παρακαλέω (G3870) — Greek Lexicon

παρακαλέω

parakaléō

G3870 verb

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "encourage" 20 occurrences

parakaléō primarily carries the sense of calling alongside to comfort, exhort, or strengthen—what English speakers naturally express as 'encourage.' This verb is natural-sounding, covers the central pastoral/relational uses (exhortation, consolation, urging) better than more formal options like 'exhort,' and can reasonably render the typical range of contexts while allowing rare senses (pleading/requesting) to be handled by context-specific phrasing.

Alternatives (30 occurrences):

"urging" (6x) "comforted" (4x) "entreating" (2x) "calling near" (2x) "urged" (2x) "entreated" (2x) "beg" (2x) "exhorting" (2x) "begging" (1x) "urges" (1x) "pleading" (1x) "implored" (1x) "beseeching" (1x) "summoned near" (1x) "appealed to" (1x) "called" (1x)

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

παρακαλ- (parakaléō) — to call near, to summon, to invoke, to exhort, to comfort

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

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3870-10`	παρακαλῶ	parakalo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I urge	I call alongside	I encourage	20
`G3870-11`	παρακαλῶν	parakalon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	beseeching	calling near	encouraging one	9
`G3870-22`	παρεκάλει	parekalei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	begged	was calling near	was encouraging	8
`G3870-28`	παρεκάλουν	parekaloun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	urged	they were calling near	they were urging	8
`G3870-06`	παρακαλέσαι	parakalesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to urge	to call near	to encourage	6
`G3870-13`	παρακαλοῦμεν	parakaloumen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we urge	we are calling near	we are encouraging	6
`G3870-24`	παρεκάλεσαν	parekalesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they begged	they called near	they encouraged	6
`G3870-01`	παρακαλεῖ	parakalei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	exhort	he/she calls near	exhort	5
`G3870-23`	παρεκάλεσα	parekalesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I urged	I called near	I encouraged	5
`G3870-15`	παρακαλοῦντες	parakalountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	exhorting	calling alongside	those who are encouraging	4
`G3870-02`	παρακαλεῖν	parakalein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to beg	to call alongside	to encourage	3
`G3870-05`	παρακαλεῖτε	parakaleite	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	encourage	Keep calling near	Keep encouraging one another	3
`G3870-26`	παρεκάλεσέν	parekalesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	besought	he summoned near	he encouraged	3
`G3870-07`	παρακαλέσας	parakalesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	encouraged	having called near	having encouraged	2
`G3870-08`	παρακαλέσῃ	parakalese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	he may comfort	he might summon near	he may encourage	2
`G3870-14`	παρακαλούμεθα	parakaloumetha	`V PRS PASS IND 1P PL`	we are comforted	we are being called near	we are being encouraged	2
`G3870-17`	παρακαλοῦσιν	parakalousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	they beg	they call near	they beg	2
`G3870-30`	παρεκλήθημεν	pareklethemen	`V AOR PASS IND 1P PL`	were entreated	we were called near	we were encouraged	2
`G3870-03`	παρακαλεῖσθε	parakaleisthe	`V PRS PASS IMP 2P PL`	be comforted	Be continually encouraged	be continually encouraged	1
`G3870-04`	παρακαλεῖται	parakaleitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	he is comforted	is being called alongside	he is comforted	1
`G3870-09`	παρακάλεσον	parakaleson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	exhort	Summon near	Summon near	1
`G3870-12`	παρακαλῶνται	parakalontai	`V PRS PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	may be comforted	they may be called near	they may be encouraged	1
`G3870-16`	παρακαλοῦντος	parakalountos	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	were beseeching	of the one calling near	of the one exhorting	1
`G3870-18`	παρακεκλήμεθα	parakeklemetha	`V PRF PASS IND 1P PL`	we have been comforted	we have been called near	we have been encouraged	1
`G3870-19`	παρακληθῆναι	paraklethenai	`V AOR PASS INF`	be comforted	to be called near	to be comforted	1
`G3870-20`	παρακληθήσονται	paraklethesontai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P PL`	shall be comforted	they will be called near	they will be comforted	1
`G3870-21`	παρακληθῶσιν	paraklethosin	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	they may be encouraged	they may be called near	they may be encouraged	1
`G3870-25`	παρεκάλεσάς	parekalesas	`V AOR ACT IND 2P SG`	you pleaded	you were calling near	you entreated	1
`G3870-27`	παρεκαλοῦμεν	parekaloumen	`V IMPF ACT IND 1P PL`	we urged	we were exhorting	we were exhorting	1
`G3870-29`	παρεκλήθη	pareklethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	he was comforted	was called near	he was encouraged	1
`G3870-31`	παρεκλήθησαν	pareklethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were comforted	they were called near	they were comforted	1

