4876. sunantaó
Lexical Summary
sunantaó: To meet, to encounter, to come together

Original Word: συνάντησις
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sunantaó
Pronunciation: soon-an-TAH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (soon-an-tah'-o)
KJV: befall, meet
NASB: met, happen, meet
Word Origin: [from G4862 (σύν - along) and a derivative of G473 (ἀντί - instead)]

1. to meet with
2. (figuratively) to occur

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
happen, meet.

From sun and a derivative of anti; to meet with; figuratively, to occur -- befall, meet.

see GREEK sun

see GREEK anti

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from sun and antaó (to come opposite, meet face to face)
Definition
to meet with, hence to befall
NASB Translation
happen (1), meet (1), met (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4876: συναντάω

συναντάω, συνάντω: future συναντήσω; 1 aorist συνήντησα; from Homer down; the Sept. for פָּגַע , פָּגַשׁ, קָרָה, קִדֵּם, etc.; to meet with: τίνι, Luke 9:37. (Luke 9:18 WH marginal reading); ; Acts 10:25; Hebrews 7:1 (cf. Buttmann, 293 (252)), 10; tropical of events, to happen, to befall: Acts 20:22 (Plutarch, Sulla 2; middle τά συναντωμενα, Polybius 22, 7, 14; the Hebrew קָרָה also is used of events, Ecclesiastes 2:14; Ecclesiastes 9:11; etc.).

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope

Strong’s Greek 4876 depicts a purposeful meeting or encounter, usually arranged by providence rather than chance. In each New Testament scene it signals a divinely-timed intersection that advances redemptive history or personal calling.

Occurrences in the New Testament

Luke 9:37 – “The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus.”

Acts 10:25 – “As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.”

Luke 22:10 – “He answered, ‘When you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters.’ ”

Acts 20:22 – “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.”

Hebrews 7:1 – “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.”

Hebrews 7:10 – “For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.”

Contexts of Encounter

1. Personal need meeting divine power (Luke 9:37)

The crowd’s encounter immediately follows the Transfiguration, underscoring that glory on the mountain must flow into ministry in the valley. The meeting becomes the setting for the deliverance of a demon-tormented boy, revealing that those who seek the Lord find more than spectacle; they find salvation.

2. Gospel breakthrough to the nations (Acts 10:25)

Cornelius’ reverent welcome of Peter marks the first Gentile household to receive the Holy Spirit. The word emphasizes God’s orchestration: an angel, simultaneous visions, travel, and a climactic meeting that forever settles the question of Gentile inclusion.

3. Preparation for the Passion (Luke 22:10)

The disciples’ encounter with the man carrying water—an unusual sight in Jerusalem where women normally bore water—signals Jesus’ sovereign foreknowledge. The hidden host makes possible the Upper Room, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, and the new covenant in His blood.

4. Anticipation of unknown trials (Acts 20:22)

Paul speaks of events that will “meet” him in Jerusalem. The verb conveys that hardships are not random; they are scheduled appointments on the apostle’s path. His resolve models Spirit-led submission in the face of unforeseen, yet divinely fixed, encounters.

5. Typology and priestly blessing (Hebrews 7:1, 10)

The meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek is interpreted as prophetic of Christ’s eternal priesthood. By twice using 4876, the writer highlights that the patriarch’s historic encounter was also Levi’s—in seminal form—so that the Levitical order acknowledges a superior priesthood. The term thus ties a historical event to a theological conclusion that Christ’s priesthood is preeminent and everlasting.

Old Testament Foreshadowing

Although 4876 is Greek, its conceptual backdrop lies in Hebrew narratives where God “meets” His people (e.g., Genesis 18; Exodus 3). Such encounters often pivot history, as with Melchizedek and Abraham, picked up explicitly in Hebrews. The Septuagint occasionally uses cognate verbs, preparing Greek readers for the New Testament’s theology of encounter.

Theological Significance

• Providence: Every use illustrates that times, places, and participants are directed by God.
• Revelation: Meetings unveil divine purpose—whether through prophetic instruction (Luke 22:10) or apostolic insight (Acts 10).
• Mediation: The Melchizedek texts emphasize a priest who meets the patriarch to bless; ultimately Jesus is the One who meets humanity to reconcile.
• Mission: Encounters propel the gospel outward—from Jewish roots to Gentile homes—and forward—Paul toward Rome.
• Faith and Obedience: Recognizing God-appointed meetings motivates readiness, humility, and courage.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Expect divine appointments; pray to recognize and steward them.
2. Enter new cultures with Cornelius-like receptivity and Peter-like boldness.
3. Provide hospitable spaces, as the unnamed householder did for the Last Supper.
4. Face uncertain futures trusting that what “meets” us has passed through God’s sovereign plan.
5. Bless others in Christ’s name, reflecting Melchizedek’s priestly ministry.

Christological Perspective

All six occurrences ultimately converge on Jesus Christ. Whether He is physically met (Luke 9:37), symbolically served by the water-bearer (Luke 22:10), or typologically foreshadowed by Melchizedek (Hebrews 7), Christ is the center of every providential encounter. The risen Lord still meets His people, and believers await the consummate meeting when “we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Forms and Transliterations
συναντά συναντάν συναντάτε συνάντημα συναντήματά συνάντην συναντήσαι συναντησας συναντήσας συναντησει συναντήσει συναντήσεσθε συναντήσεται συναντήσεταί συναντήση συναντήσης συναντήσητέ συνάντησον συναντησοντα συναντήσοντα συναντήσοντά συναντήσουσι συναντήσωσιν συναντών συναντώσα συναντώσιν συνήντησαν συνήντησάν συνήντησέ συνηντησεν συνήντησεν sunantesas sunantēsas sunantesei sunantēsei sunantesonta sunantēsonta sunentesen sunēntēsen synantesas synantēsas synantḗsas synantesei synantēsei synantḗsei synantesonta synantēsonta synantḗsonta synentesen synēntēsen synḗntesen synḗntēsen
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 9:37 V-AIA-3S
GRK: τοῦ ὄρους συνήντησεν αὐτῷ ὄχλος
NAS: a large crowd met Him.
KJV: much people met him.
INT: the mountain met him a crowd

Luke 22:10 V-FIA-3S
GRK: τὴν πόλιν συναντήσει ὑμῖν ἄνθρωπος
NAS: a man will meet you carrying
KJV: there shall a man meet you, bearing
INT: the city will meet you a man

Acts 10:25 V-APA-NMS
GRK: τὸν Πέτρον συναντήσας αὐτῷ ὁ
NAS: Cornelius met him, and fell
KJV: Cornelius met him,
INT: Peter having met him

Acts 20:22 V-FPA-ANP
GRK: ἐν αὐτῇ συναντήσοντα μοι μὴ
NAS: not knowing what will happen to me there,
KJV: knowing the things that shall befall me
INT: in it will happen to me not

Hebrews 7:1 V-APA-NMS
GRK: ὑψίστου ὁ συναντήσας Ἀβραὰμ ὑποστρέφοντι
NAS: God, who met Abraham
KJV: God, who met Abraham returning
INT: most high having met Abraham returning

Hebrews 7:10 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ἦν ὅτε συνήντησεν αὐτῷ Μελχισεδέκ
NAS: when Melchizedek met him.
KJV: when Melchisedec met him.
INT: he was when met him Melchizadek

Strong's Greek 4876
6 Occurrences


συναντήσας — 2 Occ.
συναντήσει — 1 Occ.
συναντήσοντα — 1 Occ.
συνήντησεν — 2 Occ.

4875
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