Quick Definition
τηρέω v. I keep, guard, observe
Strong's Definition
from teros (a watch; perhaps akin to 2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from 5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from 2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried)
KJV Usage: hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | διατηρέω · παρατηρέω · παρατήρησις · συντηρέω
13.32 · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · State
to cause to continue, to retain, to keep to cause a state to continue In 1CO 7:37 the reference to ‘girl’ may be either a man’s daughter or a man’s fiancée. Because of the ambiguity of this statement in 1CO 7:37 and in view of the cultural complications involved, especially because of differences of customs in different parts of the world, it is important that translators add a note at this point explaining the difference of interpretation and some of the cultural implications.
JHN 2:10 · JHN 12:7 · ACT 25:21 · 1CO 7:37 · 2CO 11:9 · 2CO 11:9 · EPH 4:3 · 1TH 5:23 · 1TI 5:22 · JAS 1:27 · 1PE 1:4 · 2PE 2:17 · 2PE 3:7 · 1JN 5:18 · JUD 1:6 · JUD 1:13 · JUD 1:21 · REV 16:15
37.122 · Control, Rule · Guard, Watch Over
to guard, to keep watch, custody to continue to hold in custody The act of holding someone in custody or guarding an individual may be expressed as ‘standing guard to see that someone will not escape’ or ‘watching carefully so that one cannot run off’ or ‘tying someone up so that he cannot leave.’
MAT 27:36 · MAT 27:54 · MAT 28:4 · JHN 17:11 · JHN 17:12 · JHN 17:15 · ACT 12:5 · ACT 12:6 · ACT 16:23 · ACT 24:23 · ACT 25:4 · ACT 25:21 · 1TH 5:23 · 1PE 1:4 · 2PE 2:4 · 2PE 2:9 · JUD 1:1 · JUD 1:6 · REV 3:10
36.19 · Guide, Discipline, Follow · Obey, Disobey
to obey, to keep commandments, obedience to continue to obey orders or commandments
MAT 19:17 · MAT 23:3 · MAT 28:20 · JHN 8:51 · JHN 8:52 · JHN 8:55 · JHN 9:16 · JHN 14:15 · JHN 14:21 · JHN 14:23 · JHN 14:24 · JHN 15:10 · JHN 15:10 · JHN 15:20 · JHN 15:20 · JHN 17:6 · ACT 15:5 · 1TI 6:14 · 2TI 4:7 · JAS 2:10 · 1JN 2:3 · 1JN 2:4 · 1JN 2:5 · 1JN 3:22 · 1JN 3:24 · 1JN 5:3 · REV 1:3 · REV 2:26 · REV 3:3 · REV 3:8 · REV 3:10 · REV 12:17 · REV 14:12 · REV 22:7 · REV 22:9
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
