συμφωνέω G4856-G4859, HARMONY, AGREE, SYMPHONY Illustrations of English words derived from the Greek in the New Testament. By Gaylon West. συμφωνέωG4856 sumphōneō soom-fo-neh'-o From G4859; to be harmonious, that is, (figuratively) to accord (be suitable, concur) or stipulate (by compact): - agree (together, with). Total KJV occurrences: 6 συμφόνησιςG4857 sumphonēsis soom-fo'-nay-sis From G4856; accordance: - concord. Total KJV occurrences: 1 συμφωνίαG4858 sumphōnia soom-fo-nee'-ah From G4859; unison of sound (“symphony”), that is, a concert of instruments (harmonious note): - music. Total KJV occurrences: 1 σύμφωνοςG4859 sumphōnos soom'-fo-nos From G4862 and G5456; sounding together (alike), that is, (figuratively) accordant (neuter as noun, agreement): - consent. Total KJV occurrences: 1 From Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. "agree" συμφωνέω (Strong's #4856 — Verb — sumphoneo — soom-fo-neh'-o ) lit., "to sound together" (sun, "together," phone, "a sound"), i.e., "to be in accord, primarily of musical instruments," is used in the NT of the "agreement" (a) of persons concerning a matter, Matthew 18:19 ; 20:2,13 ; Acts 5:9 ; (b) of the writers of Scripture, Acts 15:15 ; (c) of things that are said to be congruous in their nature, Luke 5:36 . Note: Cp. sumphonesis, "concord," 2 Corinthians 6:15 , and sumphonia, "music," Luke 15:25 . a - Acts 28:25, "they agreed not." "Shall agree" (συμφωνήσουσιν) Vincent's Word Studies From σύν, together, and φωνή, sound or voice. Transcribed in our word symphony. It has so far lost its distinctive character as a concord of voices as to be used for agreement in the deeper and more inward sense. ETYMOLOGY of English word "symphony" symphony (n.) c. 1300, a name given to various types of musical instruments, from Old French simphonie, sifonie, simfone "musical harmony; stringed instrument" (12c., Modern French symphonie) and directly from Latin symphonia "a unison of sounds, harmony," from Greek symphonia "harmony, concord of sounds," from symphonos "harmonious, agreeing in sound," from assimilated form of syn- "together" (see syn-) + phone "voice, sound." PASSAGES THAT USE SYMPHONY Note: LXX is the Greek translation of the ancient Hebrew Bible that was used by the Jews in the First Century and by the Gentiles who were attracted to the synagogues. ARMIES JOINED TOGETHER. Gen. 14:3 LXX Genesis 14:3 (LXX) "All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. " COMMENT. There is a puzzle as to which group of armies are united here. Acccording to the English grammar it would be the five armies against the Eastern nations. Whether it was the five or the four united together in the valley which would very soon was to become the Dead Sea, both groups were at variance with the righteousness of God and both powers came to nought. PRIESTS AGREE NOT TO RECEIVE ANY MORE MONEY. 2 Kings 12:8 (LXX) "And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house." COMMENT. The priests had not been using the money from the people correctly for the repairs of the Temple. Upon the king's order for the priests to desist in collecting for this service, they agreed to stop the collections and to not be in charge of the repairs. SYRIA JOINS WITH EPHRAIM (n. ISRAEL) AGAINST JUDAH. Isaiah 7:2 (LXX) "And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind." IF TWO AGREE ON WHAT TO ASK GOD, IT WILL BE DONE. Matthew 18:19 "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." COMMENT. This is primarily directed to the apostles who would be guided by the Holy Spirit in revealing God's Truth (John 14-17). "He (the Holy Spirit) will guide you (apostles) into all Truth" (John 16:13). Jesus prayed for His apostles but also "them also which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20). When we take into account the role of the Holy Spirit along with the apostles, we can harmonize the writings of John in his epistles with Matthew's account: 1 John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." The purpose of the apostle John was to write that we might know the will of God. As John continues in 1 John 5:14, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" Our prayer must be according to God's will as confirmed by the apostle with the Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:15, "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." John confirms that even as individuals we will be heard since we are agreeing with the witness of the Holy Spirit through the apostle. THE LABOURERS AGREED WITH OWNER TO WORK FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT. Matthew 20:2 "And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard." 20:13 "But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? " COMMENT. Jesus tells the parable of the laborers in the Vineyard. God distributes his rewards according to His promises. A "NEW" PIECE DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE "OLD" GARMENT. Luke 5:36 "And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old." COMMENT. This is the reason that the entire Old Testament was replaced by Jesus. Not in piece meal but totally replaced. The New Testament is completely new although without doubt when comparing the moral rules, etc., there are similarities. So my conclusion should be, for the rule for prayer to be my rule today I should know what the New Testament says. "In that he saith, A new covenant (testament) He hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away" (Hebrews 8:13, ASV). ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRE AGREED TO LIE TO the APOSTLES. Acts 5:9, "Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out." COMMENT. A husband and wife agreed to do the wrong thing together. THE WORDS OF THE OT PROPHETS AGREED WITH WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS DOING IN THE NT. Act 15:15, 16 "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up." COMMENT. Prophecy predicted the coming of the New Testament (Jeremiah 31:31-33). HUSBAND AND WIFE MUST CONSENT G4859 WITH EACH OTHER 1 Corinthians 7:5, "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." COMMENT. Husband and wife must consent concerning marital obligations not only to be a successful and a practical marriage but because God requires it. The apostle is speaking specifically concerning the absence of the conjugal right of marriage partners. ********************************** Enhancing understanding of the Bible by looking at Anglicized New Testament Greek words!