Lexicon
συντρίβω
suntribō
G4937
G:V Greek

to break

7
Occurrences
6
Books
Greek
Language

suntribo describes breaking, crushing, or shattering, whether of objects, restraints, or a person.

The attested use describes forceful breaking or shattering: jars, bones, fetters, reeds, and clay vessels are presented as breakable, while Luke 9:39 and Romans 16:20 extend the same destructive action to a person and to Satan.

Senses in use

  1. Breaking or crushing through force · dominant

    In Mark 14:3, the aorist active participle occurs as the woman breaks an alabaster jar before pouring out its contents; in John 19:36, the future passive form stands in the statement that a bone will not be broken. Mark 5:4 describes broken fetters, Matthew 12:20 a broken reed, Revelation 2:27 clay vessels broken, and Romans 16:20 God's future action against Satan under the readers' feet.

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the action with “broken” for bones, fetters, reeds, and clay vessels, “shattering him” in Luke 9:39, and “crush” in Romans 16:20. These are verse-level renderings rather than definitions.

Passages featuring this word

Across Scripture