Quick Definition
παρακαλέω v. I summon, entreat, admonish, comfort
Strong's Definition
from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation)
KJV Usage: beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | pf.pass. παρακέκλημαι · aor.pass. παρεκλήθην · subj. παρακληθῶ · fut.pass. παρακληθήσομαι | καλέω
33.168 · Communication · Ask For, Request
to ask for (earnestly), to request, to plead for, to appeal to, earnest request, appeal to ask for something earnestly and with propriety It is also possible to interpret παρακαλέω in ACT 28:20 as meaning ‘to call together’ (see 33.310).
MAT 8:5 · MAT 8:31 · MAT 8:34 · MAT 14:36 · MAT 18:29 · MAT 18:32 · MAT 26:53 · MRK 1:40 · MRK 5:10 · MRK 5:12 · MRK 5:17 · MRK 5:18 · MRK 5:23 · MRK 6:56 · MRK 7:32 · MRK 8:22 · LUK 7:4 · LUK 8:31 · LUK 8:32 · ACT 2:40 · ACT 9:38 · ACT 13:42 · ACT 16:9 · ACT 16:39 · ACT 19:31 · ACT 21:12 · ACT 24:4 · ACT 25:2 · ACT 27:33 · ACT 27:34 · ACT 28:20 · ROM 12:1 · ROM 15:30 · ROM 16:17 · 1CO 1:10 · 1CO 4:13 · 1CO 4:16 · 1CO 16:12 · 1CO 16:15 · 2CO 2:8 · 2CO 5:20 · 2CO 6:1 · 2CO 8:6 · 2CO 9:5 · 2CO 10:1 · 2CO 12:8 · 2CO 12:18 · EPH 4:1 · PHP 4:2 · PHP 4:2 · 1TH 4:1 · 1TH 4:10 · 1TH 5:14 · 2TH 3:12 · 1TI 1:3 · 1TI 2:1 · 1TI 5:1 · 1TI 6:2 · PHM 1:9 · PHM 1:10 · HEB 13:19 · HEB 13:22 · 1PE 2:11 · 1PE 5:1
33.315 · Communication · Invite
to invite to ask a person to accept offered hospitality
33.310 · Communication · Call
to call together to to call to come to where the speaker is It is also possible to interpret παρακαλέω in ACT 28:20 as meaning ‘to request’ (see 33.168).
25.150 · Attitudes and Emotions · Encouragement, Consolation
to encourage, to console, encouragement to cause someone to be encouraged or consoled, either by verbal or non-verbal means
MAT 2:18 · MAT 5:4 · LUK 3:18 · LUK 16:25 · ACT 11:23 · ACT 14:22 · ACT 15:32 · ACT 16:40 · ACT 20:1 · ACT 20:2 · ACT 20:12 · ROM 12:8 · 1CO 14:31 · 2CO 1:4 · 2CO 1:4 · 2CO 1:4 · 2CO 1:6 · 2CO 2:7 · 2CO 7:6 · 2CO 7:6 · 2CO 7:7 · 2CO 7:13 · 2CO 13:11 · EPH 6:22 · COL 2:2 · COL 4:8 · 1TH 2:12 · 1TH 3:2 · 1TH 3:7 · 1TH 4:18 · 1TH 5:11 · 2TH 2:17 · 2TH 3:12 · 2TI 4:2 · TIT 1:9 · TIT 2:6 · TIT 2:15 · HEB 3:13 · HEB 10:25 · 1PE 5:12 · JUD 1:3
1 It is possible that παρακαλέω[b] differs somewhat in meaning from καλέω[e] and φωνέω[d] in implying some greater degree of urging. 2 The term παράκλητος, when used as a title for the Holy Spirit, is treated in 12.19.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
παρα-καλέω, -@; impf. 3 pers. sing. παρεκάλει, 1 and 3 pers. plur. παρεκάλουν ; 1 aor. παρεκάλεσα ; Pass., pres. παρακαλοῦμαι; pf. παρακέκλημαι; 1 aor. παρεκλήθην ; 1 fut. παρακληθήσομαι; fr. Aeschyl. and Hdt. down; i as in Grk. writ. to call to one’s side, call for, summon: twa, w. an inf. indicating the purpose, Acts xxviii. 20 [al. (less naturally) refer this to II. 2, making the ace. the subj. of the inf. ]. II. to address, speak to, (call to, call on), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, ete. ; hence result a variety of senses, on which see Knapp, Scripta varii arg. ed. 2 Ρ. 117 sqq.; ef. Fritzsche, Ep. ad Rom. i. p. 82 sq. ie asin Grk. auth., to admonish, exhort: absol., Lk. iii. 18; [Acts xx. 1 (RGom.)]; Ro. xii. 8; 2 Tim. iv. 2; Heb. x. 25; 1 Pet. v. 12; foll. by direct dise. 2 Co. v. 20; foll. by λέγων w. direct disc. Acts ii. 40; foll. by an inf. where in Lat. ut, 1 Tim. ii. 1; τινά, Acts xv. 32; xvi. 40; 2 Co. K- 1: 1 Dh. ii. 12951) s vo 11: 1 Lim: y- 1... eb. ait), τινὰ λόγῳ πολλῷ, Acts Xx. 2; τινά foll. by direct dise., 1 Co. iv. 16; 1 Th.v. 14; Heb. xiii. 22 [here L WH mrg. inf.]; 1 Pet. v.1sq.; twa foll. by an inf. where in Lat. ut [ef. B. $§ 140, 1; 141,2; W. 332 (311) ; 335 (315) n.J: inf. pres., Acts xi. 23; xiv. 22; Phil. iv 2; 1 Th. iv. 10; Tit. ii. 6; 1 Pet. ii. 11 (here Lehm. adds ὑμᾶς to the inf., and WH mre. with codd. A C Lete. read ἀπέχεσθε); Jude 8; inf. aor., Acts xxvii. 