συνείδησις G4893
conscience — the inner moral faculty by which a person evaluates their own conduct as right or wrong
Syneidesis, built from syn ('together') and oida ('know'), literally means 'co-knowledge with oneself' — the internal witness that evaluates one's own moral standing. Across 31 New Testament occurrences, it becomes a key term in Pauline and Petrine ethics. Paul appeals to his conscience before the Sanhedrin (Acts 23:1), declares that Gentiles have the law's work written on their hearts with conscience bearing witness (Rom 2:15), and develops an extended discussion about the 'weak conscience' of those troubled by idol-food (1 Cor 8:7-12; 10:25-29). The Pastoral Epistles prize a 'good conscience' and a 'pure conscience' as marks of genuine faith (1 Tim 1:5, 19; 3:9). Hebrews contrasts animal sacrifices that cannot perfect the conscience with Christ's blood that cleanses the conscience from dead works (Heb 9:9, 14; 10:22). Peter urges baptism as an appeal of a good conscience toward God (1 Pet 3:16, 21).
Senses
1. conscience, moral self-awareness — The inner moral faculty that evaluates one's own actions and motives, bearing witness alongside reason and the law. Paul grounds Gentile moral accountability in conscience (Rom 2:15) and extensively discusses the 'weak conscience' regarding idol-food (1 Cor 8:7-12; 10:25-29). Hebrews contrasts the inability of animal sacrifice to purify the conscience with Christ's blood that cleanses from dead works (Heb 9:9, 14; 10:22). First Peter presents baptism as the appeal of a good conscience toward God (1 Pet 3:21). 31×
AR["الضَّميرِ", "ضَمائِرَهُم", "ضَمير", "ضَميرًا", "ضَميرٍ", "ضَميرَ", "ضَميرُ", "ضَميرُهُم", "ضَميرِ", "ضَميرِنا", "ضَمِيرًا", "ضَمِيرٍ", "ضَمِيرِ", "طاهِرٍ"]·ben["বিবেক", "বিবেক;", "বিবেককে", "বিবেকে", "বিবেকে,", "বিবেকে।", "বিবেকের", "বিবেকের,", "বিবেকের;", "বিবেকের।"]·DE["Gewissen", "συνείδησιν", "συνειδήσει"]·EN["conscience"]·FR["conscience"]·heb["טָהוֹר", "טוֹב", "מַצְפּוּן", "מַצְפּוּנִי"]·HI["अंतरात्मा", "अंतरात्मासे", "अन्तःकरण", "अन्तरात्मा", "अन्तहकरन,", "अन्तहकरन.", "ज़मेएर", "विवेक", "विवेक-की"]·ID["Hati-nurani", "hati-nurani", "hati-nurani,", "hati-nurani.", "hati-nuraniku", "yang-murni"]·IT["coscienza", "suneideseos"]·jav["angen-angen", "kalbu,", "kalbu.", "nurani", "nurani,", "nurani.", "nurani;", "rumaos-batin", "sukmaning-budi", "sukmaning-budi.", "sukmaning-budi;"]·KO["양심", "양심,", "양심.", "양심에", "양심에-의해", "양심으로", "양심을", "양심을;", "양심이", "양심이라"]·PT["Consciência", "consciência", "consciência.", "consciência;"]·RU["Совесть", "моей", "совести", "совести.", "совести;", "совесть", "совестью"]·ES["conciencia"]·SW["-", "Dhamiri", "dhamiri", "dhamiri.", "dhamiri;", "yake", "zao"]·TR["bizim", "insanların", "o-", "onların", "vicdan", "vicdan,", "vicdandan", "vicdani", "vicdanimin", "vicdanla", "vicdanları", "vicdanları.", "vicdanlarına-", "vicdanlarından"]·urd["ضمیر", "ضمیر-سے", "ضمیر۔"]
John 8:9, Acts 23:1, Acts 24:16, Rom 2:15, Rom 9:1, Rom 13:5, 1 Cor 8:7, 1 Cor 8:10, 1 Cor 8:12, 1 Cor 10:25, 1 Cor 10:27, 1 Cor 10:28 (+19 more)
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
συνείδησις, εως, ἡ, knowledge shared with another, τῶν ἀλγημάτων (in a midwife) Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 communication, information, εὑρήσεις σ. Refs 2nd c.AD+; σ. εἰσήνεγκαν τοῖς κολλήγαις αὐτῶν Refs 3rd c.AD+ __3 knowledge, λῦε ταῦτα πάντα μὴ διαλείψας ἀγαθῇ σ. (variant{ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ}) Refs 5th c.BC+ __4 consciousness, awareness, [τῆς αὑτοῦ συστάσεως] NT+5th c.BC+; inner consciousness, ἐν σ. σου βασιλέα…