"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, co..."
Definition and meaning
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
In the original Greek the word is written: παρακαλέω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of parakaleo (G3870) across the King James Bible.
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
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Common questions
Strong's G3870 (parakaleo) is a Greek word that means: 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, en... It appears 104 times in the King James Bible.
The word parakaleo (G3870) appears 104 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3870 is parakaleo, a Greek word defined as: 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, imp. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
parakaleo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.