Strong's Lexicon parakaleó: To call to one's side, to exhort, to encourage, to comfort, to urge Original Word: παρακαλέω Word Origin: From παρά (para, "beside") and καλέω (kaleo, "to call") Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H5162 (נָחַם, nacham): To comfort, console - H7121 (קָרָא, qara): To call, proclaim Usage: The verb "parakaleó" is used in the New Testament to convey a range of meanings centered around the idea of calling someone to one's side for the purpose of exhortation, encouragement, comfort, or urging. It is often used in contexts where believers are encouraged to live out their faith, comfort one another in times of distress, or be urged to adhere to the teachings of Christ. The term reflects both a personal and communal aspect of the Christian life, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and encouragement within the body of Christ. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of "parakaleó" would have been understood in various contexts, such as legal, military, and personal relationships. In a legal sense, it could refer to calling someone to testify or advocate on one's behalf. In a military context, it might involve rallying troops or encouraging them before battle. Within the early Christian communities, "parakaleó" took on a distinctly spiritual dimension, reflecting the role of the Holy Spirit as the "Paraclete" or "Comforter" (John 14:16), who comes alongside believers to guide and support them. HELPS Word-studies 3870 parakaléō (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, "make a call" from being "close-up and personal." 3870 /parakaléō ("personally make a call") refers to believers offering up evidence that stands up in God's court. [3870 (parakaléō), the root of 3875 /paráklētos ("legal advocate"), likewise has legal overtones.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom para and kaleó Definition to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage NASB Translation appeal (4), appealed (1), appealing (2), beg (1), begging (2), beseeching (1), comfort (5), comforted (11), comforts (2), conciliate (1), encourage (6), encouraged (4), encouraging (3), entreat (1), exhort (8), exhortation* (1), exhortations (1), exhorted (2), exhorting (3), exhorts (1), given (1), implore (4), implored (9), imploring (5), invited (2), making an appeal (1), plead (1), pleaded (1), pleading (1), preach (1), requested (1), urge (17), urged (5), urging (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3870: παρακαλέωπαρακαλέω, παρακαλῶ; imperfect 3 person singular παρεκάλει, 1 and 3 person plural παρεκάλουν; 1 aorist παρεκάλεσα; passive, present παρακαλοῦμαι; perfect παρακέκλημαι; 1 aorist παρεκλήθην; 1 future παρακληθήσομαι; from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; I. as in Greek writings to call to one's side, call for, summon: τινα, with an infinitive indicating the purpose, Acts 28:20 (others (less naturally) refer this to II. 2, making the accusative the subjunctive of the infinitive). II. to address, speak to (call to, call on), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.; hence, result a variety of senses, on which see Knapp, Scripto varii arg. edition 2, p. 117ff; cf. Fritzsche, Ep. ad Romans, i., p. 32f. 1. as in Greek authors, to admonish, exhort: absolutely, Luke 3:18; (Acts 20:1 (R G omit)); Romans 12:8; 2 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 5:12; followed by direct discourse, 2 Corinthians 5:20; followed by λέγων with direct discourse, Acts 2:40; followed by an infinitive where in Latinut, 1 Timothy 2:1; τινα, Acts 15:32; Acts 16:40; 2 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:12 ( 2. to beg, entreat, beseech (Josephus, Antiquities 6, 7, 4; (11, 8, 5); often in Epictetus cf. Schweighäuser, Index graecit. Epictetus, p. 411; Plutarch, apophth. regum, Mor. ii, p. 30, Tauchn. edition (vi. 695 edition Reiske; examples from Polybius, Diodorus, Philo, others, in Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word); not thus in the earlier Greek authors except where the gods are