παρασκευάζω

I prepare

Definition

The verb παρασκευάζω means 'to prepare' or 'to make ready.' In its active voice, it describes the action of preparing something, as when Peter prepared a meal (Acts 10:10). In the middle voice, it often carries a reflexive sense of preparing oneself or making personal preparations, such as preparing one's heart or resources (2 Corinthians 9:2-3). In a metaphorical sense, it can refer to preparing for spiritual or strategic readiness, as seen in the context of preparing for battle with a clear trumpet call (1 Corinthians 14:8).

Biblical Usage

This verb appears four times in the New Testament, primarily in the writings of Luke and Paul. In Acts 10:10, it describes Peter's physical preparation of a meal. In Paul's letters, it is used figuratively: in 1 Corinthians 14:8, it illustrates the need for clear preparation in spiritual communication, and in 2 Corinthians 9:2-3, it refers to the preparation of a generous gift, emphasizing readiness and intentionality in Christian giving.

Etymology

The word is a compound from the preposition παρά (para), meaning 'beside' or 'alongside,' and a root related to σκευάζω (skeuazō), meaning 'to prepare' or 'to equip.' This construction suggests a sense of thorough preparation or making something fully ready alongside what is needed. It is related to the noun παρασκευή (paraskeuē), which means 'preparation' and was used for the day of preparation before the Sabbath.

Semantic Range

This word highlights the biblical theme of readiness and intentionality in the Christian life. It underscores that both practical acts (like Peter's meal) and spiritual disciplines (like giving and clear teaching) require deliberate preparation. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by emphasizing that God's work often involves human cooperation in preparing hearts, resources, and messages, as seen in the call for readiness in stewardship (2 Corinthians 9) and orderly worship (1 Corinthians 14).

In the Greco-Roman world, preparation was a valued concept in military, domestic, and religious contexts. The 'day of Preparation' (παρασκευή) was a common term for the day before the Sabbath or a festival, when people made necessary arrangements. This cultural backdrop informs passages like Acts 10:10, where meal preparation was a daily routine, and adds depth to Paul's metaphorical use, as his original readers would associate the word with thorough, deliberate action.

ἑτοιμάζω (hetoimazō, G2090) — more general term for making ready or preparing, often used for eschatological readiness; καταρτίζω (katartizō, G2675) — to mend, restore, or equip, focusing on making something complete or functional.

Word Details

Scripture References