lond 19127! (A.D. 41) εἴ ται kal συνείστασθαι τὴν ἀρχὴν δεῖ, “‘ whether the order should be constituted” (Ed.). (3) From this it is a natural transition to ‘‘ establish,” “‘prove,”’ as in Rom 3° αἱ., cf. BGU IV. 1062!" (a.p. 230-7) ἔτι δὲ Kal συστήσασθαι τοὺς ταύτης λόγους. (4) For the intrans. use ‘‘stand with (by),” as in Lk 9%, cf. the legal phrase μετὰ συνεστῶτος or συνεστώτων, of a person or persons ‘‘acting with’’ or ‘‘ standing by” another, in such passages as P Oxy VI. g124 (a.p. 235) ἐμίσθωσεν Αὐρηλία Bnoots . .. μετὰ συνεστῶτος Αὐρηλίου Θέωνος. .. Αὐρηλίῳ Πατύτι. . ., ““Αὐτεῖϊα Besous, acting with Aurelius Theon, has leased to Aurelius Patus...,” and P Ryl II. 165° (a.p. 266), with the editors’ notes. Also P Oxy X. 1273} (A.p. 260) Αὐρήλιος Θέων ὁ καὶ Νεπωτιανὸς συνέστην αὐτῇ καὶ ἔγραψα ὑπὲρ αὐ[τ]ῆς μὴ εἰδυίης γράμματα, and P Lond 97829 (a.b. 331) (=IIL. p. 234) συνέστην τῇ συμβίᾳ pov. The verb is also intransitive in such passages as PSI II. 173) (ii/B.c.) τοῦ οὖν καιροῦ τῆς τῶν γενημάτων συναγωγῆς συνεστηκότος, BGU IV. 1102° (deed of divorce —B.C. 13) τῆς συστ[ά]σης αὐτοῖς συνβιώσεως, and P Oxy III. 6531" (A.p. 162-3) συνέστηκ[ε]ν ὡς ἔκρινεν ὃ χιλίαρχο[ς, ‘the matter stood as the chiliarch decided.” , ’ συνκαλεω (5) For the meaning ‘“‘hold together,” ‘cohere’’ in Col 117 Lightfoot ad Δ cites Philo Quis rer. div. her. 58 ed. Wendland (=I. p. 481) συνέστηκε kal ζωπυρεῖται προνοίᾳ θεοῦ, Clem. Rom, 27 ἐν λόγῳ τῆς μεγαλωσύνης αὐτοῦ συνεστήσατο τὰ πάντα, and for the meaning ‘‘consist” in 2 Pet 35 see Field λῆρος, p. 242. (6) Miscellaneous exx. of the verb are—P Amh II. 31 (B.C. 112) ἐπὶ τῆς συσταθείσης πρακτορείας ἐν τοῖς Μεμνονείοις, of agents ““engaged,upon exacting payment in the Memnonia” (Edd.), P Ryl Il. 691% (B.c. 34) συνέστησεν ἐπιδιδό(ναι) τὸ ὑπόμνημα, ‘obliged us to present this petition” (Edd.), P Oxy IX. 11884 (a.p. 13) ὡς πρὸς ὑμᾶ(ς) τοῦ περὶ τ(ῶν) ἀγνοη(θέντων) Ady(ov) συστα(ϑησομένου), “knowing that you will be held accountable in any inquiry concerning facts that remain unknown” (Ed.), BGU I. 2215 (a.p. 114) (= Selections, Ρ- 75) ἄλογόν μοι ἀηδίαν συνεστήσατο, ‘picked a senseless quarrel with me, so P Lond 3425 (a.p. 185) (ΞΞ 11. p. For the subst. συστάτης = ‘‘delegate,’’ see P Oxy VIII. I116° (A.D. 363), with the editor’s note. For the double comp4. ἀποσυνίστημι, cf. P Hamb I. 271 (B.C. 250) ἔγραψάς por περὶ IIrodepatov . ., ὅτι ἐμοὶ αὐτὸν ἀποσυστήσαις, “you write me regarding Ptolemaeus, that you recommend him to me.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
συνίστημι, συνιστάω (sunistēmi, sunistaō) — to commend. συνίστημι, also συνιστάνω [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; συνιστάω [NT+4th c.BC+]; imperfect συνίστα [Refs 2nd c.BC+]imperfect συνίστην, future συστήσω, aorist 1 συνέστησα: transitive perfect συνέστᾰκα, found only in later texts, [Refs 1st c.AD+]:—set together, combine, τὰς χορδὰς ἀλλήλαις [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰς ἄρκυς καὶ τὰ δίκτυα falsa lectio in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. combine, associate, unite, σ. τοὺς Ἀρκάδας ἐπὶ τῇ Σπάρτῃ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ταύτας (i.e. τὰς πόλεις) [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. b σ. Ἀσίην ἑωυτῷ unite Asia in dependence on himself, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μαντικὴν ἑωυτῷ συστῆσαι bring prophetic art into union with himself, i.e. win, acquire it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. put together, organize, frame, ζῷον ἔμψυχον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρᾶγμα ὁτιοῦν ἐκ μοχθηρῶν καὶ χρηστῶν σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἑταιρείαν Legal cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+] —middle, τοῖς ἑτέραν αἵρεσιν (school) συστησαμένοις [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III.2. contrive, σ. θάνατον ἐπί τινι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. τιμάς settle prices, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III.3. middle in these