φυλάσσω
phylássō
G5442 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To keep watch over, guard, protect. Primary meaning is to act as a guard or sentinel, watching to prevent harm, loss, or intrusion. By extension, to preserve, keep safe, maintain a state, observe carefully (e.g., laws, instructions), abstain from something considered dangerous, or avoid. In some contexts, used of keeping a commandment or tradition, or guarding oneself from wrong or danger.
Semantic Range
to guard, to act as a sentinel or watchman, to keep safe, to protect, to observe (a command, law, or rite), to preserve, to avoid (danger or defilement), to abstain
Root / Etymology
From the root φυλ-, related to φυλή ('tribe', also 'band' or 'group'), with the base idea of guarding a group or preserving a boundary. The verb derives from the sense of keeping or watching over something; classical roots emphasize the notion of guarding. Not directly from φυλή ('tribe'), but both share the underlying concept of separation or vigilance.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, φυλάσσω denotes the act of guarding, watching, or keeping watch, often in military or custodial contexts (e.g., a sentinel or guard). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the Septuagint and New Testament), it broadens to include preserving, maintaining, or observing commandments and traditions. Distinct from τηρέω, which more often emphasizes keeping or maintaining (especially in obedience), φυλάσσω focuses on active guarding or protective oversight. English translations often render the term as 'keep', 'guard', or 'observe', but 'keep' may not fully convey the aspect of vigilant attention or protection in the original. In the New Testament, φυλάσσω can involve both the literal act of guarding and the figurative act of preserving moral integrity (e.g., 'keeping oneself from' pollution), and is sometimes used almost interchangeably with τηρέω, though subtle differences persist. In the LXX, used frequently for keeping commandments or preserving safety, paralleling Hebrew שָׁמַר (shamar, 'to guard, keep, observe').
Translation Consistency
φυλάσσω’s primary sense is to act as a sentinel or keep watch/keep safe. ‘Guard’ is the most common natural-English rendering in the P2 data and comfortably covers both physical watching and the extended senses (preserving, observing/keeping a command, protecting/avoiding danger). It therefore provides a single consistent, natural verb for all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from φυλή through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. be on guard (literally of figuratively); by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid:--beward, keep (self), observe, save. Compare τηρέω.
Root Family
φυλ- (Pamphylía) — tribe, people group, clan
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G3828 | Παμφυλία | Pamphylia |
| G5441 | φύλαξ | guards |
| G5443 | φυλή | tribal lineages |
| G5444 | φύλλον | leaves |
Word Forms
20 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5442-01 |
ἐφύλαξα | ephulaxa | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
I have kept | I guarded | I have kept | 3 |
G5442-05 |
φυλάσσῃ | phulasse | V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
guards | he/she/it may guard | he/she/it may guard | 2 |
G5442-06 |
φυλάσσειν | phulassein | V PRS ACT INF |
to guard | to be guarding | to be guarding | 2 |
G5442-07 |
φυλάσσεσθαι | phulassesthai | V PRS MID INF |
to be kept | to guard oneself | to be guarded | 2 |
G5442-08 |
φυλάσσεσθε | phulassesthe | V PRS MID IMP 2P PL |
be on guard | Guard yourselves | Guard yourselves | 2 |
G5442-10 |
φυλάσσων | phulasson | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
keeping/guarding | guarding | guarding | 2 |
G5442-11 |
φυλάσσοντες | phulassontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
keeping | those guarding | those guarding | 2 |
G5442-15 |
φυλάξαι | phulaxai | V AOR ACT INF |
to guard | to guard | to guard | 2 |
G5442-18 |
φυλάξει | phulaxei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
will keep | he will guard | he will guard | 2 |
G5442-20 |
φύλαξον | phulaxon | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
