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παροικέω

paroikéō

G3939 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To reside temporarily in a place, especially as a foreigner or non-native; to dwell alongside or among local inhabitants without being fully integrated or a permanent citizen. The sense emphasizes the provisional or outsider status of the residence, distinct from settled or permanent habitation. In various contexts, conveys the act of living as a sojourner or alien without full citizenship or rights.

Semantic Range

to dwell as a sojourner, to reside as a foreigner, to live in a place without being a citizen, to stay temporarily, to live alongside natives as a non-native, to experience marginal or outsider status while residing

Root / Etymology

Formed from the preposition παρά ('beside, alongside') and the verb οἰκέω ('to inhabit, dwell'). The compound thus means 'to dwell beside/among', with the implication of not being an established or permanent resident. Not a classical formation, but well attested in Hellenistic and Koine Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, παροικέω frequently denotes dwelling in a place as a resident alien or temporary sojourner, especially among peoples or in a land not one's own. The term occurs in the Septuagint for the status of the Israelite ancestors (e.g., Abraham in foreign lands, Genesis 23:4) and conveys the sense of social and legal marginality – one who lives among others, but as an outsider. In the New Testament (e.g., Acts 13:17, 1 Peter 1:17), the term takes on a metaphorical sense for believers' earthly existence as a temporary sojourn, reflecting both social realities and theological metaphor. English translations often render παροικέω as 'sojourn', 'live as a stranger', or 'reside as an alien', but the term does not convey the modern notion of a tourist or transient visitor—it implies longer residence with a sense of non-belonging. Distinct from ἐνοικέω ('dwell in') or κατοικέω ('settle, inhabit as a permanent resident'). Related noun: παροῖκος ('sojourner, resident alien').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from παρά and οἰκέω; to dwell near, i.e. reside as a foreigner:--sojourn in, be a stranger.

Root Family

παροικέω (paroikeō) — to dwell, inhabit, live alongside as a non-native

Root οἰκ- to dwell, inhabit, live alongside

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3939-01 παροικεῖς paroikeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG sojourn you dwell as a foreigner you dwell as a foreigner 1
G3939-02 παρῴκησεν parokesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he sojourned he sojourned as a foreigner he sojourned as a foreigner 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3939-01 Luke 24:18 παροικεῖς paroikeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG sojourn you dwell as a foreigner you dwell as a foreigner
G3939-02 Hebrews 11:9 παρῴκησεν parokesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he sojourned he sojourned as a foreigner he sojourned as a foreigner
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