Forms: 2–6 sinagoge, 3–6 sinagog, synagog(e, (4 sinnagog), 4–7 sinagogue, (5 synagod), 5–6 synagogge, (6 synagoog, 8 sinegogg, senegog), 3– synagogue. [a. OF. sinagoge (11th c.), mod.F. synagogue, or ad. its source late L. synagōga, a. Gr. συναγωγή meeting, assembly, (in LXX.) synagogue, f. συνάγειν to bring together, f. σύν SYN- + ἄγειν to lead, bring.]
1. The regular assembly or congregation of the Jews for religious instruction and worship apart from the service of the temple, constituting, since the destruction of the temple, their sole form of public worship; hence, the religious organization of the Jews as typified by this, the Jewish communion.
Rabbinical Heb. keneṣeth, f, kānaṣ to collect, assemble.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 9. Godemen wite ȝe hwet wes sinagoge on þam alde laȝe … Alswa hefden þe giwis heore sinagoge efter moises laȝe alswa we habbet nu cherche efter drihtenes laȝe and efere to þam setteres dei heo comen þa iudeisc folc … to þan sinagoge.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13615 (Cott.). Þe Iuus … had made … A statut agains Iesum crist, If any wald him leue or lute Þair synagoges suld be put vte.
1382. Wyclif, Acts ix. 2. Saul … axide of him epistlis into Damaske, to synagogis.
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, 298. The synagoge ys called the people of the iewes, whiche had knowlege of the comynge of criste by holy prophetes.
1521. Fisher, Serm. agst. Luther, i. Wks. (1876), 315. The lawe of Moyses, & the gouernaunce of the synagoge of the Iewes, was but a shadowe of the gouernaunce of the vnyuersall chirche of christ.
a. 1873. Deutsch, Rem. (1874), 191. What was the attitude of the Synagogue towards all these elements?
1887. Encycl. Brit., XXII. 811/2. The synagogue as an institution characteristic of Judaism arose after the work of Ezra.
1909. J. R. Harris, in Contemp. Rev., April, 423. The time when the Christian Church had not finally elongated from the synagogue.
b. The Great Synagogue: a Jewish council of 120 members, said to have been founded and presided over by Ezra after the return from the Babylonian captivity.
1625. T. Godwyn, Moses & Aaron (1641), 180. That great assembly of Prophets and holy men, called together by Esra, for the reformation of the Church, after their returne from Babylon, is called Synagoga magna, Their great Synagogue.
1876. B. Martin, Messiah’s Kingd., II. iv. 88. The Great Synagogue, which consisted of 120 members, governed the Jews both in political and ecclesiastical matters for about 110 years, from Nehemiah to Simon the Just, when it was merged in the Sanhedrim.
1881. W. R. South, Old Test. in Jewish Ch., vi. 156. The Great Synagogue plays a considerable part in Jewish tradition;… we now know that the whole idea … is pure fiction.
2. transf. in hostile controversial use, often in phr. synagogue of Satan (in allusion to Rev. ii. 9).
In quot. 1464 used ignorantly, through a misunderstanding of sunt synagoga Satanæ, ‘they are the synagogue of Satan,’ as a personal term of abuse.
1464. in Academy, 23 Aug. (1890), 511/1. He … affermed that the blessed sacrament of the Auter is a grete devyll of hell, and a Sinagoge. Ibid. He … affermed that oure holy Fadre, the pope of Rome, is a great best, and a devyll of hell, and a Synagoge.
1547. Bk. Marchauntes, e iij. To be slayne and murdred of them, or at the least excommunicate in their sinagog.
1565. Harding, Confut. Apol., IV. 212 b. They can not be the … shining church of Christ…. Wherefore it remaineth that it is the synagog of Antichrist, and Lucifer. Ibid., VI. 341 b. They resisting the holy Ghost … gather to the synagog of Satan.
1583. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., I. 37. To the comforth of them that love Hym and His Spouse the Catholique Church, and to the condemnation of so many that so willingly and wittingly join in the Sinagoge of Satan.
1648. Milton, Observ. Art. Peace, Wks. 1851, IV. 571. By the incitement … of that unchristian Synagogue [sc. Scots Presbytery] at Belfast.
1674. Hickman, Quinquart. Hist. (ed. 2), 133. It were to be wished, that no Arminians had … forsaken the Church of England, and took sanctuary in the Synagogue of Rome.
1688. Holme, Armoury, II. 11/2. Where God hath his Church, the Devil will have his Synagogue.
1874. W. P. Mackay, Grace & Truth (1875), 233. It is because of the name we bear that the blasphemies of hell are poured upon us. There are the ‘synagogues of Satan,’ in which the blasphemous doctrines of devils are taught.
