Word Study for G3884 (παραλογίζομαι)

paralogízomai /par-al-og-id'-zom-ahee/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom παρά and λογίζομαι

Meaningto misreckon, i.e. delude

KJV usagebeguile, deceive.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of paralogízomai — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word paralogízomai, represented by G3884, means to "misreckon" or delude. It is translated as beguile or deceive. Appearing only 2 times in 2 verses, its usage highlights specific dangers of intellectual or spiritual miscalculation. The term is derived from παρά and λογίζομαι, suggesting a reasoning that is faulty or alongside the truth, rather than based on it.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of G3884 in scripture present two distinct forms of deception. In Colossians 2:4, it serves as a warning against external manipulation, where one might be beguiled by "enticing words." This points to the danger of being misled by persuasive arguments that are not sound. In contrast, James 1:22 describes an internal, self-inflicted delusion, where hearers of the word who fail to act are deceiving their own selves, fundamentally miscalculating their spiritual condition.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the contexts in which this deception occurs:

G4086 pithanología (enticing words): Defined as "persuasive language," this is the specific tool used to beguile believers, as warned against in Colossians 2:4.
G202 akroatḗs (hearer): This describes one who merely listens. In James 1:22, being only a hearer and not a doer leads directly to the self-deception of G3884.
G4163 poiētḗs (doer): As the direct opposite of a mere hearer, being a doer of the word is the biblical remedy for the self-delusion mentioned in James 1:22.
G3056 lógos (word): This is the standard of truth. One's response to the word—either as a hearer only or as a doer—determines whether they fall into the trap of G3884.
G3361 mḗ (not): This particle of negation is crucial in James 1:22, commanding believers not to be hearers only, thus preventing the act of self-deception.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G3884 is significant, serving as a pointed caution for believers.

Warning Against Inaction: The term stresses that passive reception of truth is insufficient. To hear God's word without applying it is to "misreckon" one's own standing, a form of spiritual delusion James 1:22.
Call for Discernment: It highlights the need to critically assess teachings. The warning not to be beguiled by "enticing words" underscores a believer's responsibility to distinguish persuasive rhetoric from divine truth Colossians 2:4.
The Unity of Faith and Works: The concept of deceiving oneself by hearing but not doing directly connects to the broader biblical theme that genuine faith is evidenced by action.

Summary

In summary, G3884 is a precise term for a deception rooted in faulty reasoning. Though used rarely, it delivers a powerful warning against two key spiritual dangers: the external threat of being misled by plausible arguments and the internal threat of self-delusion that comes from spiritual passivity. It calls for a faith that is both discerning in what it accepts and active in what it professes.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive Deponent: Passive in form but active in meaning.
Middle Or Passive: Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Colossians and James (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

Colossians

James

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.