φυλάσσω (G5442) — Greek Lexicon

φυλάσσω

phylássō

G5442 verb

SILEX Entry

Root φυλ- to guard, to watch, to keep, to preserve

Definition

To keep watch over, guard, protect. Primary meaning is to act as a guard or sentinel, watching to prevent harm, loss, or intrusion. By extension, to preserve, keep safe, maintain a state, observe carefully (e.g., laws, instructions), abstain from something considered dangerous, or avoid. In some contexts, used of keeping a commandment or tradition, or guarding oneself from wrong or danger.

Semantic Range

to guard, to act as a sentinel or watchman, to keep safe, to protect, to observe (a command, law, or rite), to preserve, to avoid (danger or defilement), to abstain

Root / Etymology

From the root φυλ-, related to φυλή ('tribe', also 'band' or 'group'), with the base idea of guarding a group or preserving a boundary. The verb derives from the sense of keeping or watching over something; classical roots emphasize the notion of guarding. Not directly from φυλή ('tribe'), but both share the underlying concept of separation or vigilance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φυλάσσω denotes the act of guarding, watching, or keeping watch, often in military or custodial contexts (e.g., a sentinel or guard). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the Septuagint and New Testament), it broadens to include preserving, maintaining, or observing commandments and traditions. Distinct from τηρέω, which more often emphasizes keeping or maintaining (especially in obedience), φυλάσσω focuses on active guarding or protective oversight. English translations often render the term as 'keep', 'guard', or 'observe', but 'keep' may not fully convey the aspect of vigilant attention or protection in the original. In the New Testament, φυλάσσω can involve both the literal act of guarding and the figurative act of preserving moral integrity (e.g., 'keeping oneself from' pollution), and is sometimes used almost interchangeably with τηρέω, though subtle differences persist. In the LXX, used frequently for keeping commandments or preserving safety, paralleling Hebrew שָׁמַר (shamar, 'to guard, keep, observe').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from φυλή through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. be on guard (literally of figuratively); by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid:--beward, keep (self), observe, save. Compare τηρέω.

Root Family

φυλάσσω (phylassō) — to guard, to watch, to keep, to preserve

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G5442-01`	ἐφύλαξα	ephulaxa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I have kept	I guarded	3
`G5442-10`	φυλάσσων	phulasson	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	keepest	guarding	2
`G5442-08`	φυλάσσεσθε	phulassesthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	be on guard	Guard yourselves	2
`G5442-07`	φυλάσσεσθαι	phulassesthai	`V PRS MID INF`	to be kept	to guard oneself	2
`G5442-06`	φυλάσσειν	phulassein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to guard	to be guarding	2
`G5442-05`	φυλάσσῃ	phulasse	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	guards	he/she/it may guard	2
`G5442-18`	φυλάξει	phulaxei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will keep	he will guard	2
`G5442-15`	φυλάξαι	phulaxai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to guard	to guard	2
`G5442-11`	φυλάσσοντες	phulassontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	keeping	those guarding	2
`G5442-20`	φύλαξον	phulaxon	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	guard	Guard!	2
`G5442-19`	φυλάξῃς	phulaxes	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	you keep	you might guard	1
`G5442-16`	φυλάξατε	phulaxate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	guard	Guard! (you all)	1
`G5442-09`	φυλασσόμενος	phulassomenos	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	kept under guard	being guarded	1
`G5442-04`	ἐφύλαξεν	ephulaxen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	preserved	he guarded	1
`G5442-13`	φυλάσσου	phulassou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	beware	be guarding yourself	1
`G5442-12`	φυλάσσοντι	phulassonti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	guarding	to the guarding one	1
`G5442-03`	ἐφυλάξατε	ephulaxate	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	kept	you guarded	1
`G5442-14`	φυλάσσουσιν	phulassousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	keep	they are guarding	1
`G5442-02`	ἐφυλαξάμην	ephulaxamen	`V AOR MID IND 1P SG`	I have kept	I guarded myself	1
`G5442-17`	φυλάξῃ	phulaxe	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	keep	may he guard	1

Occurrences in Scripture

31 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G5442-01`	Matthew 19:20	ἐφύλαξα	ephulaxa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`		I guarded
`G5442-02`	Mark 10:20	ἐφυλαξάμην	ephulaxamen	`V AOR MID IND 1P SG`	I have kept	I guarded myself
`G5442-11`	Luke 2:8	φυλάσσοντες	phulassontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	keeping watch	those guarding
`G5442-09`	Luke 8:29	φυλασσόμενος	phulassomenos	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	kept under guard	being guarded
`G5442-05`	Luke 11:21	φυλάσσῃ	phulasse	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	guards	he/she/it may guard
`G5442-11`	Luke 11:28	φυλάσσοντες	phulassontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	keeping	those guarding
`G5442-08`	Luke 12:15	φυλάσσεσθε	phulassesthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	be on guard	Guard yourselves
`G5442-01`	Luke 18:21	ἐφύλαξα	ephulaxa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I have kept	I guarded
`G5442-18`	John 12:25	φυλάξει	phulaxei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will keep	he will guard
`G5442-17`	John 12:47	φυλάξῃ	phulaxe	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	keep	may he guard
`G5442-01`	John 17:12	ἐφύλαξα	ephulaxa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I guarded	I guarded
`G5442-03`	Acts 7:53	ἐφυλάξατε	ephulaxate	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	kept	you guarded
`G5442-06`	Acts 12:4	φυλάσσειν	phulassein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to guard	to be guarding
`G5442-06`	Acts 16:4	φυλάσσειν	phulassein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to keep	to be guarding
`G5442-10`	Acts 21:24	φυλάσσων	phulasson	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	keepest	guarding
`G5442-07`	Acts 21:25	φυλάσσεσθαι	phulassesthai	`V PRS MID INF`	to keep themselves	to guard oneself
`G5442-10`	Acts 22:20	φυλάσσων	phulasson	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	keeping/guarding	guarding
`G5442-07`	Acts 23:35	φυλάσσεσθαι	phulassesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	to be kept	to guard oneself
`G5442-12`	Acts 28:16	φυλάσσοντι	phulassonti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	guarding	to the guarding one
`G5442-05`	Romans 2:26	φυλάσσῃ	phulasse	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`		he/she/it may guard
`G5442-14`	Galatians 6:13	φυλάσσουσιν	phulassousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	keep	they are guarding
`G5442-18`	2 Thessalonians 3:3	φυλάξει	phulaxei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will protect	he will guard
`G5442-19`	1 Timothy 5:21	φυλάξῃς	phulaxes	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	you keep	you might guard
`G5442-20`	1 Timothy 6:20	φύλαξον	phulaxon	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	guard	Guard!
`G5442-15`	2 Timothy 1:12	φυλάξαι	phulaxai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to guard	to guard
`G5442-20`	2 Timothy 1:14	φύλαξον	phulaxon	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	guard	Guard!
`G5442-13`	2 Timothy 4:15	φυλάσσου	phulassou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	beware	be guarding yourself
`G5442-04`	2 Peter 2:5	ἐφύλαξεν	ephulaxen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	preserved	he guarded
`G5442-08`	2 Peter 3:17	φυλάσσεσθε	phulassesthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	beware	Guard yourselves
`G5442-16`	1 John 5:21	φυλάξατε	phulaxate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	guard	Guard! (you all)
`G5442-15`	Jude 1:24	φυλάξαι	phulaxai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to keep	to guard

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