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παῤῥησιάζομαι

parrhēsiázomai

G3955 verb

SILEX Entry

Root παρρησι- to speak openly, to be confident, to act with boldness

Definition

To speak or act with openness, confidence, or frankness; to express oneself openly and publicly, especially with courage or without fear. In various contexts, the term implies both free, unreserved speech and the courage or audacity to speak openly, particularly in settings where such outspokenness might involve risk or opposition. It does not inherently mean to preach but focuses on the manner and quality of speech or action.

Semantic Range

to speak openly, to speak confidently, to express oneself fearlessly, to act boldly, to testify or declare with confidence, to express opinions publicly without fear

Root / Etymology

Derived from παρρησία (parrhēsía, 'freedom of speech, confidence, openness'), which comes from πᾶς (pas, 'all') + ῥῆσις (rhēsis, 'speech'). The verb form παρρησιάζομαι is a denominative formed in the middle voice, indicating one acts with παρρησία.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, παρρησιάζομαι is primarily attested from the Hellenistic period onward and is especially common in Jewish and early Christian texts written in Greek (such as the Septuagint, Philo, Josephus, and the New Testament). In these contexts, it expresses not only uninhibited speech but often a bold or courageous manner of speaking, especially in the face of authority, potential hostility, or danger. In Second Temple and early Christian literature, the term increasingly describes public testimony and fearless proclamation, but always with the nuance of openness, confidence, or frank courage rather than mere loquacity. English translations like 'speak boldly,' 'preach boldly,' and 'be confident' capture only facets of its meaning; the sense of public openness and risk is often stronger in the original. In secular Greek, similar ideas attach to public speech in civic or judicial settings, contrasting reserved or cautious speech. Not inherently specialized to religious discourse, pastoral preaching, or solely Christian proclamation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from παῤῥησία; to be frank in utterance, or confident in spirit and demeanor:--be (wax) bold, (preach, speak) boldly.

Root Family

παρρησιάζομαι (parrhēsiazomai) — to speak openly, to be confident, to act with boldness

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G3955-08 παρρησιαζόμενος parresiazomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG speaking boldly openly speaking with boldness 2
G3955-02 ἐπαρρησιάσατο eparresiasato V AOR MID IND 3P SG he had preached boldly he spoke openly and boldly 1
G3955-01 ἐπαρρησιασάμεθα eparresiasametha V AOR MID IND 1P PL we had boldness we spoke openly and boldly 1
G3955-05 παρρησιάσωμαι parresiasomai V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG I may speak boldly I might speak openly 1
G3955-07 παρρησιαζόμενοι parresiazomenoi V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL speaking boldly openly expressing themselves 1
G3955-06 παρρησιάζεσθαι parresiazesthai V PRS MID INF to speak boldly to speak openly and confidently 1
G3955-03 ἐπαρρησιάζετο eparresiazeto V IMPF MID IND 3P SG continued speaking boldly was openly expressing himself 1
G3955-04 παρρησιασάμενοί parresiasamenoi V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL having spoken boldly having spoken openly for themselves 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G3955-02 Acts 9:27 ἐπαρρησιάσατο eparresiasato V AOR MID IND 3P SG he had preached boldly he spoke openly and boldly
G3955-08 Acts 9:28 παρρησιαζόμενος parresiazomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG speaking boldly openly speaking with boldness
G3955-04 Acts 13:46 παρρησιασάμενοί parresiasamenoi V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL having spoken boldly having spoken openly for themselves
G3955-07 Acts 14:3 παρρησιαζόμενοι parresiazomenoi V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL speaking boldly openly expressing themselves
G3955-06 Acts 18:26 παρρησιάζεσθαι parresiazesthai V PRS MID INF to speak boldly to speak openly and confidently
G3955-03 Acts 19:8 ἐπαρρησιάζετο eparresiazeto V IMPF MID IND 3P SG continued speaking boldly was openly expressing himself
G3955-08 Acts 26:26 παρρησιαζόμενος parresiazomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG speaking freely openly speaking with boldness
G3955-05 Ephesians 6:20 παρρησιάσωμαι parresiasomai V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG I may speak boldly I might speak openly
G3955-01 1 Thessalonians 2:2 ἐπαρρησιασάμεθα eparresiasametha V AOR MID IND 1P PL we had boldness we spoke openly and boldly
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