The expression occurs neither in the Hebrew nor in the Greek of the Old Testament, nor in Apocrypha. Three passages in the Old Testament and one in Apocrypha suggest the idea conveyed in the expression. In Numbers 14:27, 35, Yahweh expresses His wrath against “the evil congregation” Septuagint συναγωγὴ πονηρά, sunagōgḗ ponērá) which He threatens to consume in the wilderness. In Psalms 21:1-13 (22):16, we find, “A company of evil doers (the Septuagint συναγωγὴ πονηρευομένων, sunagōgḗ ponēreuoménon) have enclosed me.” In Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 16:6, we read, “In the congregation of sinners (the Septuagint συναγωγὴ ἁμαρτωλῶν, sunagōgḗ hamartōlṓn) shall a fire be kindled.”
Only in the New Testament occurs the phrase “synagogue of Satan,” and here only twice (Revelation 2:9; 3:9). Three observations are evident as to who constituted “the synagogue of Satan” in Smyrna and Philadelphia. (1) They claimed to be Jews, i.e. they were descendants of Abraham, and so laid claim to the blessings promised by Yahweh to him and his seed. (2) But they are not regarded by John as real Jews, i.e. they are not the genuine Israel of God (the same conclusion as Paul reached in Romans 2:28). (3) They are persecutors of the Christians in Smyrna. The Lord “knows their blasphemy,” their sharp denunciations of Christ and Christians. They claim to be the true people of God, but really they are “the synagogue of Satan.” The gen. Σατανᾶ, Sataná, is probably the possessive gen. These Jewish persecutors, instead of being God’s people, are the “assembly of Satan,” i.e. Satan’s people.
To continue reading this Bible article, click here.
Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Satan Synagogue of, Synagogue of Satan, Satan
Bible reference(s): Revelation 2:9, Revelation 3:9
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.