Original Word: συγκλείω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sugkleió
Pronunciation: soong-klay'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (soong-kli'-o)
KJV: conclude, inclose, shut up
NASB: shut, enclosed
Word Origin: [from G4862 (σύν - along) and G2808 (κλείω - shut)]

1. to shut together, i.e. include or (figuratively) embrace in a common subjection to

enclose, shut up.

From sun and kleio; to shut together, i.e. Include or (figuratively) embrace in a common subjection to -- conclude, inclose, shut up.

see GREEK sun

see GREEK kleio

Word Origin
from sun and kleió
Definition
to shut together, i.e. enclose
NASB Translation
enclosed (1), shut (3).

STRONGS NT 4788: συγκλείω

συγκλείω (T WH συνκλειω (cf. σύν, II. at the end)): 1 aorist συνεκλεισα; passive, present participle συγγ(῾συν(᾿κλειόμενος, Galatians 3:23 L T Tr WH; but R G ibid. perfect participle συγκεκλεισμενος; from Herodotus down; the Sept. chiefly for סָגַר and הִסְגִּיר, to shut up (Latinconcludo), i. e.

a. to shut up together, enclose (so under the word σύν, II. 2; but others (e. g. Fritzsche as below Meyer on Galatians 3:22) would make the συν( always intensive, as in b.): a shoal of fishes in a net, Luke 5:6.

b. to shup up on all sides, shut up completely; τινα εἰς τινα or τί, so to deliver one up to the power of a person or thing that he is completely shut in, as it were, without means of escape: τινα εἰς ἀπείθειαν, Romans 11:32 (εἰς ἀγῶνα, Polybius 3, 63, 3; εἰς τοιαύτην ἀμηχανιαν συγκλεισθεις Ἀντιγονος μετεμελετο, Diodorus 19, 19; οὐ συνέκλεισάς με εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθροῦ, Psalm 30:9 (); τά κτήνη εἰς θάνατον, Psalm 77:50 (); cf. Fritzsche, Ep. ad Romans, ii., p. 545f); also τινα ὑπό τί, under the power of anything, i. e. so that he is held completely subject to it: ὑπό ἁμαρτίαν, Galatians 3:22 (the Scripture has shut up or subjected, i. e. declared them to be subject); namely, ὑπό νόμον, with the addition of εἰς τήν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι, Galatians 3:23 (see above at the beginning); on these words see εἰς, B. II. 3 c. γ., p. 185{a} bottom.

Definition and Scope

The verb carries the idea of shutting in together, hemming in on every side, or confining within fixed limits. In biblical usage the confinement can be either literal (fish in a net) or metaphorical (humanity under sin or the Law). Each occurrence portrays an intentional act of God that precedes a gracious purpose.

Occurrences in the New Testament

• Luke 5:6 – the enclosed multitude of fish.
• Romans 11:32 – humanity enclosed in disobedience.
• Galatians 3:22 – Scripture enclosing all under sin.
• Galatians 3:23 – believers formerly enclosed under the Law.

Physical Imagery in Luke

Luke 5:6 records that the fishermen “enclosed a great number of fish” (συνέκλεισαν). The overflowing nets become a living parable: as the catch is gathered into the boat, so Jesus will gather people into the kingdom. The confinement of the fish anticipates the inescapable call of discipleship—no one caught by Christ remains in the sea of the world.

Pauline Theology of Enclosure

1. Romans 11:32 – “For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone”. Paul frames disobedience as a divine enclosure. Jew and Gentile alike are shut in so that mercy can be shown alike, preserving God’s impartiality and covenant faithfulness.
2. Galatians 3:22 – “But Scripture has imprisoned all under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe”. The entire human race is held in collective custody under sin, disclosing the insufficiency of self-righteousness and heightening the indispensability of faith.
3. Galatians 3:23 – “Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was coming would be revealed”. The Law functions as a provisional warden, guarding Israel until Messiah’s arrival. The confinement is not punitive alone but pedagogical, steering sinners toward grace.

Universal Enclosure Under Sin

Paul’s threefold use forms a progression:
• Imprisoned by Scripture (Galatians 3:22)
• Guarded by the Law (Galatians 3:23)
• Bound over by God Himself (Romans 11:32)

Together they affirm that sin’s dominion is total and that no ethnic, moral, or religious distinction can break the bars. The universality of guilt magnifies the universality of mercy.

Law, Scripture, and Custody

Scripture and Law are personified as jailers. They expose sin (Romans 3:20), define its penalties (Deuteronomy 27:26), and lock the sinner in a condition of helplessness. Yet they do so under divine supervision, ensuring that the prison door will swing open when faith arrives.

Purpose of Divine Confinement

• To reveal human inability (Romans 7:24).
• To preserve the Messianic line until fulfillment (Galatians 3:19).
• To eliminate boasting (Ephesians 2:9).
• To showcase mercy as an undeserved gift (Titus 3:5).

Release Through Faith in Jesus Christ

The same God who confines also liberates. Faith in Christ is the key that turns the lock: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Justification is pictured not merely as acquittal but as emancipation from a cosmic prison.

Intertextual Links with the Old Testament

• Lamentations 3:7 – Jeremiah speaks of being “walled in.”
• Isaiah 24:22 – prisoners gathered “in a pit.”

These prophetic images foreshadow the New Testament theme: captivity precedes restoration (Isaiah 61:1).

Historical Reception

• Early church catechesis employed Galatians 3 to contrast Law and Gospel.
• Augustine cited Romans 11:32 to show that grace alone unlocks the human will.
• Reformers appealed to the Galatian passages to underline sola fide, viewing the Law as both accuser and tutor.

Pastoral and Missional Implications

1. Evangelism: Proclaim both confinement and release. Conviction of sin is the Spirit’s prison; the gospel is the door.
2. Counseling: Believers who relapse into legalism need reminding that the warden has relinquished authority (Galatians 5:1).
3. Unity: Since all were equally shut in, no congregation may nurture superiority (Romans 3:27).

Worship and Discipleship Application

• Confession: corporate acknowledgment of universal sinfulness reflects Romans 11:32.
• Praise: hymns celebrating deliverance (for example, “And Can It Be”) resonate with the image of unlocked chains.
• Instruction: catechism classes can trace the pedagogical role of the Law using Galatians 3.

Summary

Strong’s 4788 sketches a movement from confinement to freedom. Whether fish in a net or sinners behind bars, the purpose is not destruction but redemption. God shuts in so that He may bring out, silencing every boast and magnifying the riches of His mercy in Jesus Christ.

συγκέκλεικε συγκεκλεικότας συγκεκλεισμένα συγκεκλεισμένας συγκεκλεισμένη συγκεκλεισμένοι συγκεκλεισμένω συγκλειόμενοι συγκλείοντα συγκλείσαι συγκλείσεις συγκλείσης συγκλεισθήσεταί συγκλεισθήσονται σύγκλεισον συγκλείων συνεκλεισαν συνέκλεισαν συνέκλεισάς συνέκλεισε συνέκλεισέ συνεκλεισεν συνέκλεισεν συνεκλείσθησαν συνκλειομενοι συνκλειόμενοι sunekleisan sunekleisen sunkleiomenoi synekleisan synékleisan synekleisen synékleisen synkleiomenoi syn'kleiómenoiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts