σύνδεσμ-ος G4886
Bond, ligament; that which binds together, whether physical sinew or a unifying spiritual force.
In classical Greek, syndesmos referred to any fastening that holds things together — a joint, a ligament, a clasp. The New Testament writers seized on both the physical and metaphorical possibilities. Paul calls love the 'bond of perfection' (Col 3:14) and speaks of the body's ligaments holding it together in unity (Col 2:19). Peter's darker usage in Acts 8:23, 'bond of iniquity,' reveals how the same binding image can express captivity to sin. Spanish 'vínculo' and French 'lien' both capture this dual register of binding as either constructive unity or constraining bondage.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Bond, ligament, unifying tie — the concrete or metaphorical fastening that holds parts together. In Colossians 2:19 and Ephesians 4:3, Paul uses it for the sinews of the body and the spiritual bond of peace that unifies believers. In Acts 8:23, Peter inverts the image: Simon Magus is bound in a 'bond of iniquity.' The Spanish split between 'ligamentos' (physical) and 'vínculo' (abstract) nicely mirrors this dual range, while German 'Band' preserves the same polysemy. 4×
AR["الرَّوابِطِ", "رِباطُ", "رِباطِ", "رِبَاطِ"]·ben["বন্ধন", "বন্ধনসমূহের", "বন্ধনে"]·DE["Band", "σύνδεσμον"]·EN["bond", "ligaments"]·FR["lien", "συνδέσμων", "συνδέσμῳ", "σύνδεσμος"]·heb["כֶּבֶל", "מוֹסֵר", "קְשָׁרִים", "קֶשֶׁר"]·HI["बनधन", "बनधोन", "बन्धन"]·ID["belenggu", "ikatan", "pengikat", "urat"]·IT["legame", "sundesmos", "sundesmō", "sundesmōn"]·jav["blenggu", "tali", "talining"]·KO["띠", "매는-것에", "매임-으로", "힘줄들을-통해"]·PT["laço", "ligamentos", "vínculo"]·RU["связь", "сочленения", "узах", "узы"]·ES["atadura", "ligamentos", "vínculo"]·SW["kifungo", "mishipa"]·TR["bagi", "baginda", "baglarin", "bağında"]·urd["بندوں-کے", "بندھن"]
Related Senses
G2962 1. Lord (divine title) (661×)H0136 1. Lord (divine title) (440×)H0113 1. lord, human superior (249×)G1849 1. authority, power (91×)H6485a 2. Qal: punish, bring judgment (63×)H8198 1. maidservant, female slave (63×)G2962 2. master, lord (human authority) (61×)H0034 1. needy, poor, destitute (61×)H0519 1. female servant, maidservant (56×)H6041 1. poor, needy person (55×)H0113 2. master, owner of servants (49×)H4910 1. Qal: to have dominion, exercise power over (44×)H1800 1. poor, needy (socioeconomic) (38×)H3515 1. heavy, severe, grievous (36×)G4434 1. (34×)G5092 1. honor, esteem, respect (33×)H6485a 4. Qal: visit, attend to, care for (32×)H3513 1. honor / show respect (Piel) (30×)H4910 2. Qal: to rule, govern (administrative authority) (27×)H4513 1. withhold, restrain, hold back (25×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σύνδεσμ-ος, ὁ, irregular plural σύνδεσμα Refs 5th c.BC+:—that which binds together, bond of union, fastening, ξ. ἦν.. τὰ ξύλα, τοῦ μὴ ἀσθενὲς εἶναι τὸ οἰκοδόμημα Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀραρότως σύνδεσμα χρυσὸς εἶχε the golden headband kept its bonds firmly fixed, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἁμμάτων σύνδεσμα fastenings of garments, Refs; μελέων σύνδεσμα, of sinews or ligaments, NT+5th c.BC+ __2 metaphorically, bond…