To observe
παρατηρέωStrong’s G3906paratēreō
Appears in 6 verses of the New Testament
In short
Paratēreō is the Greek word usually translated “were watching”, “were closely watching” and “watching”. It appears in 6 verses of the New Testament.
“And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.”
Meaning
Usually translated “were watching”, “were closely watching” and “watching”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- they were watching 1
- were closely watching 1
- watching 1
- having watched 1
- they were themselves watching 1
- you observe 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- Luke 3
- Mark 1
- Acts 1
- Galatians 1
4 books in all.
Explore in Scripture
- Luke 6:7And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
- Luke 14:1And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
- Luke 20:20And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
- Acts 9:24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
- Galatians 4:10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Greek dictionary
παρατηρέω paratēreō · to observe
παρα-τηρέω, -ῶ [in LXX: Psa.37:12 (זָמַם), Psa.130:8 (שָׁמַר), Da TH Dan.6:11 (12), Su 1:12,15,16* ;] 1. to watch closely, observe narrowly: so mid., τ. πύλας, Act.9:24; with evil intent, Mrk.3:2, Luk.20:20 (absol., see Field, Notes, 74); so mid., Luk.6:7 14:1. 2. to observe scrupulously (of days and seasons; cf. Exo.12:42, Sm.): mid., Gal.4:10.† (AS)
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “observe” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
OBSERVE, verb transitive
obzerv'. [Latin observo; ob and servo, to keep or hold. The sense is to hold in view, or to keep the eyes on.]
- To see or behold with some attention; to notice; as, to observe a halo round the moon; I observed a singular phenomenon; we observe strangers or their dress.
- To take notice or cognizance of by the intellect.
- To utter or express, as a remark, opinion or sentiment; to remark.
- To keep religiously; to celebrate.“A night to be much observed to the Lord” Exodus 12:42“Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread” Exodus 12:17“Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years” Galatians 4:10
All definitions and other forms of “observe”
- To keep or adhere to in practice; to comply with; to obey; as, to observe the laws of the state; to observe the rules and regulations of a society.“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” Matthew 28:20
- To practice.
OBSERVE, verb intransitive
observ'.
- To remark.
- To be attentive.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.