guard | Guard! | Guard | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
31 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5442-01 |
Matthew 19:20 | ἐφύλαξα | ephulaxa | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
I have kept | I guarded | I have kept |
G5442-02 |
Mark 10:20 | ἐφυλαξάμην | ephulaxamen | V AOR MID IND 1P SG |
I have kept | I guarded myself | I have kept |
G5442-11 |
Luke 2:8 | φυλάσσοντες | phulassontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
keeping watch | those guarding | those guarding |
G5442-09 |
Luke 8:29 | φυλασσόμενος | phulassomenos | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M SG |
kept under guard | being guarded | and |
G5442-05 |
Luke 11:21 | φυλάσσῃ | phulasse | V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
guards | he/she/it may guard | he/she/it may guard |
G5442-11 |
Luke 11:28 | φυλάσσοντες | phulassontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
keeping | those guarding | those guarding |
G5442-08 |
Luke 12:15 | φυλάσσεσθε | phulassesthe | V PRS MID IMP 2P PL |
be on guard | Guard yourselves | Guard yourselves |
G5442-01 |
Luke 18:21 | ἐφύλαξα | ephulaxa | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
I have kept | I guarded | I have kept |
G5442-18 |
John 12:25 | φυλάξει | phulaxei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
will keep | he will guard | he will guard |
G5442-17 |
John 12:47 | φυλάξῃ | phulaxe | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
keep | may he guard | may keep |
G5442-01 |
John 17:12 | ἐφύλαξα | ephulaxa | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
I guarded | I guarded | I guarded |
G5442-03 |
Acts 7:53 | ἐφυλάξατε | ephulaxate | V AOR ACT IND 2P PL |
kept | you guarded | you kept |
G5442-06 |
Acts 12:4 | φυλάσσειν | phulassein | V PRS ACT INF |
to guard | to be guarding | to be guarding |
G5442-06 |
Acts 16:4 | φυλάσσειν | phulassein | V PRS ACT INF |
to keep | to be guarding | to be guarding |
G5442-10 |
Acts 21:24 | φυλάσσων | phulasson | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
keepest | guarding | guarding |
G5442-07 |
Acts 21:25 | φυλάσσεσθαι | phulassesthai | V PRS MID INF |
to keep themselves | to guard oneself | to guard oneself |
G5442-10 |
Acts 22:20 | φυλάσσων | phulasson | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
keeping/guarding | guarding | guarding |
G5442-07 |
Acts 23:35 | φυλάσσεσθαι | phulassesthai | V PRS PASS INF |
to be kept | to guard oneself | to be guarded |
G5442-12 |
Acts 28:16 | φυλάσσοντι | phulassonti | V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG |
guarding | to the guarding one | |
G5442-05 |
Romans 2:26 | φυλάσσῃ | phulasse | V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
keeps | he/she/it may guard | he/she/it may guard |
G5442-14 |
Galatians 6:13 | φυλάσσουσιν | phulassousin | V PRS ACT IND 3P PL |
keep | they are guarding | they guard |
G5442-18 |
2 Thessalonians 3:3 | φυλάξει | phulaxei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
will protect | he will guard | he will guard |
G5442-19 |
1 Timothy 5:21 | φυλάξῃς | phulaxes | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG |
you keep | you might guard | you might guard |
G5442-20 |
1 Timothy 6:20 | φύλαξον | phulaxon | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
guard | Guard! | Guard |
G5442-15 |
2 Timothy 1:12 | φυλάξαι | phulaxai | V AOR ACT INF |
to guard | to guard | to guard |
G5442-20 |
2 Timothy 1:14 | φύλαξον | phulaxon | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
guard | Guard! | Guard |
G5442-13 |
2 Timothy 4:15 | φυλάσσου | phulassou | V PRS MID IMP 2P SG |
beware | be guarding yourself | be guarding yourself |
G5442-04 |
2 Peter 2:5 | ἐφύλαξεν | ephulaxen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
preserved | he guarded | he kept |
G5442-08 |
2 Peter 3:17 | φυλάσσεσθε | phulassesthe | V PRS MID IMP 2P PL |
beware | Guard yourselves | Guard yourselves |
G5442-16 |
1 John 5:21 | φυλάξατε | phulaxate | V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL |
guard | Guard! (you all) | guard |
G5442-15 |
Jude 1:24 | φυλάξαι | phulaxai | V AOR ACT INF |
to keep | to guard | to guard |