Brief Overview of παρέρχομαι (Strong’s G3928: parerchomai)

Strong’s G3928: A compound verb combining παρά (beside) with ἔρχομαι (to come/go), meaning “to pass by, pass away, or become void.” Used significantly in Jesus’s teachings about the enduring nature of His words versus the temporary nature of creation. Emphasizes transition and temporal limitations.

U- Unveiling the Word

παρέρχομαι carries both literal and metaphorical meanings of passing away or passing by. Jesus uses it powerfully to contrast the permanence of His words with the transient nature of heaven and earth. The compound structure emphasizes movement past or beyond a point. Early church fathers employed this term to discuss both the temporal nature of creation and the eternal nature of divine truth. Today, it continues to remind believers of the enduring nature of God’s word amid changing circumstances.

N – Necessary Information

  • Greek Word: παρέρχομαι, parerchomai, /par-ER-khom-ai/
  • Detailed pronunciation: par (as in ‘par’) + ER (stressed) + khom + ai
  • Part of Speech: Verb
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Etymology:

  • παρα- (para-): beside, beyond
  • ἔρχομαι (erchomai): to come, go
  • -μαι (-mai): middle/passive voice ending

D – Defining Meanings

  • To pass by
  • To pass away
  • To become void or invalid

For compound words:
παρα- adds the sense of movement beside or beyond to ἔρχομαι’s basic meaning of coming/going, creating the concept of passing by or away

Translation Options:

  • “To pass away” – emphasizes cessation
  • “To pass by” – captures physical movement
  • “To become void” – emphasizes loss of validity

E – Exploring Similar Words

  • διέρχομαι (dierchomai) /dee-ER-khom-ai/ – to pass through
  • ἀπέρχομαι (aperchomai) /ap-ER-khom-ai/ – to go away
  • παράγω (paragō) /par-AG-o/ – to pass along

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, παρέρχομαι exhibits:

  • Tense: Present, Future, Aorist
  • Voice: Middle/Passive
  • Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative
  • Person: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
  • Number: Singular, Plural
  • Aspect: Progressive, Punctiliar

Examples:
παρέρχομαι (I pass by)
παρελεύσεται (it will pass away)
παρῆλθον (they passed by)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes both physical and metaphorical passing. Thayer’s notes its use in eschatological contexts. LSJ documents classical usage for physical movement. Vine’s highlights its significance in Jesus’s teachings. Moulton and Milligan note its common usage in legal contexts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth [παρέρχομαι] pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18)

Additional References:
Matthew 24:34-35, Mark 13:30-31, Luke 16:17, Luke 21:32-33, Acts 16:8, 2 Corinthians 5:17, James 1:10, 2 Peter 3:10

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

Author: WorkText
Plato: Republic“Time [παρέρχομαι] passes away like a shadow”
Xenophon: Anabasis“The army [παρέρχομαι] passed by the city walls”
Thucydides: History“The opportunity [παρέρχομαι] passed them by”

N – Noteworthy Summary

παρέρχομαι powerfully conveys both physical movement past and metaphorical passing away, particularly significant in Jesus’s teachings about the temporary nature of creation versus the permanence of divine truth.

D – Did You Know?

  • The word appears in all Synoptic Gospels’ eschatological discourses
  • It’s used to contrast the permanence of God’s Word with temporal creation
  • The term influenced Christian understanding of time and eternity

[Lexicon Summary]
A compound verb combining παρά (beside) with ἔρχομαι (to come/go), meaning “to pass by, pass away, or become void.” Used significantly in Jesus’s teachings about the enduring nature of His words versus the temporary nature of creation. Emphasizes transition and temporal limitations.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: #verb #eschatology #temporality #jesus_teachings #eternity #compound_word #biblical_greek #new_testament #gods_word #creation​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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