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
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
παρακολουθέω G3877
Pronunciation parakolouthéō
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 It have observed 1× 2 Timothy 3:10
Therefore, having carefully investigated 1× Luke 1:3
you have followed 1× 1 Timothy 4:6
Show sample aligned rows
Luke 1:3 παρηκολουθηκότι to Therefore, having carefully investigated Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular 1 Timothy 4:6 παρηκολούθηκας to you have followed Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular 2 Timothy 3:10 παρηκολούθησάς to have observed Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Luke 1:3
Aligned rows 3
Books represented 3
Luke 1 1 Timothy 1 2 Timothy 1
Source forms
παρηκολούθηκας 1x parēkolouthēkas 1 Timothy 4:6
παρηκολουθηκότι 1x parēkolouthēkoti Luke 1:3
παρηκολούθησάς 1x parēkolouthēsas 2 Timothy 3:10
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular 1x 2 Timothy 3:10
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular 1x 1 Timothy 4:6
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular 1x Luke 1:3
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Following closely with accompanying purpose; to trace, investigate, or adopt as a standard of conduct.
Strong's G3877
Lexical occurrences 4 verses Greek text appearances 4 times Word forms 2 forms 4 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link 2 Timothy 3:10-13 Source Gloss
to follow
Extended definition Source: 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 corpus Greek 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 16:17 Verb Third Person Singular Future Active Indicative
παρακολουθήσει· parakolouqhsei
I accompany, follow closely, investigate
Read verse Luke 1:3 Verb Perfect Active Participle Dative Singular Masculine
παρηκολουθηκότι parhkolouqhkoti
I accompany, follow closely, investigate
Read verse 1 Timothy 4:6 Verb Second Person Singular Perfect Active Indicative
παρηκολούθηκας. parhkolouqhkav
I accompany, follow closely, investigate
Read verse 2 Timothy 3:10 Verb Second Person Singular Perfect Active Indicative
παρηκολούθηκάς parhkolouqhkav
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 groups 2 Aligned forms 4 Tenses Future, Perfect, Aorist Voices Active
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 3×
Future Active Mark 16:17 1×
Perfect Active 1 Tim 4:6 1×
Aorist Active 2 Tim 3:10 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 1×
Perfect Active Luke 1:3 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 4 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
perfect 2 aorist 1 future 1
Voice
active 4
Mood
indicative 3 participle 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)
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
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
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain