Original Word: συμβάλλω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sumballó
Pronunciation: soom-bal'-lo
Phonetic Spelling: (soom-bal'-lo)
KJV: confer, encounter, help, make, meet with, ponder
NASB: confer, conversing, helped, meet, met, pondering
Word Origin: [from G4862 (σύν - along) and G906 (βάλλω - thrown)]

1. to combine
2. (in speaking) to converse, consult, dispute
3. (mentally) to consider
4. (by implication) to aid
5. (personally) to join, attack

discuss, confer, encounter

From sun and ballo; to combine, i.e. (in speaking) to converse, consult, dispute, (mentally) to consider, (by implication) to aid, (personally) to join, attack -- confer, encounter, help, make, meet with, ponder.

see GREEK sun

see GREEK ballo

Word Origin
from sun and balló
Definition
to throw together, hence to discuss, consider, meet with
NASB Translation
confer (1), conversing (1), helped (1), meet (1), met (1), pondering (1).

STRONGS NT 4820: συμβάλλω

συμβάλλω (συνβάλλω WH (so Tdf. except Luke 14:31); cf. Σιν, II. at the end); imperfect συνέβαλλον; 2 aorist συνέβαλον; 2 aorist middle συνεβαλομην; from Homer down; to throw together, to bring together;

a. λόγους (Latinsermones conferre), to converse, Euripides, Iphig. Aul. 830; with λόγους omitted (cf. English confer), Plutarch, mor., p. 222 e. (Winers Grammar, 593 (552); (Buttmann, 145 (127))): τίνι, to dispute with one, Acts 17:18 (where A. V. encountered (cf.

c. below)); πρός ἀλλήλους, to confer with one another, deliberate among themselves, Acts 9:15.

b. to bring together in one's mind, confer with oneself (cf. σύν, II. 4), to consider, ponder: ἐν τῇ καρδία, to revolve in the mind, Luke 2:19 (συμβαλων τῷ λογισμῷ τό ὄναρ, Josephus, Antiquities 2, 5, 3).

c. intransitive (Winers Grammar, § 38, 1; (Buttmann, § 130, 4)), to come together, meet: τίνι, to meet one (on a journey), Acts 20:14 (Homer, Odyssey 21, 15; Josephus, Antiquities 2, 7, 5); "to encounter in a hostile sense: τίνι, to fight with one (1 Macc. 4:34; 2 Macc. 8:23 2Macc. 14:17; Polybius 1, 9, 7; 3, 111, 1, and often), with εἰς πόλεμον added, Luke 14:31 (εἰς μάχην, Polybius 3, 56, 6; Josephus, Antiquities 12, 8, 4; πρός μάχην, Polybius 10, 37, 4). Middle, to bring together of one's property, to contribute, aid, help: πολύ τίνι, one, Acts 18:27; often so in Greek authors also, especially Polybius; cf. Schweighäuser, Lex. Polybius, p. 576; Passow, under the word, 1 b. ἆ.; (Liddell and Scott, under the word I. 2); Grimm, Exeget. Hdbch. on Wis. 5:8.

Overview

Strong’s Greek 4820 portrays the act of “throwing together” minds, plans, or persons so that something new results—reflection, counsel, partnership, or confrontation. Across its six New Testament appearances the word traces a movement from private meditation to public mission, always serving the larger purpose of God’s redemptive plan.

Semantic Range in the New Testament

1. Internal reflection that connects separate facts into a coherent understanding (Luke 2:19).
2. Strategic consultation that weighs options before decisive action (Luke 14:31).
3. Cooperative assistance that adds one believer’s gifts to another’s faith (Acts 18:27).
4. Physical rendezvous that joins traveling companions in ministry (Acts 20:14).
5. Closed-door deliberation that seeks to suppress apostolic witness (Acts 4:15).
6. Philosophical debate that challenges and clarifies gospel proclamation (Acts 17:18).