Occurrences in Scripture

109 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3870-19`	Matthew 2:18	παρακληθῆναι	paraklethenai	`V AOR PASS INF`	be comforted	to be called near	to be comforted
`G3870-20`	Matthew 5:4	παρακληθήσονται	paraklethesontai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P PL`	shall be comforted	they will be called near	they will be comforted
`G3870-11`	Matthew 8:5	παρακαλῶν	parakalon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	beseeching	calling near	entreating
`G3870-28`	Matthew 8:31	παρεκάλουν	parekaloun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	begged	they were calling near	were calling near
`G3870-24`	Matthew 8:34	παρεκάλεσαν	parekalesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they begged	they called near	they urged
`G3870-28`	Matthew 14:36	παρεκάλουν	parekaloun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they implored	they were calling near	they were urging
`G3870-22`	Matthew 18:29	παρεκάλει	parekalei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	begged	was calling near	was encouraging
`G3870-25`	Matthew 18:32	παρεκάλεσάς	parekalesas	`V AOR ACT IND 2P SG`	you pleaded	you were calling near	you entreated
`G3870-06`	Matthew 26:53	παρακαλέσαι	parakalesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to appeal	to call near	to encourage
`G3870-11`	Mark 1:40	παρακαλῶν	parakalon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	beseeching	calling near	calling near
`G3870-22`	Mark 5:10	παρεκάλει	parekalei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he begged	was calling near	was encouraging
`G3870-24`	Mark 5:12	παρεκάλεσαν	parekalesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they begged	they called near	they entreated
`G3870-02`	Mark 5:17	παρακαλεῖν	parakalein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to beg	to call alongside	to encourage
`G3870-22`	Mark 5:18	παρεκάλει	parekalei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	begged	was calling near	was begging
`G3870-01`	Mark 5:23	παρακαλεῖ	parakalei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	implored	he/she calls near	he urges
`G3870-28`	Mark 6:56	παρεκάλουν	parekaloun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	begged	they were calling near	they were pleading
`G3870-17`	Mark 7:32	παρακαλοῦσιν	parakalousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	they beg	they call near	they beg
`G3870-17`	Mark 8:22	παρακαλοῦσιν	parakalousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	they beg	they call near	they beg
`G3870-11`	Luke 3:18	παρακαλῶν	parakalon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	exhorting	calling near	encouraging one
`G3870-28`	Luke 7:4	παρεκάλουν	parekaloun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they were beseeching	they were calling near	they were exhorting
`G3870-28`	Luke 8:31	παρεκάλουν	parekaloun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they were begging	they were calling near	they were urging
`G3870-24`	Luke 8:32	παρεκάλεσαν	parekalesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they implored	they called near	they implored
`G3870-22`	Luke 8:41	παρεκάλει	parekalei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	begged	was calling near	was beseeching
`G3870-22`	Luke 15:28	παρεκάλει	parekalei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was entreating	was calling near	was entreating
`G3870-04`	Luke 16:25	παρακαλεῖται	parakaleitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	he is comforted	is being called alongside	he is comforted
`G3870-22`	Acts 2:40	παρεκάλει	parekalei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he exhorted	was calling near	was encouraging
`G3870-26`	Acts 8:31	παρεκάλεσέν	parekalesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	besought	he summoned near	he summoned near
`G3870-15`	Acts 9:38	παρακαλοῦντες	parakalountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	imploring	calling alongside	urging
`G3870-22`	Acts 11:23	παρεκάλει	parekalei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	exhorted	was calling near	was encouraging
`G3870-28`	Acts 13:42	παρεκάλουν	parekaloun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they begged	they were calling near	they were urging
`G3870-15`	Acts 14:22	παρακαλοῦντες	parakalountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	exhorting	calling alongside	encouraging
`G3870-24`	Acts 15:32	παρεκάλεσαν	parekalesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	exhorted	they called near	they encouraged
`G3870-11`	Acts 16:9	παρακαλῶν	parakalon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	beseeching	calling near	encouraging one
`G3870-26`	Acts 16:15	παρεκάλεσεν	parekalesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	she besought	he summoned near	she urged
`G3870-24`	Acts 16:39	παρεκάλεσαν	parekalesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	appealed to	they called near	they appealed to
`G3870-24`	Acts 16:40	παρεκάλεσαν	parekalesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	encouraged	they called near	they encouraged
`G3870-28`	Acts 19:31	παρεκάλουν	parekaloun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	urged	they were calling near	they were urging
`G3870-07`	Acts 20:1	παρακαλέσας	parakalesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	encouraged	having called near	having encouraged
`G3870-07`	Acts 20:2	παρακαλέσας	parakalesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having exhorted	having called near	having encouraged
`G3870-31`	Acts 20:12	παρεκλήθησαν	pareklethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were comforted	they were called near	they were comforted
`G3870-27`	Acts 21:12	παρεκαλοῦμεν	parekaloumen	`V IMPF ACT IND 1P PL`	we urged	we were exhorting	we were exhorting
`G3870-10`	Acts 24:4	παρακαλῶ	parakalo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I beg	I call alongside	I encourage
`G3870-28`	Acts 25:2	παρεκάλουν	parekaloun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	urged	they were calling near	they were urging
`G3870-22`	Acts 27:33	παρεκάλει	parekalei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	urged	was calling near	was encouraging
`G3870-10`	Acts 27:34	παρακαλῶ	parakalo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I urge	I call alongside	I encourage
`G3870-30`	Acts 28:14	παρεκλήθημεν	pareklethemen	`V AOR PASS IND 1P PL`	were entreated	we were called near	we were encouraged
`G3870-23`	Acts 28:20	παρεκάλεσα	parekalesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I have called	I called near	I called you
`G3870-10`	Romans 12:1	παρακαλῶ	parakalo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I urge	I call alongside	I encourage
`G3870-11`	Romans 12:8	παρακαλῶν	parakalon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	exhorts	calling near	encouraging one
`G3870-10`	Romans 15:30	παρακαλῶ	parakalo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I urge	I call alongside	I encourage

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