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παρακούω

parakoúō

G3878 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To not listen, to disregard, to fail to heed or pay attention (whether intentionally or unintentionally). In extended usage, to disobey or fail to comply with instructions, warnings, or commands, especially when due to negligence or refusal to listen.

Semantic Range

to not listen, to neglect to hear, to disregard, to fail to heed, to fail to obey, to disobey, to overlook (instruction or warning)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition παρά (beside, near, alongside) and the verb ἀκούω (to hear, to listen). The compound literally conveys the meaning of hearing 'alongside' rather than 'in accordance with,' thereby suggesting inattentiveness or disregard.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, παρακούω often meant to overhear or to not listen carefully, frequently implying a lack of attention or inadvertence. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the semantic range widened to include moral culpability: to disregard or intentionally ignore commands, thus leading to the sense of 'to disobey.' This sense is especially prominent in contexts where hearing is tied to obedience, as in the Hellenistic-Jewish understanding of hearing divine or authoritative instruction (cf. 'hearing and doing' in Deuteronomy and elsewhere). English translations sometimes render it as 'neglect,' 'disobey,' or 'refuse to listen;' however, none fully capture the underlying idea of both aural neglect and the resulting failure to obey. Contrast with ἀκούω (to hear, listen) which entails attentiveness and reception, and note that παρακούω may include both accidental and willful neglect.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from παρά and ἀκούω; to mishear, i.e. (by implication) to disobey:--neglect to hear.

Root Family

παρακούω (parakouō) — to hear, to pay attention, to listen; to disregard, to fail to heed

Root ἀκού- to hear, to pay attention, to listen

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3878-02 παρακούσῃ parakouse V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he refuses to listen he/she might disregard he/she might disregard 2
G3878-01 παρακούσας parakousas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG overhearing having disregarded having disregarded 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3878-02 Matthew 18:17 παρακούσῃ parakouse V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he refuses to listen he/she might disregard he/she might disregard
G3878-02 Matthew 18:17 παρακούσῃ parakouse-2 V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he refuses to listen he/she might disregard he/she might disregard
G3878-01 Mark 5:36 παρακούσας parakousas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG overhearing having disregarded having disregarded
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