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παρακαλέω

parakaléō

G3870 verb

SILEX Entry

Root παρακαλ- to call near, to summon, to invoke, to exhort, to comfort

Definition

To call to one’s side for the purpose of addressing, encouraging, exhorting, or consoling; in broader contexts, to urge, entreat, request, exhort, comfort, or encourage. The primary sense involves summoning or addressing someone closely, whether for encouragement, admonition, teaching, appeal, or reassurance. Secondary senses can include appealing for help, offering instruction or warning, and comforting or consoling those in distress.

Semantic Range

to call to one's side, to summon, to invite, to exhort, to urge, to entreat, to request, to encourage, to comfort, to appeal, to console

Root / Etymology

From παρα- (para-, 'beside, near') and καλέω (kaleō, 'to call'); literally, 'to call to the side' or 'to summon near.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, παρακαλέω appears already in the 5th century BCE, primarily with the sense of 'to summon, call to one's side' or 'invite.' In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, its usage expands to include 'to urge,' 'to appeal,' 'to exhort,' and 'to comfort/console.' In the Septuagint, it often renders Hebrew נִחֵם (nikhēm, 'comfort, console') and other verbs of appeal. In the New Testament, παρακαλέω is frequently used in both formal and informal appeals—as in entreating someone to act, encouraging communities, or offering comfort to those facing hardship. English translations such as 'beseech,' 'exhort,' 'encourage,' or 'comfort' only partially capture its versatile use. It overlaps with παραινέω (to advise), though παρακαλέω often emphasizes advocacy or reassurance in addition to instruction. The noun παράκλησις ('encouragement, exhortation, comfort') and παράκλητος ('advocate, helper, comforter') derive from this verb and reflect its broad semantic range.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from παρά and καλέω; 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.

Root Family

παρακαλέω (parakaleō) — to call near, to summon, to exhort, to encourage, to comfort

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G3870-10 παρακαλῶ parakalo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I urge I call alongside 20
G3870-11 παρακαλῶν parakalon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG beseeching calling near 9
G3870-28 παρεκάλουν parekaloun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL urged they were calling near 8
G3870-22 παρεκάλει parekalei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG begged was calling near 8
G3870-06 παρακαλέσαι parakalesai V AOR ACT INF comfort to call near 6
G3870-13 παρακαλοῦμεν parakaloumen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we exhort we are calling near 6
G3870-24 παρεκάλεσαν parekalesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL appealed to they called near 6
G3870-01 παρακαλεῖ parakalei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG exhort he/she calls near 5
G3870-23 παρεκάλεσα parekalesa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I urged I called near 5
G3870-15 παρακαλοῦντες parakalountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL exhorting calling alongside 4

Occurrences in Scripture

109 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G3870-19 Matthew 2:18 παρακληθῆναι paraklethenai V AOR PASS INF be comforted to be called near
G3870-20 Matthew 5:4 παρακληθήσονται paraklethesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL they will be called near
G3870-11 Matthew 8:5 παρακαλῶν parakalon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG calling near
G3870-28 Matthew 8:31 παρεκάλουν parekaloun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL they were calling near
G3870-24 Matthew 8:34 παρεκάλεσαν parekalesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they called near
G3870-28 Matthew 14:36 παρεκάλουν parekaloun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL they were calling near
G3870-22 Matthew 18:29 παρεκάλει parekalei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was calling near
G3870-25 Matthew 18:32 παρεκάλεσάς parekalesas V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you were calling near
G3870-06 Matthew 26:53 παρακαλέσαι parakalesai V AOR ACT INF to call near
G3870-11 Mark 1:40 παρακαλῶν parakalon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG beseeching calling near
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