What does παρακολουθέω (parakolouthéō) mean in the Bible?
παρακολουθέω (parakolouthéō): Following closely with accompanying purpose; to trace, investigate, or adopt as a standard of conduct.
Greek · G3877
παρακολουθέω
To follow
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παρακολουθέωG3877
Pronunciationparakolouthéō
What does παρακολουθέω (parakolouthéō) mean in the Bible?
παρακολουθέω (parakolouthéō): Following closely with accompanying purpose; to trace, investigate, or adopt as a standard of conduct.
Full entry for παρακολουθέω (G3877) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G3877?
The BSB source-word alignment has 3 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include have observed (1), Therefore, having carefully investigated (1), you have followed (1).
Where does παρακολουθέω (parakolouthéō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 1:3. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Timothy (1), 2 Timothy (1), Luke (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithave observed1×2 Timothy 3:10
Therefore, having carefully investigated1×Luke 1:3
you have followed1×1 Timothy 4:6
Show sample aligned rows
Luke 1:3παρηκολουθηκότιtoTherefore, having carefully investigatedVerb - Perfect Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular1 Timothy 4:6παρηκολούθηκαςtoyou have followedVerb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular2 Timothy 3:10παρηκολούθησάςtohave observedVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowLuke 1:3
Aligned rows3
Books represented3
Luke11 Timothy12 Timothy1
Source forms
παρηκολούθηκας1xparēkolouthēkas1 Timothy 4:6
παρηκολουθηκότι1xparēkolouthēkotiLuke 1:3
παρηκολούθησάς1xparēkolouthēsas2 Timothy 3:10
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular1x2 Timothy 3:10
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular1x1 Timothy 4:6
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular1xLuke 1:3
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Following closely with accompanying purpose; to trace, investigate, or adopt as a standard of conduct.
Strong'sG3877
Lexical occurrences4 versesGreek text appearances4 timesWord forms2 forms4 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study link2 Timothy 3:10-13Source Gloss
to follow
Extended definitionSource: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Following closely with accompanying purpose; to trace, investigate, or adopt as a standard of conduct.
with dative, to follow closely, accompany. Metaphorical, in various senses,
ato result: Mrk.16:17;
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
4 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Mark 16:17Verb Third Person Singular Future Active Indicative
παρακολουθήσει·parakolouqhsei
I accompany, follow closely, investigate
Read verseLuke 1:3Verb Perfect Active Participle Dative Singular Masculine
παρηκολουθηκότιparhkolouqhkoti
I accompany, follow closely, investigate
Read verse1 Timothy 4:6Verb Second Person Singular Perfect Active Indicative
παρηκολούθηκας.parhkolouqhkav
I accompany, follow closely, investigate
Read verse2 Timothy 3:10Verb Second Person Singular Perfect Active Indicative
παρηκολούθηκάςparhkolouqhkav
I accompany, follow closely, investigate
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms4TensesFuture, Perfect, AoristVoicesActive
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality3×
Future ActiveMark 16:171×
Perfect Active1 Tim 4:61×
Aorist Active2 Tim 3:101×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality1×
Perfect ActiveLuke 1:31×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 4 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
perfect2aorist1future1
Voice
active4
Mood
indicative3participle1
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)
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
to follow closely, observe carefully, accompany with understanding
Showing 1 selected witness from 4 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
παρακολουθέω is built from these roots:
Why This Word Matters
Timothy’s discipleship involved careful observation and participation in Paul’s life and ministry.2 Timothy 3:10-13