Lexical Summary
téreó: To keep, to guard, to observe, to watch over
Original Word:τηρέω
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:téreó
Pronunciation:tay-reh'-o
Phonetic Spelling:(tay-reh'-o)
KJV: hold fast, keep(-er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch
NASB:keep, kept, keeps, reserved, kept in custody, observe, heed
Word Origin:[from teros "a watch" (perhaps akin toG2334 (θεωρέω - see))]
1. to guard (from loss or injury)
2. (properly) by keeping the eye upon, i.e. to note (a prophecy)
3. (... figuratively) to fulfil a command
4. (by implication) to detain in custody
5. (... figuratively) to maintain
6. (by extension) to withhold for personal ends
7. (... figuratively) to keep unmarried
{differs from G5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from G2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus}
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
hold fast, keep
From teros (a watch; perhaps akin totheoreo); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing fromphulasso, which is properly to prevent escaping; and fromkoustodia, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. To note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried) -- hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch.
see GREEKtheoreo
see GREEKphulasso
see GREEKkoustodia
HELPS Word-studies
5083tēréō (fromtēros, "a guard") – properly, maintain (preserve); (figuratively)spiritually guard (watch),keep intact.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom a prim. word téros (a guard)
Definitionto watch over, to guard
NASB Translationcontinue (1), guard (1), guards (1), heed (2), heeds (1), held in custody (1), keep (27), keep watch over (1), keeping (1), keeping guard over (1), keeps (9), kept (12), kept in custody (3), observe (3), preserve (1), preserved (1), reserved (4), watching over (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5083: τηρέωτηρέω,
τηρῶ; imperfect
ἐτήρουν; future
τηρήσω; 1 aorist
ἐτήρησα; perfect
τετήρηκα, 3 person plural
τετηρήκασιν (
John 17:6RG) and
τετήρηκαν (ibid.
LTTrWH (see
γίνομαι, at the beginning)); passive, present
τηροῦμαι; imperfect
ἐτηρουμην; perfect
τετήρημαι; 1 aorist
ἐτηρήθην; (
τηρός, found only once,
Aeschylus suppl. 248, where it is doubtful whether it means 'guarding' or 'watching'), from
Pindar,
Sophocles,
Thucydides down; the
Sept. several times for
שָׁמַר,
נָצַר, etc.;
to attend to carefully, take care of; i. e.
a. properly,to guard:τινα, a prisoner,Matthew 27:36, 54;Acts 16:23; passive,Acts 12:5; (); (b);τί,;οἱτηροῦντες ((R. V.)the watchers) the guards,Matthew 28:4 (Song of Solomon 3:3).b. metaphorically,to keep:τινα,one in that state in which he is,τήνἑαυτοῦπαρθένον, his own virgin daughter, namely, as a virgin i. e. unmarried,1 Corinthians 7:37;ἑαυτόν, himself such as he is, i. e. begotten of God,1 John 5:18 (but hereTTrWHαὐτόν); with a predicate accusative added:ἁγνόν,1 Timothy 5:22;ἄσπιλονἀπότοῦκόσμου,James 1:27;ἀβαρῆτίνι,2 Corinthians 11:9 (ἁπλουν,Antoninus 6, 30;τιναἄμεμπτοντῷΘεῷ, Wis. 10:5);τί with a predicate accusative1 Timothy 6:14 (but see in c. below); passive,τηροῦμαι, with an adverb,ἀμέμπτως,1 Thessalonians 5:23; with a dative of the person,Χριστῷ, devoted to Christ (Winer's Grammar, 421 (392)),Jude 1:1;τηρεῖντιναἐντίνι:to keep in i. e. cause one to persevere or stand firm in a thing:ἐντῷὀνόματιΘεοῦ (see p. 447b bottom),John 17:11f;ἐνἀγάπηΘεοῦ,Jude 1:21;τιναἐκτίνος, by guarding to cause one to escape in safety out of etc.:ἐκτοῦπονηροῦ, out of the power and assaults of Satan,John 17:15 (cf.Buttmann, 327 (281);Winer's Grammar, 410 (383));ἐκτῆςὥραςτοῦπειρασμοῦ,Revelation 3:10.to keep: i. e. not to leave,τήνἀρχήν,Jude 1:6; not to throw away,τάἱμάτια,Revelation 16:15.to hold firmly:τήνἑνότητατοῦπνεύματος,Ephesians 4:3; anything as a mental deposit,τήνπίστιν,2 Timothy 4:7;Revelation 14:12 (cf.Winers Grammar, 536 (499);Buttmann, 78 (68)). to show oneself to be actually holding a thing fast, i. e.