senses, τὸ ὅλον συνίστασθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: mostly aorist 1, μὴ ἐκ χρηστῶν καὶ κακῶν ἀνθρώπων συστήσηται πόλιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πᾶν τόδε[Refs 5th c.BC+]; πολιορκίαν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἀηδίαν [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; οὐδένα λόγον συνισταμένη πρὸς ἡμᾶς rendering no account to us. [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; σ. ἀγῶνας [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ναυτικὰς δυνάμεις, μισθοφόρους, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; also, arrange in order of battle, rally, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
III.4. in Mathematics texts, erect two straight lines from points on a given straight line so as to meet and form a triangle, in passive, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of two arcs of great circles on a sphere, [Refs]
III.5. of an author, compose, μύθους, τὴν Ὀδύσσειαν, etc., [Refs 4th c.BC+]
IV. bring together as friends, introduce or recommend one to another, τινάς τινι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἵνα τῳ τῶν.. σοφιστῶν.. συστήσω τουτονί, as a pupil, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, συνεστάθη Κύρῳ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Κύρῳ συσταθησόμενος[Refs 3rd c.BC+]; ἔχειν τινὰ συνεσταμένον, συνιστάμενον, regard him as introduced or recommended, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
IV. b recommend, secure approval of a course of action, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:— middle, recommend persons for appointment, [Refs 4th c.AD+]
IV. c τὸ οἰκεῖον συνιστάναι bring about intimacy, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
IV. d place in the charge of, συνέστησεν ὁ ἀρχιδεσμώτης τῷ Ἰωσὴφ αὐτούς [LXX+2nd c.AD+]
IV. e appoint to a charge, [LXX]; appoint a representative, σ. ἀντ᾽ ἐμαυτῆς τὸν ἕτερον ἐμοῦ ἀδελφόν [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; συνέστησά σε φροντιοῦντά μου τῶν ὑπαρχόντων [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἐπίτροπος συσταθείς [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; συσταθεὶς συνήγορος [Refs 1st c.AD+]
IV.2. of a debtor, offer another as a guarantee, τινί τινα [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, συστήσαντος ἀποδοῦναι introduce the party who was to pay, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: with accusative of things, guarantee a loan, ἃς (i.e. δραχμὰς) συνέστησεν Ἀρτεμίδωρος ἀργυ (ρίου) [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; ἃς (i.e. δραχμὰς) παρὰ Ἱέρωνος συνεστήσαμεν [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; Σέλευκός μου αὐτοὺς (i.e. τοὺς τρεῖς στατῆρας) ἐκκέκρουκε λέγων ὅτι συνέστακας ἑαυτῷ [Refs 1st c.AD+]
V. make solid or firm, brace up, τὸ σῶμα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. [τὰ ἴχνη] sets them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὑπὲρ τοῦ συνεστῶτος [τοῦ τείχους], i.e. the unbroken part, [Refs 4th c.AD+]; contract, condense, opposed to διακρίνω or διαλύω, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of liquids, make them congeal, curdle, γάλα [Refs 5th c.BC+] with a frown, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
VI. exhibit, give proof of, εὔνοιαν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]: with accusative et infinitive, [Refs 1st c.BC+]: with participle, σ. τινὰς ὄντας [Refs]
