What does φρουρέω (phrouréō) mean in the Bible?
φρουρέω (phrouréō): To guard by active military or protective vigilance; often metaphorically, to keep safe under protective custody.
Greek · G5432
φρουρέω
To guard
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φρουρέωG5432
Pronunciationphrouréō
What does φρουρέω (phrouréō) mean in the Bible?
φρουρέω (phrouréō): To guard by active military or protective vigilance; often metaphorically, to keep safe under protective custody.
Full entry for φρουρέω (G5432) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5432?
The BSB source-word alignment has 4 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include [are] shielded (1), secured (1), we were held in custody (1), will guard (1).
Where does φρουρέω (phrouréō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 2 Corinthians 11:32. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Peter (1), 2 Corinthians (1), Galatians (1), Philippians (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[are] shielded1×1 Peter 1:5
secured1×2 Corinthians 11:32
we were held in custody1×Galatians 3:23
will guard1×Philippians 4:7
Show sample aligned rows
2 Corinthians 11:32ἐφρούρειtosecuredVerb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularGalatians 3:23ἐφρουρούμεθαtowe were held in custodyVerb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person PluralPhilippians 4:7φρουρήσειtowill guardVerb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular1 Peter 1:5φρουρουμένουςto[are] shieldedVerb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row2 Corinthians 11:32
Aligned rows4
Books represented4
2 Corinthians1Galatians1Philippians11 Peter1
Source forms
ἐφρούρει1xephrourei2 Corinthians 11:32
ἐφρουρούμεθα1xephrouroumethaGalatians 3:23
φρουρήσει1xphrourēseiPhilippians 4:7
φρουρουμένους1xphrouroumenous1 Peter 1:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular1xPhilippians 4:7
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular1x2 Corinthians 11:32
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural1xGalatians 3:23
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural1x1 Peter 1:5
Evidence Summary
Greek word. To guard by active military or protective vigilance; often metaphorically, to keep safe under protective custody.
Strong'sG5432
Lexical occurrences4 versesGreek text appearances4 timesWord forms2 forms4 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkActs 12:1-5Source Gloss
to guard
Extended definitionSource: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
To guard by active military or protective vigilance; often metaphorically, to keep safe under protective custody.
(φρουρός, a guard), [in LXX: I Est.4:56, Jdth.3:6, Wis.17:16, 1Ma.11:3 * ;] to guard, keep under guard, protect or keep by guarding: 2Co.11:32; metaphorically, Gal.3:23, Php.4:7, 1Pe.1:5.
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.
2 Corinthians 11:32Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
ἐφρούρειefrourei
I guard, keep
Read verseGalatians 3:23Verb First Person Plural Imperfect Passive Indicative
ἐφρουρούμεθα,efrouroumeqa
I guard, keep
Read versePhilippians 4:7Verb Third Person Singular Future Active Indicative
φρουρήσειfrourhsei
I guard, keep
Read verse1 Peter 1:5Verb Present Passive Participle Accusative Plural Masculine
φρουρουμένουςfrouroumenouv
I guard, keep
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 forms4TensesImperfect, Future, PresentVoicesActive, Passive
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality3×
Imperfect Active2 Cor 11:321×
Imperfect PassiveGal 3:231×
Future ActivePhil 4:71×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality1×
Present Passive1 Pet 1:51×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 4 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
imperfect2present1future1
Voice
passive2active2
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 keep watch or guard.
Showing 1 selected witness from 4 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
φρουρέω is built from these roots:
Why This Word Matters
Emphasizes the seriousness of Herod’s attempt to prevent escape.Acts 12:1-5