Enclose, Shut

Greek Word Pronunciation: sung-KLEH-oh
Strong’s Number: 4788
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 5168
Key Verse: “Scripture has shut up everyone under sin …” -- Galatians 3:22

Sugkleio is a compound verb, comprised of sun, meaning “with” or “together,” and kleio, meaning to “corrall” or “shut in” on all sides, so there is no escape. The various translations among NASB, NIV, KJV, and NKJ are commit, conclude, inclose, and confine.

In the Septuagint, an example of sugkleio is found in Exodus 14:3 in reference to the wandering Israelites where “the wilderness has shut them in.” The word is found only 4 times in the New Testament.

Luke 5:6 references the disciples who “enclosed a great quantity of fish” in their nets. (NIV/NKJV translate caught.)

Romans 11:32 tells us that “God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.” God confined both Jew and Gentile within the scope of unbelief, allowing them to pursue their sinful inclinations, so that He could receive glory by demonstrating His grace and mercy to disobedient sinners.

GALATIANS 3:22, 23 says that “the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin … we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.” Scripture is revealed as a jailer who confines all in sin as in a prison, much as the fish caught in a net. Only saving faith unlocks the door of the prison where the Law kept men bound. By that confined state, all were in a state of preparation for the faith that was to be revealed -- the full and glorious revelation of a system of salvation by faith.