τηρέω, -ῶ; impf. ἐτήρουν; fut. τηρήσω; 1 aor. ἐτήρησα; pf. τετήρηκα, 3 pers. plur. τετηρήκασιν (Jn. xvii. 6 RG) and τετήρηκαν (ibid. LT Tr WH, [see γίνομαι, init.]) ; Pass., pres. τηροῦμαι; impf. ἐτηρούμην ; pf. τετήρημαι; 1 aor. ἐτηρήθην ; (τηρός, found only once, Aeschyl. suppl. 248, where it is doubtful whether it means ‘ guarding’ or ‘watching ’), fr. Pind., Soph., Thuc. down; Sept. several times for Dv, 1¥i, etc.; to attend to carefully, take care of; i.e. a. prop. to guard: twa, a prisoner, Mt. xxvii. 36, 54; Acts xvi. 23; pass., Acts xii. 5; [xxiv. 23]; xxv. 4, 21 ["]; ri, xii. 6; of τηροῦντες, [(R.V.) the watchers] the guards, Mt. xxviii. 4 (Cant. iii.3). Ὁ. metaph. to keep: τινά, one in that state in which he is, τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον, his own virgin daughter, sc. as a Virgin i. 6. unmarried, 1 Co. vii. 37; ἑαυτόν, himself such as he is, i. 6. begotten of God, 1 Jn. v. 18 [but here T Tr WH αὐτόν]; with a pred. accus. added: dyvov, 1 Tim. v. 22; ἄσπιλον ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου, Jas. i. 27; ἀβαρῆ τινι, 2 Co. xi. 9, (ἁπλοῦν, Antonin. 6, 30; τινὰ ἄμεμπτον τῷ θεῷ, Sap. x. 5); τί with a pred. accus. 1 Tim. vi. 14 {but see in ec. below]; pass. τηροῦμαι, with an adv., ἀμέμπτως, 1 Th. v. 23; with a dat. of the pers., Χριστῷ, devoted to Christ, [W. 421 (392)], Jude 1; τηρεῖν τινα ἔν τινι, to keep ini. e. cause one to persevere or stand firm in a thing: ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι θεοῦ (see p. 447
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
τηρέω tēreō 70x
to keep watch upon, guard, Mt. 27:36, 54; 28:4; Acts 12:6; to watch over protectively, guard, 1 Jn. 5:18; Rev. 16:15; to mark attentively, to heed, Rev. 1:3; to observe practically, keep strictly, Mt. 19:17; 23:3; 28:20; Mk. 7:9; Jn. 8:51; to preserve, shield, Jn. 17:15; to store up, reserve, Jn. 2:10; 12:7; 1 Pet. 1:4; 2 Pet. 2:4, 9, 17; to keep in custody, Acts 12:5; 16:23; to maintain, Eph. 4:3; 2 Tim. 4:7; to keep in a condition, Jn. 17:11, 12; 1 Cor. 7:37; 2 Cor. 11:9; 1 Tim. 5:22; Jas. 1:27
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
τηρέω, -ῶ
[in LXX for שָׁמַר, נָצַר, etc. ;]
to watch over, guard, keep, preserve: Mt 27:36, Ac 16:23, al.; ἑαυτόν, II Co 11:9, I Ti 5:22, Ja 1:27, Ju 21; seq. εἰς, Jo 12:7, Ac 25:21, I Pe 1:4, II Pe 2:4, 9 3:7, Ju 6; ἐν, Jo 17:11, 12, Ju 21; ἐκ, Jo 17:15, Re 3:10; τ. πίστιν, II Ti 4:7, Re 14:12; τ. ἑνότητα τ. πνεύματος, Eph 4:3.
to watch, give heed to, observe: τ. σάββατον, Jo 9:16; τ. ἐντολήν (-άς), Mt 19:17, Jo 14:15 15:10, I Ti 6:14, I Jo 2:3, 4 3:22, 24 5:3, Re 12:17 14:12; τ. λόγον (-ους), Jo 8:51, 52, 55 14:23, 24 15:20 17:6, I Jo 2:5, Re 3:8, 10 22:7, 9; τ. νόμον, Ac 15:5, Ja 2:10; τ. παράδοσιν, Mk 7:9; τ. ἔργα, Re 2:26; τ. γεγραμμένα, Re 1:3 (cf. δια-, παρα-, συν-τηρέω)
SYN.: φυλάσσω, implying custody and protection: τ. expresses the idea of watchful care and "may mark the result of which φ. is the means" (Thayer s.v.).
