Refiner Word Study pauo (G3973)
G3973  ·  Greek  ·  Strong's Concordance
παύω
pauo
15 occurrences in Scripture Greek

"to cause to pause or cease, restrain, prohibit, 1 Pet. 3:10; mid. perf. πέπαυται, to cease, stop, leave off, desist, refrain, 1 Pet. 4:1"

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Definition and meaning

What does pauo mean in Greek?

15
Occurrences in Scripture
G3973
Strong's number
Greek
Original language

to cause to pause or cease, restrain, prohibit, 1 Pet. 3:10; mid. perf. πέπαυται, to cease, stop, leave off, desist, refrain, 1 Pet. 4:1

In the original Greek the word is written: παύω

Historical context

What was happening when this word was written?

Roman-Occupied Judea (c. 4 BC-AD 30)

Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.

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

Top 10 Bible verses with pauo

These are the most notable occurrences of pauo (G3973) across the King James Bible.

Luke 5:4

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Luke 8:24

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Luke 11:1

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Acts 5:42

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 6:13

And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

Acts 13:10

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Acts 20:1

And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

Acts 20:31

Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Acts 21:32

Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.

1 Corinthians 13:8

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions about pauo

What does pauo mean in Greek?

Strong's G3973 (pauo) is a Greek word that means: to cause to pause or cease, restrain, prohibit, 1 Pet. 3:10; mid. perf. πέπαυται, to cease, stop, leave off, desist, refrain, 1 Pet. 4:1 It appears 15 times in the King James Bible.

How many times does pauo appear in the Bible?

The word pauo (G3973) appears 15 times in the original Greek text.

What is Strong's number G3973?

Strong's G3973 is pauo, a Greek word defined as: to cause to pause or cease, restrain, prohibit, 1 Pet. 3:10; mid. perf. πέπαυται, to cease, stop, leave off, desist, refrain, 1 Pet. 4:1. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.

Is pauo in the Old Testament or New Testament?

pauo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.