The Greek word parérchomai, represented by G3928, is formed from the words παρά and ἔρχομαι. It broadly means to come near, go by, or pass away. It is used both literally for physical movement and figuratively for concepts like perishing, being neglected, or transgressing a command. This word appears 38 times across 27 unique verses in the Bible.
The Greek word G3928 parérchomai, with its prefix παρά (para, "beside," "alongside," "beyond") combined with ἔρχομαι (erchomai, "to come" or "to go"), carries a nuanced semantic weight beyond mere motion. It frequently implies movement that bypasses or overlooks something, suggesting a lack of engagement or an intentional avoidance. This can manifest as a physical passing by without stopping, a temporal passing of an event, or a moral "passing over" a duty. The word thus encapsulates not only the idea of something ceasing to exist but also the act of moving past a boundary or responsibility, making it particularly versatile in describing transitions, neglect, or the expiration of a condition.
In the biblical narrative, G3928 is used in several key contexts. It frequently describes the finite nature of the current created order, as seen in the declaration that "Heaven and earth shall pass away" Matthew 24:35. The term also carries a profound spiritual meaning, signifying the transformation in a believer where "old things are passed away" 2 Corinthians 5:17. It can denote moral failure through neglect, as when the Pharisees "pass over judgment and the love of God" Luke 11:42. In Gethsemane, Jesus uses the word to pray that the cup of suffering might "pass" from him Matthew 26:39.
The literal usage of G3928 frequently describes physical movement, where individuals or groups "pass by" a geographical location or another person. This is seen when Paul and his companions are "passing by Mysia" on their journey Acts 16:8, or when Jesus "would have passed by" his disciples on the sea, demonstrating his power over creation Mark 6:48. Similarly, the word is used to denote the passage of time, marking the conclusion of a period or event, as when "the fast was now already past" in the account of Paul's voyage Acts 27:9, or when the disciples observe that "the time is now past" for the multitude to be fed Matthew 14:15. This temporal sense underscores the transient nature of moments and opportunities within human experience, and can also denote direct transgression, as when the elder brother claims he "neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment" Luke 15:29.
Several related words, often built on the same root, clarify the concept of movement:
- G2064 érchomai (to come or go): As a root verb for G3928, it establishes the foundational idea of motion. It is used for Jesus's mission, as when he states he has "come" to seek and to save that which was lost Luke 19:10.
- G565 apérchomai (to go off, depart, pass away): This word signifies a departure or moving away from a location or state, as seen when the disciples "went away" back John 6:66 or when former things "are passed away" in the new creation Revelation 21:4.
- G4334 prosérchomai (to approach, come near): This term describes movement toward someone or something, often used for drawing near to God in faith Hebrews 11:6 or for the disciples coming to Jesus Matthew 14:15.
- G3899 paraporeúomai (to go past): This compound verb, also featuring the prefix παρά, emphasizes the act of moving alongside or going past something, often interchangeably with G3928 in contexts of physical passage.
The theological weight of G3928 is significant, highlighting contrasts between the temporary and the eternal.
- Permanence vs. Transience: The word is central to Jesus' teaching on the authority of His own words. He sets up a direct contrast: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" Matthew 24:35, establishing the eternal nature of His revelation over the transient physical world.
- Eschatological Fulfillment: The term marks a point of cosmic transition. The old creation, described as "the first heaven and the first earth," must be "passed away" before the new can be established Revelation 21:1. Similarly, not one part of the law will "pass" until all is fulfilled Matthew 5:18.
- Spiritual Regeneration: For the individual believer, G3928 describes the definitive end of their old life. In one of the most powerful statements of Christian transformation, Paul writes that for one in Christ, "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17.
- The Enduring Authority of God's Word: G3928 is critically employed to underscore the steadfastness of God's divine law and prophetic utterance. Jesus declares that "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" Matthew 5:18. This usage establishes a divine guarantee that the Law, in its entirety, will remain valid and active until every part of God's redemptive plan is brought to completion, contrasting the transience of creation with the immutability of God's decree.
The Greek word G3928 parérchomai is a dynamic verb, fundamentally signifying movement that goes "alongside," "past," or "beyond." This rich semantic range allows it to describe everything from literal physical passage to profound spiritual and eschatological transitions. The prefix παρά often imbues it with nuances of bypassing, disregarding, or exceeding boundaries, distinguishing it from simple movement and highlighting its use in contexts of neglect or transgression.
In Scripture, G3928 vividly portrays the transient nature of the physical world and human experience. It marks the passing of time, as when "the fast was now already past" Acts 27:9, and describes physical movement, such as Paul's company "passing by Mysia" Acts 16:8. More significantly, it underpins theological concepts of profound change: the old self "passed away" in spiritual regeneration 2 Corinthians 5:17, and the current "heaven and earth shall pass away" in the eschatological fulfillment of God's plan Matthew 24:35.
parérchomai is central to understanding the immutability of God's Word and Law, which "shall not pass away" Matthew 24:35 until all is accomplished Matthew 5:18. It also captures moments of moral failing, where individuals "pass over judgment and the love of God" Luke 11:42, or "transgressed" a commandment Luke 15:29. Even in Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, the plea for the "cup" to "pass from him" Matthew 26:39 underscores the human desire to avoid suffering, yet ultimately yields to divine will. Thus, G3928 serves as a potent descriptor of transition, impermanence, and the ultimate triumph of God's eternal purposes over all that is temporal.
TRV