παραπλησίως
paraplēsíōs
G3898 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
In a manner resembling or nearly the same as something else; similarly. The primary sense is that of acting, occurring, or being in a way that is close in character, form, or manner to something else. It is used to indicate that an action or quality is analogous, comparable, or in some respects parallel to another, rather than exactly identical.
Semantic Range
similarly, in a comparable manner, in a manner close to, analogously, likewise
Root / Etymology
From παραπλήσιος (paraplēsios, 'nearly similar, resembling'), itself derived from παρά ('beside, alongside') + πλήσιος ('near, neighbor'). The adverbial ending -ως forms adverbs from adjectives in Greek.
Historical & Contextual Notes
παραπλησίως appears first in post-classical and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and the New Testament, where it marks actions or situations as being akin or corresponding to one another without asserting exact equivalence. In the New Testament (e.g., Hebrews 11:15), it signals that circumstances under discussion are comparable to those previously described, without all details matching precisely. This nuance is softer than ὁμοίως ('in exactly the same way'), highlighting resemblance rather than strict identity. English translations often use 'likewise' or 'similarly,' but these may hide the adverb's nuance of partial, not exact, correspondence. The word is rare in Classical sources and more typical of later Greek and Hellenistic Jewish writings, reflecting the expanding register of analogy and comparison in Koine.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
adverb from the same as παραπλήσιον; in a manner near by, i.e. (figuratively) similarly:--likewise.
Root Family
παραπλησι- (paraplēsíōs) — near, resembling, similar
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3898-01 |
παραπλησίως | paraplesios | ADV |
likewise | in a similar manner | in a similar manner | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3898-01 |
Hebrews 2:14 | παραπλησίως | paraplesios | ADV |
likewise | in a similar manner | in a similar manner |