c.to observe: namely,πῶςκτλ.,Revelation 3:3;τίMatthew 23:3;Acts 21:25 (Rec.);τήνπαράδοσιν,Mark 7:9 (WH (rejected) marginal readingστήσητε) (τάἐκπαραδοσεωςτῶνπατέρων,Josephus, Antiquities 13, 10, 6);τόννόμον,Acts 15:5 andRec. inActs 15:24;James 2:10;τόσάββατον, the command respecting sabbath-keeping,John 9:16;τάςἐντολάς (of either God or Christ),Matthew 19:17;John 14:15, 21;John 15:10;1 John 2:3;1 John 3:22, 24;1 John 5:2 (whereLTTrWHποιῶμεν);;Revelation 12:17;Revelation 14:12 (see above,b. at the end);τήνἐντολήν,1 Timothy 6:14 (see in b. above;πάνταὅσαἐνετειλάμην,Matthew 28:20);τόνλόγον, either of Christ or of God,John 8:51f, 55;John 14:23;John 15:20;John 17:6;1 John 2:5;Revelation 3:8;τούςλόγους, of Christ,John 14:24;τόνλόγοντῆςὑπομονῆςμου (i. e.Ἰησοῦ),Revelation 3:10;τάἔργαμου, the works that I command,Revelation 2:26;τούςλόγουςτῆςπροφητείας,Revelation 22:7;τοῦβιβλίουτούτου,Revelation 22:9;τάἐντῇπροφητείαγεγραμμένα,Revelation 1:3; cf.Lipsius, Paulin. Rechtfertigungsl., p. 194f,
d.to reserve:τιναεἰςτί, to undergo something,2 Peter 2:4 (cf.Winer's Grammar, 342 (321);εἰςτήντοῦΣεβαστοῦδιάγνωσιν,Acts 25:21a);Jude 1:6;τιναεἰςἡμέρανκρίσεως,2 Peter 2:9;τούςοὐρανούςπυρί; (to be burned with fire)εἰςἡμέρανκρίσεως,2 Peter 3:7;τίεἰςτινα, a thing for one's advantage,1 Peter 1:4;τίεἰςἡμέραντινα, to be used some day for some purpose,John 12:7;τίἕωςἄρτι,John 2:10;τί with the dative of the person, for rewarding or punishing one, passive,2 Peter 2:17;Jude 1:13. (Compare:διατηρέω,παρατηρέω,συντηρέω.) [SYNONYMS:τηρέω,φυλάσσω:τηρέωto watch or keep,φυλάσσωto guard;τηρέω expresses watchful care and is suggestive of present possession,φυλάσσω indicates safe custody and often implies assault from without;τηρέω may mark the result of whichφυλάσσω is the means (e. g.John 17:12 where the words occur together, cf. Wisd. 10:5). See Westcott onJohn 8:51;Schmidt, chapter 208, especially § 4.]
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Biblical UsageStrong’s Greek 5083 appears seventy-one times, weaving together two main spheres: (1) active loyalty—believers “keep” what God has revealed; (2) protective custody—God or human authorities “keep” persons or things under guard. The contexts range from intimate discipleship in the Gospels and Epistles to cosmic judgment scenes in Revelation, showing a seamless biblical theology of covenant faithfulness and divine preservation.
Keeping the Commandments as Proof of Love
Jesus binds love and obedience in unmistakable terms: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). He repeats the theme inJohn 14:23 andJohn 15:10, grounding Christian ethics in personal devotion. 1 John echoes the same test: “By this we know that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3). Failure to keep reveals self-deception (1 John 2:4), whereas keeping brings perfected love (1 John 2:5). Thus 5083 frames obedience not as legalistic compliance but as relational fidelity.
Guarding the Word Entrusted
The verb regularly governs what is entrusted—teachings, prophecies, or even a flask of costly perfume (John 12:7). Jesus commends the Philadelphian church: “You have kept My word and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8). The promised reward—“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of testing” (Revelation 3:10)—shows a reciprocal keeping: believers guard the word; Christ guards the believers. Revelation ends with a blessing on those “who keep the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). Apostolic ministry follows the same pattern. Paul directs Timothy “to keep this command without fault or reproach” (1 Timothy 6:14), and James describes pure religion as “to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27).
Divine Preservation of Believers
God’s own keeping secures the salvation He grants. Jesus prays for His disciples: “Holy Father, keep them in Your name” (John 17:11) and adds, “I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). Jude opens with the comfort of being “kept for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1) and closes with the assurance that God “is able to keep you from stumbling” (Jude 1:24, implied). Peter highlights a heavenly inheritance “kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). These texts ground the doctrine of perseverance: the same God who calls also guards His own.
Custodial Confinement and Civil Authority
In a secondary but significant strand, 5083 describes literal imprisonment or surveillance. Peter “was kept in prison” (Acts 12:5), and the guard “was keeping watch over the prisoners” (Acts 12:6). Paul requests to be “kept under guard” for Caesar’s decision (Acts 25:21). Even fallen angels are “kept in eternal chains under darkness” (Jude 1:6;2 Peter 2:4). The verb therefore spans both physical and spiritual custody, reminding readers that God’s sovereignty extends over human justice systems and unseen realms alike.
Eschatological Vigilance
End-time passages employ 5083 to exhort steadfastness amid tribulation. “Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). The ascended Christ warns, “Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not go naked” (Revelation 16:15), picturing moral alertness. Those who keep Christ’s works “to the end” will receive authority over the nations (Revelation 2:26). Eschatology therefore intensifies, rather than replaces, the daily call to obedience.
