verb
sustēamō
Strong’sG4921
I commend, prove, am composed of, cohere
stem sustē-15 times in the New Testamentin 5 of 27 books12 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
To commend or recommend someone, presenting them favorably to others — a sense often used at the start of a letter to introduce a person to a community 124. In the Greek Old Testament the same verb can also mean to place someone in another's charge or appoint them to a duty 3.
To show, prove, or establish something — demonstrating that a claim or statement is true 124.
To stand near or beside, describing people standing together in one place 12.
To be composed of, consist, or cohere — describing something made up of parts that are held together as a whole 124.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
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);]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4921 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidsoon-is-tah'-o
to set together, i.e. (by implication) to introduce (favorably), or (figuratively) to exhibit; intransitively, to stand near, or (figuratively) to constitute
Fromfrom G4862 and G2476 (including its collateral forms);
King Jamesapprove, commend, consist, make, stand (with).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
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 τόδεRefs 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 συσταθησόμενοςRefs 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+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| sustēamōΣυνίστημι | happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular | commend | 1× |
| sustēatōσυνίστησιν | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | demonstrates | 3× |
| sustēanōσυνιστάνομεν | happening now · wepresent active indicative 1st person plural | commending | 1× |
| sustēavaσυνεστήσατε | happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural | proved | 1× |
| sustēatēσυνέστηκεν | has happened · he/she/itperfect active indicative 3rd person singular | hold together | 1× |
| sustēarōσυνιστάνειν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | commend | 1× |
| sustēorōσυνίστασθαι | happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive | commended | 1× |
| sustēarōntosσυνιστάνων | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | commends | 1× |
| sustēarōntoisσυνιστάνοντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | commend | 2× |
| sustēarōntoiuσυνιστανόντων | happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive plural masculine | commend | 1× |
| sustēarēntasσυνεστῶσα | has happened · subjectperfect active participle nominative singular feminine | formed | 1× |
| sustēarēntoinσυνεστῶτας | has happened · objectperfect active participle accusative plural masculine | stood | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 140, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 7 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | sustēamō1×Συνίστημι | sustēame | sustēami | sustēama | sustēamē | sustēamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | sustēasō | sustēase | sustēasi | sustēasa | sustēasē | sustēaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sustēatō3×συνίστησιν | sustēate | sustēati | sustēata | sustēatē1×συνέστηκεν | sustēatelē |
| we 1st person plural | sustēanō1×συνιστάνομεν | sustēane | sustēani | sustēana | sustēanē | sustēanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | sustēavō | sustēave | sustēavi | sustēava1×συνεστήσατε | sustēavē | sustēavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | sustēalō | sustēale | sustēali | sustēala | sustēalē | sustēalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | sustēomō | sustēome | sustēomē | sustēomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | sustēosō | sustēose | sustēosē | sustēoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sustēotō | sustēote | sustēotē | sustēotelē |
| we 1st person plural | sustēonō | sustēone | sustēonē | sustēonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | sustēovō | sustēove | sustēovē | sustēovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | sustēolō | sustēole | sustēolē | sustēolelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | sustēameiō | sustēameia | sustēameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | sustēaseiō | sustēaseia | sustēaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sustēateiō | sustēateia | sustēateiē |
| we 1st person plural | sustēaneiō | sustēaneia | sustēaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | sustēaveiō | sustēaveia | sustēaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | sustēaleiō | sustēaleia | sustēaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | sustēomeiō | sustēomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | sustēoseiō | sustēoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sustēoteiō | sustēoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | sustēoneiō | sustēoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | sustēoveiō | sustēoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | sustēoleiō | sustēoleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | sustēasōr | sustēasar | sustēasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sustēatōr | sustēatar | sustēatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | sustēavōr | sustēavar | sustēavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | sustēalōr | sustēalar | sustēalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | sustēosōr | sustēosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sustēotōr | sustēotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | sustēovōr | sustēovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | sustēolōr | sustēolēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | sustēamoiō | sustēamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | sustēasoiō | sustēasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sustēatoiō | sustēatoia |
| we 1st person plural | sustēanoiō | sustēanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | sustēavoiō | sustēavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | sustēaloiō | sustēaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | sustēomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | sustēosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sustēotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | sustēonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | sustēovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | sustēoloiō |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 2 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | sustēarō1×συνιστάνειν | sustēari | sustēara | sustēarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | sustēorō1×συνίστασθαι | sustēorē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 6 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | sustēarōntos4×συνιστάνων | sustēarintos | sustēarantos | sustēarēntos2× |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | sustēorōntos | sustēorēntos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
sustē is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
15 occurrences, every one of them listed
sustēamō“commend”happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular1×
Romans 16:1Sustēamō de vi Foiban tan adelfan nu, …I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a …
sustēatō“demonstrates”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular3×
Romans 3:5“demonstrates”… de tas adikias nu theou dikaiosunan sustēatō, tinem legani? mē adikos tos theos …But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict …
Romans 5:8“demonstrates”sustēatō de tan heautou agapan eis nin …But God proves His love for us in this …
2 Corinthians 10:18… atō dokimos, alla hon tos kurios sustēatō.… but the one whom the Lord commends.
sustēanō“commending”happening now · wepresent active indicative 1st person plural1×
2 Corinthians 5:12ouk palin heautoin sustēanō vi, alla aforman dōarōntois vi kauchēmeu …We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we …
sustēava“proved”happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural1×
2 Corinthians 7:11… alla zēlon, alla ekdikēsian; en pante sustēava heautoin hagnoin arō te pragme.… vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this …
sustēatē“hold together”has happened · he/she/itperfect active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Colossians 1:17… panteiu kai teim panteim en auto sustēatē,… things, and in Him all things hold together.
sustēarō“commend”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive1×
2 Corinthians 3:1Archonō palin heautoin sustēarō? ē mē chrēzanō hōs tinois sustatikaiu …Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need …
sustēorō“commended”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive1×
2 Corinthians 12:11… anankazava; mis gar ofeilame hupo vu sustēorō. oudenem gar husterama toiu huperlian apostoloiu, …… it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no …
sustēarōntos“commends”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine1×
2 Corinthians 10:18ouk gar tos heauton sustēarōntos, ekeinos atō dokimos, alla hon tos …… it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the …
sustēarōntois“commend”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine2×
2 Corinthians 4:2“commending”… theou, alla ta fanerōsia tau alētheiau sustēarōntois heautoin pros pantan suneidēsian anthrōpoiu enōpion …… word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 6:4alla en pante sustēarōntois heautoin hōs theou diakonois; en hupomona …Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great …
sustēarōntoiu“commend”happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive plural masculine1×
2 Corinthians 10:12… ē sunkrinara heautoin tinoi toiu heautoin sustēarōntoiu; alla autois en heautoi heautoin metrarōntois …… or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by …
sustēarēntas“formed”has happened · subjectperfect active participle nominative singular feminine1×
2 Peter 3:5… gēas ek hudeu kai dia hudeu sustēarēntas to tou theou logo,… heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
sustēarēntoin“stood”has happened · objectperfect active participle accusative plural masculine1×
Luke 9:32“stood”… autou kai toin duo androin toin sustēarēntoin auto.… Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him.