Quick Definition
παρατηρέω v. I watch
Strong's Definition
from 3844 and 5083; to inspect alongside, i.e. note insidiously or scrupulously
KJV Usage: observe, watch
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
παρα-τηρέω, -@: impf. 3 pers. plur. παρετήρουν; 1 aor. παρετήρησα; Mid., pres. παρατηροῦμαι ; impf. 3 pers. plur. παρετηροῦντο ; prop. to stand beside and watch [ο. mapa, IV. 1]; to watch assiduously, observe carefully ; a. to watch, attend to, with the eyes: τὰ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ γιγνόμενα, of auguries, Dio Cass. 38, 13; τινά, one, to see what he is going to do (Xen. mem. 3, 14, 4); contextually in a bad sense, to watch insidiously, Lk. xx. 20 [Tr mrg. ἀποχωρήσαντες ] (joined with ἐνεδρεύειν, Polyb. 17, 3, 2); τινά (Polyb. 11, 9, 9; Sept. Ps. xxxvi. (xxxvii.) 12; Sus. 16) foll. by the interrog. εἰ, Mk. iii. 2R GT WH Tr txt.; Lk. vi. 7 Ree.; mid. to watch for one’s self: Mk. iii. 2LTr mrg.; Lk. vi. 7 LT Tr WH, [(in both pass. foll. by interrog. e’)]; Lk. xiv.1; active w. an ace. of place (Polyb. 1, 29, 4): τὰς πύλας [foll. by ὅπως, cf. B. 237 (205)], Acts ix. 24 RG, where L T Tr WH give mid. παρετηροῦντο. b. to observe i. α. 10 keep scrupulously ; to neglect nothing requisite to the religious observance of: ἑβδομάδας, Joseph. antt. 3, 5,5; [τὴν τῶν σαββ. ἡμέραν, id. 14, 10, 25]; mid. (for one’s self, i. e. for one’s salvation), ἡμέρας, μῆνας, καιρούς, Gal. iv. 10 (ὅσα προστάττουσιν οἱ νόμοι, Dio Cass. 53, 10; [τὰ εἰς βρῶσιν οὐ νενομισμένα, Joseph. ὁ. Ap. 2, 39, 2]).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
παρατηρέω paratēreō 6x
to watch narrowly, Acts 9:24; to observe or watch insidiously, Mk. 3:2; Lk. 6:7; 14:1; 20:20; to observe scrupulously, Gal. 4:10*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
παρα-τηρέω, -ῶ,
[in LXX: Ps 36 (37):12 (זמם), 129 (130):8 (שׁמר), Da TH 6:11 (12), Su 1:12, 15, 16*;]
to watch closely, observe narrowly: so mid., τ. πύλας, Ac 9:24; with evil intent, Mk 3:2, Lk 20:20 (absol., v. Field, Notes, 74); so mid., Lk 6:7 14:1.
to observe scrupulously (of days and seasons; cf. Ex 12:42, Sm.): mid., Ga 4:10.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
παρατηρέω. For this verb ‘* watch carefully,” as in Mk 32 a/., cf. P Par 42° (B.c. 156) (= UPZi. p. 318) xapret δὲ συμπαραστὰς ἡμῖν ἐν τοῖς λοιποῖς καὶ παρατηρήσας τοὺς ἀλάστορας, ‘you will do us a favour if for the future you will stand by us and keep a watchful eye on the criminals,” and P Oxy VI. 93728 (iii/A.D.) παραγγέλλω σοι ἵνα... παραγγείλῃς πᾶσι τοῖς ἐκεῖ. . παρατηρεῖσθαι αὐτήν, “I bid you to bid all who are there to keepa strict watch on it (a stone bowl).”” In Lk 207° Field (Votes, p. 74) prefers to take the verb absolutely, ‘‘ watching their opportunity.”” Hobart p. 153 f. illustrates its use for close observation of an illness. 7Zedt Ostr τὸ (ii/A.D.) (= P Tebt II. p. 337) contains *‘a note ofa number of days on which an unnamed person traparnpt.” For the verb with reference to the scrupulous (not ‘* wrongful”’) observance of days and seasons in Gal 419, Burton (ICC ad /.) cites Dion Cass. xxxviii. 13 τὰ ἐκ TOD οὐρανοῦ γιγνόμενα παρατηρεῖν, and three passages from Josephus. See also Aristeas 246.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
παρατηρέω (paratēreō) — to observe. παρατηρ-έω, watch closely, θεία φύσις -τηροῦσα τὰς τῶν ζῴν ἐξόδους [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of a general, π. τόπους [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; σφᾶς αὐτοὺς π. [Refs]; observe, -τετηρηκότες μόνον (opposed to scientific explanation) [Refs 5th c.BC+]: by a participle. π. [ὄρνιθα] ἀποδυόμενον [Refs 4th c.BC+]; with evil design, lie in wait for, watch one's opportunity, absolutely, [Refs]; ἐνεδρεύειν καὶ π. [Refs 2nd c.BC+] W.:—middle, παρετηροῦντο αὐτὸν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι [NT]:—passive, ὑπό τινος [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to be kept under ob servation, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. take care, ὅπως μὴ.. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; π. ἵνα.. [Refs 1st c.BC+]
3. observe carefully, τὸ μέτριον [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—Med, observe religiously, ἡμέρας καὶ μῆνας [NT+1st c.AD+]
