Strong's Lexicon
paratéreó: To watch closely, to observe carefully, to scrutinize
Original Word:παρατηρέω
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:paratéreó
Pronunciation:pah-rah-tay-REH-oh
Phonetic Spelling:(par-at-ay-reh'-o)
Definition:To watch closely, to observe carefully, to scrutinize
Meaning:I watch, observe scrupulously.
Word Origin:From παρά (para, "beside") and τηρέω (téreó, "to watch, to guard")
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries:The Hebrew equivalent often involves terms like שָׁמַר (shamar, "to keep, to watch") or צָפָה (tsaphah, "to watch, to look out"), which convey a similar sense of careful observation or guarding.
Usage:The verb παρατηρέω (paratéreó) is used in the New Testament to describe the act of watching or observing something with great care and attention. It often implies a sense of scrutiny or critical observation, sometimes with a negative connotation of seeking to find fault or to catch someone in a mistake.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the Greco-Roman world, observation and scrutiny were common in various contexts, from philosophical inquiry to legal proceedings. The term παρατηρέω reflects a cultural emphasis on careful observation, whether for learning, judgment, or accountability. In the Jewish context, religious leaders often observed Jesus and His disciples closely, sometimes with the intent to accuse or challenge them.
HELPS Word-studies
3906paratēréō (from3844/pará, "from close-beside" and5083/tēréō, "carefully watch") – properly,closely watch with great personal interest;scrupulously observe to ensure final "success."
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
para and
téreóDefinitionto watch closely, to observe scrupulously
NASB Translationobserve (1), watched (1), watching (2), watching...closely (2).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3906: παρατηρέωπαρατηρέω,
παρατήρω: imperfect 3 person plural
παρετήρουν; 1 aorist
παρετήρησα; middle, present
παρατηροῦμαι; imperfect 3 person plural
παρετηροῦντο; properly,
to stand beside and watch (cf.
παρά, IV. 1);
to watch assiduously, observe carefully;
a.to watch, attend to, with the eyes:τάἐκτοῦοὐρανοῦγιγνόμενα; of auguries,Dio Cassius, 38, 13;τινα, one, to see what he is going to do (Xenophon, mem. 3, 14, 4); contextually in a bad sense,to watch insidiously,Luke 20:20 (Tr marginal readingἀποχωρησαντες) (joined withἐνεδρεύειν,Polybius 17, 3, 2);τινα (Polybius 11, 9, 9; theSept.Psalm 36:12 (); Susanna 16) followed by the interrogativeεἰ,Mark 3:2RGTWHTr text; Luke vi.;Rec.; middleto watch for oneself:Mark 3:2LTr marginal reading;Luke 6:7LTTrWH ((in both passive followed by interrogativeεἰ));Luke 14:1; active with an accusative of place (Polybius 1, 29, 4):τάςπύλας (followed byὅπως, cf.Buttmann, 237 (205)),Acts 9:24RG, whereLTTrWH give middleπαρετηροῦντο.b.to observe equivalent toto keep scrupulously; to neglect nothing requisite to the religious observance of:ἑβδομάδας,Josephus, Antiquities 3, 5, 5; (τήντῶνσαββάτωνἡμέραν. id. 14, 10, 25); middle (for oneself, i. e.for one's salvation),ἡμέρας,μῆνας,καιρούς,Galatians 4:10 (ὅσαπροσταττουσιν,οἱνόμοι,Dio Cassius, 53, 10; (τάεἰςβρῶσινοὐνενομισμενα,Josephus, contra Apion 2, 39, 2)).
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
observe, watch.Frompara andtereo; to inspect alongside, i.e. Note insidiously or scrupulously -- observe, watch.
see GREEKpara
see GREEKtereo
Forms and Transliterations
παρατηρεισθε παρατηρείσθε παρατηρεῖσθε παρατηρησαντες παρατηρήσαντες παρατηρήσεται παρατηρήσης παρατηρουμενοι παρατηρούμενοι παρετήρησαν παρετηρουν παρετήρουν παρετηρουντο παρετηροῦντο paratereisthe paratereîsthe paratēreisthe paratēreîsthe parateresantes paraterḗsantes paratērēsantes paratērḗsantes parateroumenoi parateroúmenoi paratēroumenoi paratēroúmenoi pareteroun paretēroun paretḗroun pareterounto pareteroûnto paretērounto paretēroûntoLinks
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