3. A building or place of meeting for Jewish worship and religions instruction.
Rabbinical Heb. bēth hakkeneṣeth house of assembly.
[c. 1175: see 1.]
c. 1290. Santa Crux, 551, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 17. Þo þe rode was þare i-founde, alle þe giwes as nome And ladden as forth to heore Synagogue.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2535. To þe Synagoge wan sche cam þe dore heo haueþ oundo.
c. 1400. Maundev., viii. (1839), 93. There besyde was the synagoge where the bysshoppes of Jewes and the sarrazins camen to gidere and helden here conseill.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., II. 776/1. They tooke & sacked the Citie of Lincolne, spoyled the Iewes, and slew many of them, entred their sinagoge, and brent the boke of their lawe.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. i. 135. Goe Tuball, and meete me at our Sinagogue.
1635. A. Stafford, Fem. Glory, 224. All of their Religion are enjoyned in solemne Prayer made in their Sinagogues thrice every day.
1721. N. Blundell, Diary (1895), 197. I was at the Jews Sinegogg by Leadon-Hall Market.
1838. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 327/1. The New Synagogue in Great St. Helen’s … has just been completed.
1876. B. Martin, Messiah’s Kingd., II. iv. 82. The synagogue was modelled on the temple. Its windows looked towards the holy city.
1887. Encycl. Brit., XXII. 812/1. Synagogues were built by preference beside water for the convenience of the ceremonial ablutions.
† b. transf. A place of worship; a temple. In post-Reformation use applied disparagingly to abbeys or the like. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4467. Thies kynges … turnyt into tempull…. Be counsell of the kepers … Þat serued þat Synagod.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xiii. 46. Bothe togidre … wente the two sustres … to the synagoges and temples, where bifore the aulters thei offred sacrifices.
1587. Harrison, England, II. iii. (1877), I. 74. They … began that synagog [Osney Abbey] 1120, which afterward prooued to be a notable den.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., VI. 326. The Noble Family of the Berkeleys may well give an Abbots Mitre for the Crest of their Armes, because so loving their Nation, and building them so many Synagogues [cf. Luke vii. 5].
c. (See quots.)
1894. Westm. Gaz., 31 Dec., 3/2. A large quantity of this fruit … is bought up by Jews occupying stands in Russell-street. Their quarter is known as the ‘Synagogue.’
1909. Ware, Passing Eng., Synagogne,… shed in the north-east corner of the Garden [= Covent Garden]. So called from this place (erected 1890) being wholly ‘run’ by Jews.
† 4. gen. An assembly: chiefly as a literalism of biblical translation. Obs.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter lxxxi[i]. 1. God stode in sinagoge of goddes ma.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter, vii. 7. & synagoge of folke shal encumpas þe.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xxiii. 650. Whos deore sone stod In þe Synagoge of goddes.
1592. Marlowe, Massacre Paris, II. ii. There are an hundred Hugonets, and more, Which in the woods doe holde their synagogue.
1881. N. T. (R. V.), Jas. ii. 2. If there come into your synagogue [1611 assembly] a man with a gold ring.
5. attrib. and Comb.
1652. Pinchion (title), The Jewes Synagogue; or, a Treatise concerning The ancient Orders and manner of Worship used by the Jewes in their synagogve-Assemblies. Ibid., To Rdr. I thought it necessary to search out, as well as I could, their Synagogue-worship, together with some of their ancient Discipline-practices. Ibid., ii. 38. Whiles the Jews lived in their own land, their synagogue discipline did depend upon their Sanhedrin Courts.
1716. Prideaux, Connect. O. & N. Test., VI. (1718), I. 300. The second part of their synagogue-service is the reading of the scriptures. Ibid., 301. Their ordinary synagogue days in every week were Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 57. A praying, synagogue-frequenting, beau.
1886. Conder, Syrian Stone-Lore, vii. (1896), 264. The style of the synagogue architecture is very like that of the Roman temples of the same age. The lion, the ram, the hare are carved on the lintels of the synagogue doors—a curious deviation from the law of Moses.
1889. Cohen & Davis (title), Voice of Prayer and Praise, a Handbook of Synagogue Music.
1910. Daily Chron., 1 Feb., 4/7. The proposal that synagogue services should be limited to an hour and a half.
Hence Synagoguing vbl. sb., attendance at the synagogue; Synagoguish a., showing excessive zeal for the synagogue, fanatical.
1690. D’Urfey, Collin’s Walk, I. 37. Your party Synagoguish, Not half so Politique, as Roguish.
1824. Miss Ferrier, Inher., xliv. The synagogin’, the tabernaclin’, the psalmin’ that goes on in this hoose.
