### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **paratēréō**, represented by `{{G3906}}`, means to **inspect alongside**, or to **note insidiously or scrupulously**. It appears **6 times** across **6 unique verses** in the Bible. The word’s primary sense involves careful, often hostile, **observation or watching**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G3906}}` is predominantly used to describe a hostile form of observation. Opponents of Jesus, such as the Pharisees and scribes, are shown to **watch** him, hoping he will violate the Sabbath so they might find a reason to **accuse** him ([[Mark 3:2]], [[Luke 6:7]]). This surveillance escalates to the point where spies are sent to **watch** him, seeking to **take hold** of his words and **deliver** him to the authorities [[Luke 20:20]]. The same intense scrutiny is applied to Saul, as his enemies **watched** the city gates day and night in order to kill him [[Acts 9:24]]. A different sense appears in Galatians, where it refers to the scrupulous **observing** of days, months, and years [[Galatians 4:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of insidious or scrupulous observation:
* `{{G1455}}` **enkáthetos** (spy): Defined as "surreptitiously suborned as a lier-in-wait." This term is used in the context of those who **watched** Jesus and then "sent forth **spies**" to trap him [[Luke 20:20]].
* `{{G1917}}` **epiboulḗ** (plot): This word means "a plan against someone, i.e. a plot." It is linked directly to `{{G3906}}` when describing how Saul's enemies **watched** the gates as part of their "laying await" to kill him [[Acts 9:24]].
* `{{G2723}}` **katēgoréō** (accuse): Defined as "to be a plaintiff, i.e. to charge with some offence," this word reveals the motive for the observation. They **watched** Jesus on the Sabbath specifically so "that they might **accuse** him" [[Mark 3:2]].
### Theological Significance
The usage of `{{G3906}}` reveals several key themes:
* **A Tool of Hostility:** `{{G3906}}` is consistently used to describe the actions of those opposed to Christ and his followers. The act of "watching" is not for learning but for entrapping, making it a key verb in narratives of conflict and persecution ([[Luke 20:20]], [[Acts 9:24]]).
* **The Focus of Legalism:** The intense observation of Jesus often centers on the Sabbath ([[Mark 3:2]], [[Luke 6:7]]). This highlights a core conflict where legalistic scrutiny, represented by "watching," is pitted against the grace and healing Jesus offers, transforming the Sabbath from a day of rest into a field for accusation.
* **Religious Scrutiny:** In Galatians, the word shifts from watching a person to the scrupulous "observing" of religious calendars [[Galatians 4:10]]. This usage frames such meticulous observance as a form of bondage, contrasting with the liberty found in faith.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G3906}}` **paratēréō** carries a strong, often negative, connotation of close inspection. It is most frequently used to depict the insidious **watching** by opponents who seek to find fault and cause harm, particularly in the context of Jesus's ministry and the persecution of the early church ([[Luke 6:7]], [[Acts 9:24]]). It also describes a scrupulous, legalistic **observing** of religious times, which is presented as a spiritual pitfall [[Galatians 4:10]]. Whether aimed at a person or a practice, the word consistently highlights a scrutiny rooted in hostility or legalism rather than genuine understanding.
TRV