παρίημι
paríēmi
G3935 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To let go from close proximity, to release, to loosen one's hold; more generally, to allow something to pass, to relax or slacken (especially of hands, arms, or physical tension), occasionally with the sense of leaving alone, neglecting, or permitting to lapse. The primary meaning is physical relaxation or lowering, with figurative extensions to letting a matter pass or allowing a standard to decline.
Semantic Range
to release, to relax (as of hands or attention), to loosen, to slacken, to let hang down, to neglect, to allow to lapse, to permit to pass
Root / Etymology
From the prefix παρά (beside, from, alongside) and ἵημι (to send, to let go, to release). The compound sense is 'to send or let go from beside', giving the meaning of relaxing or letting slack.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, παρίημι commonly denotes the action of letting something drop or hang down, usually referring to hands, arms, or physical posture (e.g., to lower one's hands in exhaustion or resignation). In metaphorical contexts, it may refer to relaxing effort or attention, even to permitting a duty or responsibility to go unfulfilled (to neglect, to let slide). In Koine Greek, including the New Testament, the term is rare and when present usually carries the physical or metaphorical sense of relaxing or letting go. Septuagintal usage often translates Hebrew terms for 'relax', 'forsake', or 'fail', capturing both the literal and metaphorical nuances. English translations such as 'hang down', 'relax', or 'allow to lapse' only partially capture the breadth of uses—particularly the nuance of neglect or letting something go unattended. Related terms: ἀφίημι (to send away, to forgive), though παρίημι more closely retains the image of slackening or lowering rather than a clean release.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from παρά and hiemi (to send); to let by, i.e. relax:--hang down.
Root Family
ἵημι (kathíēmi) — to send, to let go, to release
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3935-01 |
παρειμένας | pareimenas | V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F PL |
hanging down | having been slackened | having been slackened | 1 |
G3935-02 |
παρεῖναι | pareinai | V AOR ACT INF |
to neglect | to let slack | to neglect | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3935-02 |
Luke 11:42 | παρεῖναι | pareinai | V AOR ACT INF |
to neglect | to let slack | to neglect |
G3935-01 |
Hebrews 12:12 | παρειμένας | pareimenas | V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F PL |
hanging down | having been slackened | having been slackened |