Synagogue

A building where Jewish people would gather for worship and religious teaching.

A reconstruction of the synagogue at Nazareth
A reconstruction of the synagogue at Nazareth (© Ray Pritz by United Bible Societies) Synagogue

About Synagogue

A synagogue is a building where Jewish people gather to worship, pray, and study their sacred writings. The transliteration of the Greek word sunagoge, which means "a gathering together." It appears over 50 times in the New Testament, mainly referring to Jewish community gathering places in Palestine and the Diaspora (areas outside Israel where Jews lived). In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, sunagoge often translates Hebrew words that describe the assembly of people.

We are not certain exactly when synagogues first began. They may have started after the Babylonians destroyed the temple in Jerusalem in 586 BC. The people who stayed nearby wanted to continue practicing their faith. They likely felt the need to meet for worship, to teach the law, and to share the prophets' messages. Some believe synagogues began in this context.

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The object itself Article

Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Matthew 4:23

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Mark 1:21

Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.

Luke 4:16

Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,

Acts 13:14

And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.

All Scripture References (63)

Matthew (9)
Matthew 4:23

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Matthew 6:2

So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 6:5

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 9:35

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.

Matthew 10:17

But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.

Matthew 12:9

Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,

Matthew 13:54

Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.

Matthew 23:6

They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,

Matthew 23:34

Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.

Mark (12)
Mark 1:21

Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.

Mark 1:23

Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:

Mark 1:29

As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.

Mark 1:39

So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Mark 3:1

Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there.

Mark 5:22

A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet

Mark 5:35

While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

Mark 5:36

But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”

Mark 5:38

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly.

Mark 6:2

When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?

Mark 12:39

and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

Mark 13:9

So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.

Luke (17)
Luke 4:15

He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone.

Luke 4:16

Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,

Luke 4:20

Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him,

Luke 4:28

On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged.

Luke 4:33

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,

Luke 4:38

After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf,

Luke 4:44

And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.

Luke 6:6

On another Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered.

Luke 7:5

for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

Luke 8:41

Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house,

Luke 8:49

While He was still speaking, someone arrived from the house of the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he told Jairus. “Do not bother the Teacher anymore.”

Luke 11:43

Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.

Luke 12:11

When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.

Luke 13:10

One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,

Luke 13:14

But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”

Luke 20:46

“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.

Luke 21:12

But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.

John (5)
John 6:59

Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

John 9:22

His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

John 12:42

Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.

John 16:2

They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.

John 18:20

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

Acts (19)
Acts 9:20

Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

Acts 13:5

When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.

Acts 13:14

And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.

Acts 13:15

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

Acts 14:1

At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

Acts 15:21

For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Acts 17:1

When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

Acts 17:10

As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.

Acts 17:17

So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.

Acts 18:4

Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.

Acts 18:7

So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God.

Acts 18:8

Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.

Acts 18:17

At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.

Acts 18:19

When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.

Acts 18:26

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Acts 19:8

Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

Acts 22:19

‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.

Acts 24:12

Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.

Acts 26:11

I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

James (1)
James 2:2

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.