33 sq.; Ro. xii. 1; xv. 30; 2Co.ii.8; vi.1; Eph. iv. 1; 1 Tim. i. 3; Heb. xiii. 19; τινά foll. by ἵνα w. subjune. [ef. B. § 139, 42; W. 335 u.s.], 1 Co. i. 10; xvi. 15 sq.; 2 Co. viii. 6; 1 Th. iv. 1; 2 Th. iii. 12; to enjoin a thing by exhortation [cf. B. § 141, 2], 1 Tim. vi. 2; Tit. ii. 15. 2. to beg, entreat, beseech, (Joseph. antt. 6, 7,4; [11, 8,5]; often in Epict. ef. Schweighduser, Index graecit. Epict. p. 411; Plut. apophth. regum, Mor. ii. p. 30 ed. Tauchn. [vi. 695 ed. Reiske ; exx. fr. Polyb., Diod., Philo, al., in Soph. Lex. s. y.]; not thus in the earlier Grk. auth. exe. where the gods are called on for aid, in the expressions, παρακαλεῖν θεούς, so θεόν in Joseph. antt. 6, 2,2 and 7,4; [οἵ. W. 22]): [absol., Philem. 9 (yet see the Comm. ad loc.)]; τινά, Mt. viii. δ; xviii. 32; xxvi. 53; Mk.i.40; Acts xvi. 9; 2Co. xii. 18; πολλά, much, Mk. v. 23; τινὰ περί τινος, ; παρακαλύπτω Philem. 10; foll. by direct disc. Acts ix. 38 LT Tr WH; with λέγων added and direct disc., Mt. xviii. 29; Mk. v. 12; [Lk. vii. 4 (Td. ἠρώτων): without the ace. Acts xvi. 15; τινά foll. by an inf. [W. and B.u.s.], Mk. v. 17; Lk. viii. 41; Acts viii. 31; xix. 31; xxviii. 14, (1 Mace. ix. 35); τινά foll. by ὅπως, Mt. viii. 34 [here Lchm. ἵνα (see above) ]; Acts xxv. 2, (4 Mace. iv. 11; Plut. Demetr. c. 38); τινά foll. by va [W.$ 44, 8a.; B.§ 139,42], Mt. xiv. 36; Mk. v. 18; vi. 56; vii. 32; viii. 22; Lk. viii. 31 sq.; [2 Co. ix. 5]; τινὰ ὑπέρ τινος, ἵνα, 2 Co. xii. 8; πολλά (much) τινα, ἵνα, Mk. v.10; 1 Co. xvi. 12; foll. by τοῦ μή w. inf. [B. § 140, 166.; W. 325 (305)], Acts xxi. 12; by an inf. Acts ix. 38 RG; by an ace. w. inf., Acts xiii. 42; xxiv. 4; [Ro. xvi. 17]. 10 strive to appease by entreaty: absol. 1 Co. iv. 13; τινά, Lk. xv. 28; Acts xvi. 39, (2 Mace. xiii. 23). 3. to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort, (Sept. for 043; very rarely so in Grk. auth., as Plut. Oth. 16): absol. 2 Co. ii. 7; τινά, 2 Co. 1. 6; vii. 6 sq. ; ἐν w. a dat. of the thing with which one comforts another, 1 Th. iv. 18; τινὰ διὰ παρακλήσεως, 2 Co. i. 4; w. an acc. of the contents, διὰ τῆς παρακλ. ἧς (for qv, see ὅς, 7, 6, IL. 2 ¢. a.) παρακαλούμεθα, ibid.; in pass. to receive consolation, be comforted, Mt. ii. 18; 2 Co. xiii. 113 ἐπί τινε over (in) a thing [see ἐπί, B. 2 a.6.], 2Co.i.4; of the consolation (comfort) given not in words but by the experience of a happier lot or by a happy issue, i. 4. to refresh, cheer: pass., Mt. v. 4 (5); Lk. xvi. 25; Acts xx.12; 2Co. vii. 13 (where a full stop must be put after wapaxekAjp.) ; ἔν τινι, by the help of a thing, 2 Co. vii. 6 sq. ; ἐπί τινι, 1 Th. iii. 7; with (ἐν) παρακλήσει added, 2 Co. vii. 7. 4. toencourage, strengthen, [i. e.in the language of A. V. comfort (see Wright, Bible Word-Book, 2d ed., s. v.)], (in faith, piety, hope) : ras καρδίας, your hearts, Eph. vi. 22; Col. ii. 2; iv. 8; 2 Th. ii. 17, (also χεῖρας ἀσθενεῖς, Job iv. 3 for pin; γόνατα παραλελυμένα, Is. xxxv. 3 sq. [see the Hebr.] for y28)- 5. it combines the ideas of exhorting and comforting and encouraging in Ro. xii. 8; 1 Co. xiv. 31; 1 Th. iii. 2. 6. to instruct, teach: ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, Tit. i. 9. [Comp.: συμ-παρακαλέω.}
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
παρακαλέω parakaleō 109x