Luke’s Gospel: Pondering and Planning

Luke 2:19—“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

Mary, who has just heard the shepherds’ report, gathers scattered revelations—the angelic announcement, Elizabeth’s words, Simeon’s prophecy—and “throws them together” within her heart. The verb underscores the Spirit-guided process by which believers integrate God’s past faithfulness with present experience to form a deeper grasp of Christ’s identity. This inward symballō sets the pattern for devotional meditation.

Luke 14:31—“Or what king, going out to confront another king in war, will not first sit down and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand men to meet the one coming against him with twenty thousand?”

Here the term shifts to calculated strategy. Jesus urges potential disciples to count the cost of following Him. Genuine commitment, like responsible kingship, requires sober, prayerful analysis—assembling all factors before acting.

Acts: Collaboration, Confrontation, and Mission

Acts 18:27—“On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had believed.”

Apollos “threw in” his powerful grasp of Scripture with the fledgling church in Achaia, strengthening the saints and publicly refuting Jewish opponents (verse 28). The word highlights the value of gifted believers relocating for kingdom advance: when talents and needs converge, the body is edified.

Acts 20:14—“When he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went on to Mitylene.”

Paul alters his travel plans, walking alone while the team sails. The subsequent “meeting” restores unity of movement. Ministry often demands flexible logistics; yet the same verb that signified Apollos’ assistance now signals reunion, stressing that gospel work flourishes when workers converge in God’s timing.

Acts 4:15—“So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and conferred among themselves.”

The council “throws ideas together” in an attempt to stifle the apostolic witness. Their deliberation contrasts sharply with the Spirit-led consensus of the early church (Acts 15). The term thus exposes the futility of conspiratorial wisdom that sets itself against Christ.

Acts 17:18—“Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him.”

In Athens, the verb marks intellectual sparring. Paul’s message encounters worldviews that, when juxtaposed with the resurrection, are shown inadequate. The gospel invites engagement; honest discourse can “throw together” competing ideas so that truth emerges.

Historical and Ministry Significance

Early Christian communities relied on this “bringing together” at every level:

• Spiritual formation—private meditation converted revelation into conviction (Luke 2:19).
• Leadership—strategic counting of cost preserved authentic discipleship (Luke 14:31).
• Mission partnerships—gifted servants crossing geographical lines multiplied effectiveness (Acts 18:27; 20:14).
• Apologetics—public debate clarified doctrine and exposed error (Acts 17:18).
• Persecution—hostile councils unwittingly validated the apostles’ boldness (Acts 4:15).

Practical Applications for Today

1. Cultivate reflective hearts that assemble God’s works and words into worshipful understanding.
2. Engage in deliberate planning before embarking on ministry initiatives, assessing resources prayerfully.
3. Recognize the value of itinerant teachers and missionaries whose presence can “greatly help” local congregations.
4. Maintain relational flexibility, ready to converge with co-workers as opportunities shift.
5. Enter cultural conversations confidently, allowing the juxtaposition of ideas to spotlight the superiority of the gospel.
6. Expect opposition; secret councils cannot overturn the purposes of God but rather highlight the steadfastness of His servants.

Conclusion

Whether pondering in a mother’s heart, consulting in a war room, helping a church, rejoining a team, conspiring in a courtroom, or debating in a marketplace, the verb behind Strong’s 4820 signifies moments when God causes people, plans, and ideas to intersect for His sovereign ends. Believers today are called to the same dynamic interplay—bringing together thought, counsel, and cooperation under the lordship of Jesus Christ so that His name is magnified in every sphere.

εἰς συμβαλείν συμβάλλει συμβάλλεις συμβαλλόμενοι συμβάλλουσα συνβαλειν συνβαλεῖν συνβαλλουσα συνβάλλουσα συνέβαλεν συνεβαλετο συνεβάλετο συνεβαλλεν συνέβαλλεν συνεβαλλον συνέβαλλον eis sumballousa sunbalein sunebaleto suneballen suneballon symballousa symbállousa synbalein synbaleîn synebaleto synebáleto syneballen synéballen syneballon synéballonInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts