Greek · G3870, G3874 · unreviewed

παρακαλῶν / παρακλήσει

To plead/comfort · imploration, hortation, solace

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

παρακαλέω G3870 to plead/comfort

Pronunciation parakaléō

To call alongside for help, exhortation, or comfort; encourage through urgent appeal or supportive presence.

Open lexicon entry →

παράκλησις G3874 imploration, hortation, solace

Pronunciation paráklēsis

Comfort that strengthens resolve; exhortation and consolation unified as encouragement toward faithfulness.

Open lexicon entry →

What does παρακαλῶν / παρακλήσει (parakalōn / paraklēsei) mean in the Bible?

παρακαλέω · παράκλησις is a Greek word meaning "to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation)". to call near, i.

Full entry for παρακαλῶν / παρακλήσει (G3870, G3874) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation)

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Present Imperfect Aorist Future Perfect

Voices

Active Passive

Indicative states a fact or reality 70×

Present Active Acts 24:4 · Acts 27:34 · Rom 12:1 · Rom 15:30 · Rom 16:17 · 1 Cor 1:10 · 1 Cor 4:16 · 1 Cor 16:15 · 2 Cor 2:8 · 2 Cor 10:1 · Eph 4:1 · Phil 4:2 · 1 Tim 2:1 · Phlm 1:9 · Phlm 1:10 · Heb 13:19 29×

Imperfect Active Matt 8:31 · Matt 14:36 · Mark 6:56 · Luke 7:4 · Luke 8:31 · Acts 13:42 · Acts 19:31 · Acts 25:2 · Matt 18:29 · Mark 5:10 · Mark 5:18 · Luke 8:41 · Luke 15:28 · Acts 2:40 · Acts 11:23 · Acts 27:33 17×

Aorist Active Matt 8:34 · Mark 5:12 · Luke 8:32 · Acts 15:32 · Acts 16:39 · Acts 16:40 · Acts 28:20 · 1 Cor 16:12 · 2 Cor 12:8 · 2 Cor 12:18 · 1 Tim 1:3 · Acts 8:31 · Acts 16:15 · 2 Cor 7:6 · Matt 18:32 15×

Aorist Passive Acts 28:14 · 1 Thess 3:7 · Acts 20:12 · 2 Cor 7:7 4×

Present Passive 2 Cor 1:4 · 2 Cor 1:6 · Luke 16:25 3×

Future Passive Matt 5:4 1×

Perfect Passive 2 Cor 7:13 1×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 16×

Present Active Matt 8:5 · Mark 1:40 · Luke 3:18 · Acts 16:9 · Rom 12:8 · 2 Cor 1:4 · 2 Cor 7:6 · 1 Pet 5:12 · Jude 1:3 · Acts 9:38 · Acts 14:22 · 1 Thess 2:12 · Heb 10:25 · 2 Cor 5:20 14×

Aorist Active Acts 20:1 · Acts 20:2 2×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 9×

Aorist Active Matt 26:53 · 2 Cor 2:7 · 2 Cor 8:6 · 2 Cor 9:5 · 1 Thess 3:2 5×

Present Active Mark 5:17 · 2 Cor 1:4 · Titus 1:9 3×

Aorist Passive Matt 2:18 1×

Imperative command or strong request 9×

Present Active 1 Tim 5:1 · 1 Tim 6:2 · Titus 2:6 · Titus 2:15 · 1 Thess 4:18 · 1 Thess 5:11 · Heb 3:13 7×

Present Passive 2 Cor 13:11 1×

Aorist Active 2 Tim 4:2 1×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 4×

Present Active Eph 6:22 · Col 4:8 2×

Present Passive 1 Cor 14:31 1×

Aorist Passive Col 2:2 1×

Optative wish or remote possibility 1×

Aorist Active 2 Thess 2:17 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 102 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 19 ongoing 30 prospective 1 resultant 1 imperative 7 background 17 subjunctive 4 infinitive 7 participle 15 optative 1

Tense

present 55 aorist 28 imperfect 17 perfect 1 future 1

Voice

active 89 passive 13

Mood

indicative 68 participle 15 imperative 7 infinitive 7 subjunctive 4 optative 1

NT Occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 4 — Stewards of Christ, Fools for Christ, and a Father’s Admonition Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Acts 16 — The Gospel Enters Macedonia: Opened Hearts, Broken Chains, and Household Faith Acts 20 — Paul’s Farewell Charge to Shepherd the Church of God Acts 9 — The Risen Christ Converts His Fiercest Persecutor Colossians 2 — Fullness in Christ and Freedom from Christ-Plus Religion Colossians 4 — Prayer, Wise Witness, Faithful Service, and Gospel Fellowship Luke 16 — Faithful Stewardship, the Danger of Wealth, and the Finality of Judgment Luke 2 — The Savior Born, Revealed, Presented, and Growing in Wisdom Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Mark 7 — True Defilement and Boundary-Crossing Mercy Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details