to call for, invite to come, send for, Acts 28:20; to call upon, exhort, admonish, persuade, Lk. 3:18; Acts 2:40; 11:23; to beg, beseech, entreat, implore, Mt. 8:5, 31; 18:29; Mk. 1:40; to animate, encourage, comfort, console, Mt. 2:18; 5:4; 2 Cor. 1:4, 6; pass. to be cheered, comforted, Lk. 16:25; Acts 20:12; 2 Cor. 7:13
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
παρα-καλέω, -ῶ,
[in LXX chiefly for נחם ni., pi.;]
to call to one, call for, summon: Ac 28:20 (R, mg.; R, txt., entreat); hence (of the gods: Dem., Xen., al.), to invoke, call on, beseech, entreat: τ. πατέρα μου, Mt 26:53; τ. κύριον, II Co 12:8; in late writers (Polyb., Diod., al.; rarely in LXX; in π., v. Deiss., LAE, 17614), also of men: absol., Phm 9; c. acc., Mt 8:5, Mk 1:40, Ac 16:9, al.; c. inf., Mk 5:17, Lk 8:41, Ac 8:31, al.; seq. ἵνα (v. M, Pr., 205, 208), Mt 14:36, Mk 5:18, Lk 8:31, al.
to admonish, exhort: absol., Lk 3:18, Ro 12:8, II Ti 4:2, al.; c. acc., Ac 15:32, I Th 2:11, He 3:13, al.; id. seq. inf., Ac 11:23, Ro 12:1, Phl 4:2, I Th 4:10, al.; seq. ἵνα (v. M, Pr., 205, 208), I Co 1:10, II Co 8:6, I Th 4:1, al.
to cheer, encourage, comfort (Plut., LXX: Jb 4:3, Is 35:3, Si 43:24, al.): c. acc., II Co 1:6, Eph 6:22, Col 2:2, al.; id. seq. ἐν, I Th 4:18; διά, II Co 1:4; pass., Mt 5:4, Lk 16:25, Ac 20:12.
SYN.: παραμυθέω (cf. M, Th., 25).
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
παρακαλέω, “ask,” ‘‘beseech,”’ as frequently in the NT, is a common formula in papyrus private letters, e.g. P Par 42° (B.c. 156) (= UPZ i, p. 318) παρεκάλεσα αὐτὸν ἔρχεσθαι, περὶ dv ἂν βούληται, BGU IV. 1141!° (B.c. 14) ἐρωτῶ σε οὖν Kal παρακαλῶι Kal τὴν Καίσαρος τύ[χη]ν oe ἐξορκιζῶι, and
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
παρακαλέω (parakaleō) — to plead/comfort. παρακᾰλέω, Attic dialect future -καλῶ, later -καλέσω[LXX]:—call to one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. call in, send for, summon, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; invoke the gods, τοὺς θεούς [Refs 4th c.BC+]; περὶ τούτου τὸν θεόν (as medical adviser) [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὸν Ἐνυάλιον [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, παρακαλούμενος καὶ ἄκλητος, 'vocatus atque non vocatus', [Refs 5th c.BC+]; παρακαλουμένη ἀμύνειν being called upon to ward off, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. summon one's friends to attend one in a trial, π. τοὺς φίλους [Refs 4th c.BC+]; π. τινάς call them as witnesses, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, uncertain in [Refs 4th c.BC+] —passive, παρακεκλημένοι summoned to attend at a trial, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.2. b summon a defendant into court, in passive, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.3. invite, ἐπὶ δαῖτα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰς (variant{ἐπὶ}) θήραν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα π. invite him to mount the tribune, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.4. appeal to, τινὰ περὶ γῆς [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. exhort, encourage, τάξις τάξιν παρεκάλει [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.2. comfort, console, τοὺς πενθοῦντας [LXX]:—passive, [NT]
III.3. excite, τινὰ ἐς φόβον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; incite, π. καὶ παροξύνειν ἐπί.. [Refs 4th c.BC+] G.; of things, foment, φλόγα [Refs 5th c.BC+]
IV. demand, require, ὁ θάλαμος σκεύη π. [Refs] —passive, τὰ παρακαλούμενα proposals, demands, Philipp. cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+]
V. beseech, entreat, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; π. τινὰ ἵνα..[NT+2nd c.AD+]; ὅπως.. [NT+2nd c.AD+]
VI. passive, relent, πρός, ἐπί τινι, towards a person, [LXX]
VI.2. repent, regret, παρακέκλημαι ὅτι..[LXX]