Christ’s Own Example of Keeping
Jesus not only commands but models keeping: “I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love” (John 15:10). His fidelity undergirds Paul’s testimony, “I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7), showing how apostolic perseverance mirrors the Lord’s perfect obedience.
Pastoral and Discipleship Implications
1 Thessalonians 5:23 prays that the whole person be “kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” linking sanctification with eschatological hope. Elders and believers alike must “keep” themselves from partiality (1 Timothy 5:22) and impurity (James 1:27). The term therefore shapes personal holiness, church governance, and missionary endurance (2 Corinthians 11:9).
Historical and Theological Reflection
Early Christian writers absorbed the New Testament’s dual emphasis on guarding doctrine and living in holiness. The Didache echoes the call to “keep” the Lord’s commands, while patristic theologians saw in the term a safeguard against both heresy and moral laxity. Throughout church history, revivals of orthodoxy and piety have been marked by renewed commitment to “keep” the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
By uniting watchful obedience with divinely secured preservation, Strong’s 5083 provides a vital lens through which to view the Christian life: guarded by God, believers guard the treasure entrusted to them, demonstrating love for Christ until He comes.
Forms and Transliterations
ετηρειτο ετηρείτο ἐτηρεῖτο ετηρησα ετήρησα ετήρησά ἐτήρησα ετηρησαν ετήρησαν ἐτήρησαν ετηρησας ετήρησας ετήρησάς ἐτήρησας ἐτήρησάς ετήρησε ετηρουν ετήρουν ἐτήρουν στήσητε τετηρηκα τετήρηκα τετηρηκαν τετήρηκαν τετηρηκας τετήρηκας τετηρήκασι τετηρηκεν τετήρηκεν τετηρημενην τετηρημένην τετηρημενοις τετηρημένοις τετηρημένους τετηρηται τετήρηται τηρει τηρεί τηρεῖ τήρει τηρειν τηρείν τηρεῖν τηρεισθαι τηρείσθαι τηρεῖσθαι τηρειτε τηρείτε τηρεῖτε τηρείτω τηρείτωσαν τηρη τηρή τηρῇ τηρηθειη τηρηθείη τηρηθηναι τηρηθήναι τηρηθῆναι τηρησαι τηρήσαί τηρῆσαί τηρησαντας τηρήσαντας τηρησατε τηρήσατε τηρησει τηρήσει τηρήσεις τηρησετε τηρήσετε τηρηση τηρήση τηρήσῃ τηρησης τηρήσης τηρήσῃς τηρησητε τηρήσητε τήρησον τηρησουσιν τηρήσουσιν τηρησω τηρήσω τηρουμεν τηρούμεν τηροῦμεν τηρουμενοι τηρούμενοι τηρουμενους τηρουμένους τηρουντες τηρούντες τηροῦντες τηρουντων τηρούντων τηρούσι τηρούσιν τηρω τηρώ τηρῶ τηρωμεν τηρώμεν τηρῶμεν τηρων τηρών τηρῶν etereito etereîto etēreito etēreîto eteresa etērēsa etḗresa etḗrēsa eteresan etērēsan etḗresan etḗrēsan eteresas etērēsas etḗresas etḗresás etḗrēsas etḗrēsás eteroun etēroun etḗroun stesete stēsēte stḗsete stḗsēte tere tērē terei tereî terêi tērei tēreî tērē̂i tḗrei terein tereîn tērein tēreîn tereisthai tereîsthai tēreisthai tēreîsthai tereite tereîte tēreite tēreîte teresai terêsaí tērēsai tērē̂saí teresantas terḗsantas tērēsantas tērḗsantas teresate terḗsate tērēsate tērḗsate terese tērēsē teresei terḗsei tērēsei tērḗsei tērḗsēi terḗseis tērḗsēis tereses tērēsēs teresete terḗsete tērēsete tērēsēte tērḗsete tērḗsēte tereso terḗso tērēsō tērḗsō tereson tērēson tḗreson tḗrēson teresousin terḗsousin tērēsousin tērḗsousin teretheie teretheíe tērētheiē tērētheíē terethenai terethênai tērēthēnai tērēthē̂nai tero terô tērō tērō̂ teromen terômen tērōmen tērō̂men teron terôn tērōn tērō̂n teroumen teroûmen tēroumen tēroûmen teroumenoi teroúmenoi tēroumenoi tēroúmenoi teroumenous terouménous tēroumenous tērouménous terountes teroûntes tērountes tēroûntes terounton teroúnton tērountōn tēroúntōn tetereka tetērēka tetḗreka tetḗrēka teterekan tetērēkan tetḗrekan tetḗrēkan teterekas tetērēkas tetḗrekas tetḗrēkas tetereken tetērēken tetḗreken tetḗrēken teteremenen tetereménen tetērēmenēn tetērēménēn teteremenois tetereménois tetērēmenois tetērēménois teteretai tetērētai tetḗretai tetḗrētaiLinks
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