Bible Word Study
παρά
para · from, in the presence of
παρά
from, in the presence of
Definition
The preposition παρά (para) is a versatile word meaning 'from,' 'beside,' 'with,' or 'alongside.' With the genitive case, it typically indicates source or origin, as in receiving something 'from' someone (e.g., Matthew 2:4, Herod gathered information 'from' the chief priests). With the dative case, it denotes proximity or presence, meaning 'beside' or 'in the presence of' (e.g., Matthew 13:1, Jesus sat 'beside' the sea). With the accusative case, it often suggests motion alongside or comparison, as in 'alongside of' or 'beyond' (e.g., Mark 12:31, loving your neighbor 'as' yourself, implying a standard of comparison).
Biblical Usage
παρά appears 189 times across the New Testament, used in all four Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. It frequently describes spatial relationships (e.g., Matthew 4:18, walking 'beside' the Sea of Galilee) and relational dynamics, such as receiving authority or teaching from a source (John 1:6, a man sent 'from' God). In theological contexts, it highlights divine origin, as in grace and truth coming 'from' Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 17). Its usage with different cases provides nuanced meanings essential for accurate interpretation.
Etymology
Derived from ancient Greek, παρά is a primary preposition with Indo-European roots, related to the Latin 'per' (through) and English 'para-' (as in 'parallel'). Its core idea is 'beside' or 'alongside,' from which its varied senses of proximity, source, and comparison naturally developed in classical and Koine Greek.
Semantic Range
παρά is theologically significant as it often marks the source of divine revelation, grace, or authority. In passages like John 1:14 and 17, it emphasizes that grace and truth originate 'from' Jesus Christ, underscoring his unique relationship with the Father. Understanding its case usage enriches reading by clarifying whether a text speaks of God's presence with us (dative), gifts flowing from Him (genitive), or the surpassing nature of His ways (accusative), deepening our grasp of relational and salvific themes. In the Greco-Roman world, παρά conveyed not just physical location but social and hierarchical relationships, such as receiving from a superior or being in the company of a patron. This cultural nuance informs passages about receiving 'from' God or being 'with' Jesus, reflecting ancient understandings of authority and intimacy that may differ from modern, more egalitarian views of proximity. ἀπό (apo, G575) — emphasizes separation or origin from a point; πρός (pros, G4314) — indicates direction toward or relationship with; μετά (meta, G3326) — denotes accompaniment or association with.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]