called on for aid, in the expressions, παρακαλεῖν Θεούς, so Θεόν in Josephus, Antiquities 6, 2, 2 and 7, 4; (cf. Winer's Grammar, 22)): (absolutely, Philemon 1:9 (yet see the commentaries at the passage)); τινα, Matthew 8:5; Matthew 18:32; Matthew 26:53; Mark 1:40; Acts 16:9; 2 Corinthians 12:18; πολλά, much, Mark 5:23: τινα περί τίνος, Philemon 1:10; followed by direct discourse, Acts 9:38 L T Tr WH with λέγων added and direct discourse, Matthew 18:29; Mark 5:12; (Luke 7:4 (Tdf. ἠρώτων)); without the accusative. Acts 16:15; τινα followed by an infinitive (Winers Grammar, and Buttmann's Grammar, as above), Mark 5:17; Luke 8:41; Acts 8:31; Acts 19:31; Acts 28:14 (1 Macc. 9:35); τινα followed by ὅπως, Matthew 8:34 (here Lachmann ἵνα (see above)); Acts 25:2 (4 Macc. 4:11; Plutarch, Demetr c. 38); τινα followed by ἵνα (Winers Grammar, § 44, 8 a.; Buttmann, § 139, 42), Matthew 14:36; Mark 5:18; Mark 6:56; Mark 7:32; Mark 8:22; Luke 8:31f; (2 Corinthians 9:5); τινα ὑπέρ τίνος, ἵνα, 2 Corinthians 12:8; πολλά (much) τινα, ἵνα, Mark 5:10; 1 Corinthians 16:12; followed by τοῦ μή with an infinitive (Buttmann, § 140, 16 δ.; Winer's Grammar, 325 (305)), Acts 21:12; by an infinitive Acts 9:38 R G; by an accusative with an infinitive, Acts 13:42; Acts 24:4; (Romans 16:17). to strive to appease by entreaty: absolutely, 1 Corinthians 4:13; τινα, Luke 15:28; Acts 16:39 (2 Macc. 13:23). 3. to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort, (the Sept. for נִחַם; very rarely so in Greek authors, as Plutarch, Oth. 16): absolutely, 2 Corinthians 2:7; τινα, 2 Corinthians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 7:6f; ἐν with a dative of the thing with which one comforts another, 1 Thessalonians 4:18; τινα διά παρακλήσεως, 2 Corinthians 1:4; with an accusative of the contents, διά τῆς παρακληθῆναι ἧς (for ἥν, see ὅς, ἡ, ὁ, II. 2 c. α.) παρακαλούμεθα, ibid.; in the passive, to receive consolation, be comforted, Matthew 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:11; ἐπί τίνι over (in) a thing (see ἐπί, B. 2 a. δ.), 2 Corinthians 1:4; of the consolation (comfort) given not in words but by the experience of a happier lot or by a happy issue, equivalent to to refresh, cheer: passive, Matthew 5:4 (5); Luke 16:25; Acts 20:12; 2 Corinthians 7:13 (where a full stop must be put after παρακεκλήμεθα; ἐν τίνι, by the help of a thing, 2 Corinthians 7:6f; ἐπί τίνι, 1 Thessalonians 3:7; with (ἐν) παρακλήσει added, 2 Corinthians 7:7. 4. to encourage, strengthen (i. e. in the language of A. V. comfort (see Wright, Bible Word-Book, 2nd edition, under the word)) (in faith, piety, hope): τάς καρδίας, your hearts, Ephesians 6:22; Colossians 2:2; Colossians 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:17, (also χεῖρας ἀσθενεῖς, Job 4:3 for חִזַק; γόνατα παραλελυμένα, Isaiah 35:3f (see the Hebrew) for אִמֵּץ). 5. it combines the ideas of exhorting and comforting and encouraging in Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 14:31; 1 Thessalonians 3:2. 6. to instruct, teach: ἐν τῇ διδασκαλία, Titus 1:9. (Compare: συμπαρακαλέω.) From para and kaleo; to call near, i.e. Invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation) -- beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray. see GREEK para see GREEK kaleo Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:18 V-ANPGRK: οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακληθῆναι ὅτι οὐκ NAS: AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE KJV: not be comforted, because INT: not would be comforted because no more Matthew 5:4 V-FIP-3P Matthew 8:5 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 8:31 V-IIA-3P Matthew 8:34 V-AIA-3P Matthew 14:36 V-IIA-3P Matthew 18:29 V-IIA-3S Matthew 18:32 V-AIA-2S Matthew 26:53 V-ANA Mark 1:40 V-PPA-NMS Mark 5:10 V-IIA-3S Mark 5:12 V-AIA-3P Mark 5:17 V-PNA Mark 5:18 V-IIA-3S Mark 5:23 V-PIA-3S Mark 6:56 V-IIA-3P Mark 7:32 V-PIA-3P Mark 8:22 V-PIA-3P Luke 3:18 V-PPA-NMS Luke 7:4 V-IIA-3P Luke 8:31 V-IIA-3P Luke 8:32 V-AIA-3P Luke 8:41 V-IIA-3S Luke 15:28 V-IIA-3S Luke 16:25 V-PIM/P-3S Strong's Greek 3870 |