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παῤῥησία

parrhēsía

G3954 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ῥησ- to speak, to say, to express

Definition

Freedom of speech or expression, especially the unreserved or candid expression of thoughts, speech, or conviction; by extension, confidence or boldness in speaking, particularly in public or before authorities. The term encompasses both the right to speak openly and the actual act of speaking openly and without fear, especially on matters of importance or conviction. In later and specific contexts, can indicate a state of assurance, courage, or lack of fear before others.

Semantic Range

freedom (of speech), openness, frankness, boldness (in speech or action), assurance, confidence, lack of fear in speaking, publicity

Root / Etymology

From παρά (beside, with) and ῥῆσις (speech), related to ῥέω (to flow). The root conveys the idea of speaking freely or openly—'saying everything.' The common explanation of πᾶς (all) + ῥέω (to speak) is folk etymology; the more accurate etymology is 'speaking in the presence of all' rather than 'all-saying.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, παρρησία denoted the democratic right to speak one’s mind openly, especially in political assemblies or before authorities, often with the connotation of social equality or civic participation. In Hellenistic and later Jewish-Greek contexts (including the Septuagint and New Testament), the word acquires nuances of fearless speech before God or people and a sense of spiritual confidence or assurance, especially in contexts of prayer, testimony, or proclaiming convictions before hostile audiences. In the New Testament, it regularly describes the open and bold proclamation of a message, but also the freedom or confidence possessed by individuals in relation to God, sometimes translated 'confidence.' English translations such as 'boldness' or 'confidence' only partially capture the full semantic range, especially the political and social overtones of the Greek term. The term is still used in later philosophical and theological Greek for frankness, openness, or spiritual boldness, retaining both social and existential dimensions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πᾶς and a derivative of ῥέω; all out-spokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance:--bold (X -ly, -ness, -ness of speech), confidence, X freely, X openly, X plainly(-ness).

Root Family

παρρησία (parrēsia) — freedom of speech, openness, frankness, boldness in speaking, confidence

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G3954-01 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG openly with open boldness 16
G3954-02 παρρησίαν parresian N ACC F SG confidence open boldness of speech 10
G3954-03 παρρησίας parresias N GEN F SG boldness of open-spoken boldness 5

Occurrences in Scripture

31 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G3954-01 Mark 8:32 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG openly with open boldness
G3954-01 John 7:4 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG openly with open boldness
G3954-01 John 7:13 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG openly with open boldness
G3954-01 John 7:26 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG openly with open boldness
G3954-01 John 10:24 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG plainly with open boldness
G3954-01 John 11:14 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG plainly with open boldness
G3954-01 John 11:54 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG openly with open boldness
G3954-01 John 16:25 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG plainly with open boldness
G3954-01 John 16:29 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG plainly with open boldness
G3954-01 John 18:20 παρρησίᾳ parresia N DAT F SG openly with open boldness
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