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
τηρέω (1) lit. “watch,” ‘‘observe”: P Tebt II. 2784% (early i/A.D.) τηρῖ ple] γάρ, “for he watches me (?)” (Edd.). (2) “‘cuard,” ‘ protect”: PSI III. 168° (B.c. 118) τηροῦντός μου σὺν ἄλλοις ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐμ Iloxpiper βασιλικοῦ χώματος, P Oxy VI. 985 (accounts—2"¢ half i/a.D.) ἐργάτηι τηροῦντι τὸν οἶνον... (δραχμαὶ) δ. (3) “keep,” ‘‘preserve”: BGU IV. 114125 (B.c. 13) κἀγὼ τὴν φιλίαν σου θέλων ἄμεμπτίον] ἐματὸν ἐτήρησα (cf. 1 Thess 5"), P Oxy XIV. 175725 (ii/A.D., after Hadrian) κόμισαι παρὰ Θέωνος μάνια (‘‘ vessels?) δύο kal τήρησόν por αὐτὰ ἕως ἀναβῶ, 20. IIT. 53315. (ii/iili A.D.) ἵνα τηρήσωσι αὐτῶν τὴν δεξιάν, ““{Παΐ they should keep their pledge,” 2. VIII. 11601® (iii/iv A.D.) τὰ σεσύλληχα δὲ κέρμα {ταῦ τηρῶ αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν δίκην, “I am keeping for the trial the money that I have collected” (Ed.), and 75. X. 12987 (iv/A.D.) ἐγὼ μόνος (1 μόνον 9) πάνυ ἐμαυτὸν τηρῶν imp τὸν ἀσφαλήν, “I have been keeping myself quite alone beyond the point of safety ” (Edd.). A good parallel to 2 Tim 47 is afforded by Brit. Mus. Inscrr. Part III. No. 587 6.5 (ii/a.D.) ὅτι τὴν πίστιν ἐτήρησα : cf. Deissmann ZAZ?, p. 309. See also /7S vi. (1905), p. 438, for the suggestion that in Jn 21° τηρέω = “maintain,” ‘keep going”—‘‘Thou hast kept going the good wine even until now.’ (4) ‘‘reserve,” ‘‘set aside” ; P Tebt 11. 30228 (a.p. 71-2) τὴν γῆν Thy ἀντὶ συϊντάξεως ἡμεῖν ἐκ διαδοχῆς γονέων τετηρημένην, “this land which has been reserved to us instead of a subvention by inheritance from our ancestors” (Edd.), P Amh II. 7174 (a.p. 178-9) ὧν ἡ [κἸαρπεία τοῦ (ἡμίσους) μέρους τετήρηται τῇ προγεγρ(αμμένῃ) μου μητρί, “the usufruct of the half part of which was reserved to my aforesaid mother” (Edd.), and cf. P Oxy II. 2371}. 85 (a.p. 186) ols ἡ μὲν χρῆσίελις διὰ δημοσίων τετήρηται χρηματισμῶν, “to whom the usufruct of the property has been guaranteed by public contracts” (Edd.).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
τηρέω (tēreō) — to keep: observe. τηρ-έω (τη- also in Doric dialect, [Refs 7th c.BC+], perfect τετήρηκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—watch over, take care of, guard, δώματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; rarely of persons, δαιμόνων.., αἵτινες τηροῦμεν ὑμᾶς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. τὴν ἀρχήν maintain it, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —passive, τὸ ἔξωθεν [τεῖχος] ἐτηρεῖτο was constantly guarded, [Refs 5th c.BC+]future middle τηρήσομαι in passive sense, [Refs]
2. τ. ὅπως.. ἔσται take care that.. , [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τ. μὴ.. cavere ne.. , [Refs 5th c.BC+]: also in middle, τηρώμεσθ᾽, ὅπως μὴ.. αἰσθήσεται [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. τηρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ πυρός protect them from the fire, i.e. cook them slowly, Bilabel Ὀψαρτ.[Refs]
II. give heed to, watch narrowly, observe, τηρῶ αὐτοὺς οὐδὲ δοκῶν ὁρᾶν κλέπτοντας [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. watch for a person or thing, with a participle, παραστείχοντα τηρήσας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔνδον ὄντα τηρήσαντες αὐτόν having watched for his being within, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. τὸν πορθμὸν κατιόντος τοῦ ἀνέμου watching for a crossing with the wind blowing down, [Refs]; τ. τινὰ ἀνιόντα watch for one's coming up, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; νύκτα καὶ ὕδωρ, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὴν θήραν τ. [Refs] —passive, ὁ καιρὸς ἐτηρήθη was watched for, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. absolutely, watch, keep watch, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, watch or look out, so as to.., ἐτήρουν ἀνέμῳ καταφέρεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. observe, notice, [μετακόσμησιν σωμάτων] [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.5. test by observation or trial, τετηρημένον βοήθημα an approved method of treatment, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; as Empiric term, τετηρημένης ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῖς τῆς θεραπείας, οὐκ ἐνδεικτικῶς εὑρισκομένης [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. observe or keep an engagement, ὅρκους [NT+5th c.BC+]
III.2. preserve, retain, τὰς αἰσθήσεις uncertain in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
