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Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Strong’s G5442: A primitive Greek verb meaning to watch, guard, or preserve, φυλάσσω emphasizes active vigilance and protective custody, often used in spiritual contexts to describe keeping God’s commandments and preserving sacred truths. Originally from military contexts, it evolved to encompass spiritual watchfulness.
φυλάσσω represents a foundational concept of protective guardianship in Biblical Greek. Its primary meaning encompasses both physical and spiritual vigilance, deriving from ancient military contexts where guards would maintain careful watch over cities or treasures. In the New Testament, this word transcends mere physical protection, embodying the spiritual discipline of maintaining and preserving divine truth. The early church fathers employed φυλάσσω to emphasize the importance of safeguarding apostolic teaching and maintaining spiritual vigilance against false doctrines. Today, this word reminds believers of their sacred duty to both protect and practice the truths of Scripture, continuing the legacy of faithful stewardship.
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Etymology:
For compound words: Not applicable as φυλάσσω is a primitive verb
Translation Options:
As a verb, φυλάσσω exhibits these features:
Example morphological changes:
φυλάσσω carries significant theological weight across various lexicons. BDAG emphasizes its dual application to both physical and spiritual protection, while Thayer’s highlights its use in military contexts and its evolution into religious observance. LSJ traces its classical usage from Homer onwards, showing its consistent meaning of vigilant protection. Vine’s expands on its New Testament usage, particularly in pastoral contexts. The word appears in both literal contexts of guarding prisoners or property and metaphorical contexts of keeping God’s commands. Moulton and Milligan’s papyri research reveals its common usage in legal documents regarding property protection, adding depth to its biblical applications.
First appearance:
Matthew 19:20: “The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept [φυλάσσω] from my youth. What do I still lack?'”
Additional References:
Luke 2:8, Luke 11:28, Acts 7:53, Romans 2:26, Galatians 6:13, 1 Timothy 5:21, 2 Timothy 1:14
Author: Work | Text |
---|---|
Xenophon: Anabasis | “The soldiers [φυλάσσω] guarded the passes day and night.” |
Herodotus: Histories | “The Persians carefully [φυλάσσω] protected their royal treasures.” |
Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian War | “The Athenians [φυλάσσω] kept watch over the harbor entrance.” |
φυλάσσω beautifully captures the essence of spiritual vigilance and faithful obedience in the New Testament. This word reminds us that our relationship with the Messiah involves active participation in guarding the truth He has entrusted to us. The good news of King Jesus isn’t merely information to be passively received but a precious treasure to be vigilantly protected and faithfully lived out. This word calls believers to both preserve and practice the truth, demonstrating that genuine faith involves both protecting and pursuing God’s commands with diligence and devotion.
Strong’s G5442: A primitive Greek verb meaning to watch, guard, or preserve, φυλάσσω emphasizes active vigilance and protective custody, often used in spiritual contexts to describe keeping God’s commandments and preserving sacred truths. Originally from military contexts, it evolved to encompass spiritual watchfulness.
Part of speech: Verb
Tags: protection, guard, keep, watch, preserve, obedience, commandments, vigilance, spiritual warfare, faithfulness
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
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