Strong's Greek: 3906. παρατηρέω (paratéreó) -- To watch closely, to observe carefully, to scrutinize

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

3906 paratēréō (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 5083 /tēréō, "carefully watch") – properly, closely watch with great personal interest; scrupulously observe to ensure final "success."

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from para and téreó
Definition
to watch closely, to observe scrupulously
NASB Translation
observe (1), watched (1), watching (2), watching...closely (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3906: παρατηρέω

παρατηρέω, 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: τά ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ γιγνόμενα; 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 reading ἀποχωρησαντες) (joined with ἐνεδρεύειν, Polybius 17, 3, 2); τινα (Polybius 11, 9, 9; the Sept. Psalm 36:12 (); Susanna 16) followed by the interrogative εἰ, Mark 3:2 R G T WH Tr text; Luke vi.; Rec.; middle to watch for oneself: Mark 3:2 L Tr marginal reading; Luke 6:7 L T Tr WH ((in both passive followed by interrogative εἰ)); Luke 14:1; active with an accusative of place (Polybius 1, 29, 4): τάς πύλας (followed by ὅπως, cf. Buttmann, 237 (205)), Acts 9:24 R G, where L T Tr WH give middle παρετηροῦντο.

b. to observe equivalent to to keep scrupulously; to neglect nothing requisite to the religious observance of: ἑβδομάδας, Josephus, Antiquities 3, 5, 5; (τήν τῶν σαββάτων ἡμέραν. id. 14, 10, 25); middle (for oneself, i. e. for one's salvation), ἡμέρας, μῆνας, καιρούς, Galatians 4:10 (ὅσα προσταττουσιν, οἱ νόμοι, Dio Cassius, 53, 10; (τά εἰς βρῶσιν οὐ νενομισμενα, Josephus, contra Apion 2, 39, 2)).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

observe, watch.

From para and tereo; to inspect alongside, i.e. Note insidiously or scrupulously -- observe, watch.

see GREEK para

see GREEK tereo

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 paretēroûnto

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