Synagōgē (G4864) means a gathering, assembly, or the building in which such assembly takes place — the synagogue. It derives from synagō (to gather). The synagogue was the primary Jewish institution for Scripture reading, prayer, and community that arose during and after the Babylonian exile.
Jesus began His public ministry in the synagogues (Luke 4:16), reading and proclaiming the fulfillment of Isaiah. The early church first gathered in synagogues; as the gospel moved outward it formed distinct ekklesiai (assemblies). The synagogue illustrates how God's people organized around His word — a pattern the church inherits. James 2:2 notably uses synagōgē for a Christian assembly, blurring the early boundary.