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τηρέω

tēréō

G5083 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To keep watch over, to observe attentively with the purpose of guarding, maintaining, or fulfilling. It denotes active care, attention, or preservation, whether referring to rules, traditions, objects, or persons. Contextually, it can mean to preserve from harm, to carry out a directive, to guard custody, or to maintain a certain state or condition.

Semantic Range

to guard, to keep watch over, to preserve, to observe (a command, rule, or prophecy), to maintain a condition, to detain (in custody), to hold fast, to keep something intact, to protect from harm, to reserve or preserve for a purpose

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root τηρέ- (tēré-) possibly related to the noun τήρησις ('watching, guarding'). The ultimate etymology is uncertain, though some suggest a distant relation to θεωρέω (to look at, to observe), but this is speculative.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, τηρέω is used for keeping guard, maintaining a watchful eye, or preserving something, and is attested from the 5th century BCE. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it often refers to observing laws, commandments, or instructions (e.g., keeping the commandments). This is an active, deliberate act, distinguished from φυλάσσω, which more narrowly means 'to keep safe' or 'guard against escape,' and from κουστωδία, which refers to a military guard or garrison action. In NT contexts, τηρέω can mean both literal guard (as of a prisoner) and figurative observance (as of divine instruction or prophecy). English translations often use 'keep,' 'observe,' or 'guard,' but may not fully capture the active, deliberative nuance of τηρέω, which emphasizes continuous attention or care in keeping.

Translation Consistency

primary "keep" 66 occurrences

Keep is the most natural, idiomatic verb that covers the full SILEX range (guard, preserve, observe a command, maintain, hold in custody, protect, reserve). It matches common English renderings (e.g. 'keep watch', 'keep the law', 'keep safe'), is the most frequent choice in existing P2 occurrences, and will produce consistent, readable forms across all inflections.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"guarded" (2x) "guarding" (1x) "guard" (1x) "might be guarded" (1x) "ones having been guarded" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from (a watch; perhaps akin to θεωρέω); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from φυλάσσω, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from κουστωδία, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried):--hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch.

Root Family

τηρέω (tēréō) — to keep, to guard, to observe, to watch over

Root τηρέ- to keep, to observe, to guard, to watch over

Word Forms

37 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5083-08 τηρεῖν terein V PRS ACT INF to keep to keep watch over to be keeping 7
G5083-25 τηρῶν teron V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG keeps the one guarding the one keeping 6
G5083-07 τηρεῖ terei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG keep keeps watch over keeps watch over 5
G5083-29 τηροῦντες terountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL guarding those keeping watch over those keeping watch over 4
G5083-14 τηρήσῃ terese V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG keeps he may guard he may keep 4
G5083-24 τηρῶμεν teromen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL we keep let us keep watch over we keep 3
G5083-09 τηρεῖσθαι tereisthai V PRS PASS INF to be kept to be kept under watch to be kept under watch 3
G5083-05 ἐτήρουν eteroun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL kept they were guarding they were keeping 3
G5083-17 τηρήσητε teresete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL you keep you may guard you (plural) may keep 3
G5083-04 ἐτήρησάς eteresas V AOR ACT IND 2P SG have kept you kept watch over you kept watch over 2

Occurrences in Scripture

72 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5083-19 Matthew 19:17 τήρησον tereson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG keep Guard! Keep!
G5083-10 Matthew 23:3 τηρεῖτε tereite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL observe Keep guarding keep
G5083-05 Matthew 27:36 ἐτήρουν eteroun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL they kept watch they were guarding they were keeping
G5083-29 Matthew 27:54 τηροῦντες terountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL guarding those keeping watch over those keeping watch over
G5083-29 Matthew 28:4 τηροῦντες terountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL guards those keeping watch over those keeping watch over
G5083-08 Matthew 28:20 τηρεῖν terein V PRS ACT INF to observe to keep watch over to be keeping
G5083-17 Mark 7:9 τηρήσητε teresete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL you may keep you may guard you (plural) may keep
G5083-33 John 2:10 τετήρηκας teterekas V PRF ACT IND 2P SG have kept you have guarded have kept
G5083-14 John 8:51 τηρήσῃ terese V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG keeps he may guard he may keep
G5083-14 John 8:52 τηρήσῃ terese V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG keeps he may guard he may keep
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