τηρέω (tēreō) — to keep: guard. τηρ-έω (τη- also in Doric dialect, [Refs 7th c.BC+], perfect τετήρηκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—watch over, take care of, guard, δώματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; rarely of persons, δαιμόνων.., αἵτινες τηροῦμεν ὑμᾶς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. τὴν ἀρχήν maintain it, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —passive, τὸ ἔξωθεν [τεῖχος] ἐτηρεῖτο was constantly guarded, [Refs 5th c.BC+]future middle τηρήσομαι in passive sense, [Refs]
2. τ. ὅπως.. ἔσται take care that.. , [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τ. μὴ.. cavere ne.. , [Refs 5th c.BC+]: also in middle, τηρώμεσθ᾽, ὅπως μὴ.. αἰσθήσεται [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. τηρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ πυρός protect them from the fire, i.e. cook them slowly, Bilabel Ὀψαρτ.[Refs]
II. give heed to, watch narrowly, observe, τηρῶ αὐτοὺς οὐδὲ δοκῶν ὁρᾶν κλέπτοντας [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. watch for a person or thing, with a participle, παραστείχοντα τηρήσας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔνδον ὄντα τηρήσαντες αὐτόν having watched for his being within, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. τὸν πορθμὸν κατιόντος τοῦ ἀνέμου watching for a crossing with the wind blowing down, [Refs]; τ. τινὰ ἀνιόντα watch for one's coming up, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; νύκτα καὶ ὕδωρ, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὴν θήραν τ. [Refs] —passive, ὁ καιρὸς ἐτηρήθη was watched for, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. absolutely, watch, keep watch, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, watch or look out, so as to.., ἐτήρουν ἀνέμῳ καταφέρεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. observe, notice, [μετακόσμησιν σωμάτων] [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.5. test by observation or trial, τετηρημένον βοήθημα an approved method of treatment, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; as Empiric term, τετηρημένης ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῖς τῆς θεραπείας, οὐκ ἐνδεικτικῶς εὑρισκομένης [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. observe or keep an engagement, ὅρκους [NT+5th c.BC+]
III.2. preserve, retain, τὰς αἰσθήσεις uncertain in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
τηρέω (tēreō) — to keep: protect. τηρ-έω (τη- also in Doric dialect, [Refs 7th c.BC+], perfect τετήρηκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—watch over, take care of, guard, δώματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; rarely of persons, δαιμόνων.., αἵτινες τηροῦμεν ὑμᾶς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. τὴν ἀρχήν maintain it, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —passive, τὸ ἔξωθεν [τεῖχος] ἐτηρεῖτο was constantly guarded, [Refs 5th c.BC+]future middle τηρήσομαι in passive sense, [Refs]
2. τ. ὅπως.. ἔσται take care that.. , [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τ. μὴ.. cavere ne.. , [Refs 5th c.BC+]: also in middle, τηρώμεσθ᾽, ὅπως μὴ.. αἰσθήσεται [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. τηρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ πυρός protect them from the fire, i.e. cook them slowly, Bilabel Ὀψαρτ.[Refs]
II. give heed to, watch narrowly, observe, τηρῶ αὐτοὺς οὐδὲ δοκῶν ὁρᾶν κλέπτοντας [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. watch for a person or thing, with a participle, παραστείχοντα τηρήσας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔνδον ὄντα τηρήσαντες αὐτόν having watched for his being within, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. τὸν πορθμὸν κατιόντος τοῦ ἀνέμου watching for a crossing with the wind blowing down, [Refs]; τ. τινὰ ἀνιόντα watch for one's coming up, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; νύκτα καὶ ὕδωρ, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὴν θήραν τ. [Refs] —passive, ὁ καιρὸς ἐτηρήθη was watched for, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. absolutely, watch, keep watch, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, watch or look out, so as to.., ἐτήρουν ἀνέμῳ καταφέρεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. observe, notice, [μετακόσμησιν σωμάτων] [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.5. test by observation or trial, τετηρημένον βοήθημα an approved method of treatment, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; as Empiric term, τετηρημένης ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῖς τῆς θεραπείας, οὐκ ἐνδεικτικῶς εὑρισκομένης [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. observe or keep an engagement, ὅρκους [NT+5th c.BC+]
III.2. preserve, retain, τὰς αἰσθήσεις uncertain in [Refs 5th c.BC+]