VI.2. prove, establish, [Refs 1st c.BC+] __B passive, with aorist 2 active συνέστην: perfect συνέστηκα, participle συνεστηκώς, contraction συνεστώς, ῶσα, ώς or ός [Refs 5th c.BC+], Ionic dialect συνεστεώς, εῶσα (neuter not found), [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future συσταθήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; future middle ξυστήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist passive συνεστάθην [ᾰ] [Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.:—stand together, περὶ τὸν τρίποδα (of statues) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to διίστασθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of soldiers, form in order of battle, [Refs] __B.II in hostile sense, to be joined, of battle, once in [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τοῦτο συνεστήκεε this combat continued, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.II.2 of persons, συνίστασθαί τινι meet in fight, be cngaged with, [Refs 5th c.BC+] was at odds with.. , [Refs] when the generals were at issue, [Refs]; συνίσταται ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ makes a dead set at me, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __B.II.3 to be involved or implicated in a thing, λιμῷ, πόνῳ, λιμῷ καὶ καμάτῳ, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.III of friends, form a league or union, band together, [Refs]; κατὰ σφᾶς αὐτοὺς ξ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ξυνίστασθαι πρὸς ἑκατέρους league themselves with one side or the other, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπί τινας against them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καί μ᾽ οὐ λέληθεν οὐδὲν ἐν τῇ πόλει ξυνιστάμενον no conspiracy, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ συνιστάμενοι the conspirators, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.III.2 generally, to be connected or allied, as by marriage, with accusative cognate, λέχος Ἡρακλεῖ ξυστᾶσα [Refs 5th c.BC+]put yourself into connexion with.., PMag. Leid.W. [Refs 5th c.BC+] acting with [Refs 4th c.BC+] __B.III.3 of an assembly, to be in session, ἔτι τῆς ἐκκλησίας συνεστώσης [Refs 1st c.AD+]; τῆς τῶν Νεμείων πανηγύρεως σ. [Refs 2nd c.BC+] __B.IV to come or be put together, of parts, συνιστάμεν᾽ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ πόλις ἐξ οἰκιῶν σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐξ ὧν ὁ κόσμος σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; especially in military sense, ξυνεστὼς στρατός an organized army, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἱππικὸν συνεστηκός an organized force of cavalry, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ συνεστηκὸς στράτευμα the organized force, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __B.IV.b of a play, to be composed, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἡ πολιτεία (compared to a tragedy) συνέστηκε μίμησις τοῦ καλλίστου βίου [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.IV.c arise, take shape or body, τὸ συνιστάμενον κακόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐνταῦθα συνίστανται [ψύλλαι] [Refs 4th c.BC+]; σ. ἀπό τινος arise from.., [Refs 1st c.BC+] __B.IV.d in aorist 2 and perfect, come into existence, exist, μεγάλη συνέστη δύναμις βασιλέων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κεχωρίσθαι ἀπ᾽ ἀλλήλων τῆς συστάσης αὐτοῖς συμβιώσεως [Refs 1st c.BC+]; οἰκία.. σὺν τοῖς συνεστῶσι μέτροις καὶ πηχισμοῖς καὶ συνεστῶσι θεμελίοις [Refs 1st c.AD+] __B.V to be compact, solid, firm, οὔτε σκιδνάμενον οὔτε συνιστάμενον [Refs 4th c.BC+]; συνεστῶτα σώματα, of animals in good condition, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; acquire substance or consistency, of eggs, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of blood, honey, milk,[Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the embryo, συνίσταται καὶ λαμβάνει τὴν οἰκείαν μορφήν [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the brain, [Refs]; of the bowels, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ῥεῦμα συνεστηκός concentrated, [Refs]; συνεστηκυῖα χιών congealed, frozen, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] __B.VI to be contracted, συνεστῶτι τῷ προσώπῳ frowning, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; τοῦ ξυνεστῶτος φρενῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; συνεστηκώς absorbed in thought, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __B.VII συνέστηκε with accusative et infinitive, it is well known that.., = Latin constat, [Refs 4th c.AD+] __B.VIII to be weighed together, συνεστάθη [Refs 2nd c.BC+]