Word Study for G3973 (παύω) | Strong's Concordance

paúō /pow'-o/ Ask about this word

Meaninga primary verb ("pause"); to stop (transitively or intransitively), i.e. restrain, quit, desist, come to an end

KJV usagecease, leave, refrain.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of paúō — 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 paúō, represented by G3973, is a primary verb that means to stop, restrain, quit, or come to an end. It appears 17 times across 15 unique verses in the Bible, signifying its use in contexts of both literal and figurative cessation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its literal sense, G3973 is used to describe the end of an action, such as when Jesus had left speaking to Simon Luke 5:4 or when the wind and the raging of the water ceased at His command Luke 8:24. The word also carries significant spiritual weight. The apostle Peter uses it to describe a definitive break from a sinful life, stating that he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin 1 Peter 4:1. Conversely, Paul uses the negative form to express persistent dedication, as he did not cease to pray for the Colossians Colossians 1:9 and did not cease to warn the Ephesian elders Acts 20:31.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of stopping or the actions being stopped:

G2673 katargéō: This verb means to be rendered useless or to abolish. It is used alongside G3973 when describing how prophecies shall fail and knowledge shall vanish away, just as tongues will cease 1 Corinthians 13:8.
G1127 grēgoreúō: Meaning to keep awake or watch, this word stands in contrast to ceasing. Paul links his refusal to cease warning the church with the command for them to watch Acts 20:31.
G2980 laléō: Meaning to talk or utter words, this is an action that is often stopped. For example, Jesus had left speaking before instructing Simon to launch out into the deep Luke 5:4, and false witnesses accused Stephen of not ceasing to speak blasphemous words Acts 6:13.
G266 hamartía: This word for sin is directly connected to G3973 in a key theological statement that one who has suffered G3958 in the flesh has ceased from sin 1 Peter 4:1.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G3973 is demonstrated in several important concepts:

Spiritual Transformation: The word marks a decisive break from a past life. The instruction to arm G3695 oneself with the mind of Christ is tied to the reality that a believer has ceased from sin G266 through suffering 1 Peter 4:1.
Persistent Ministry: The negative construction "cease not" highlights unwavering devotion. Paul's commitment is shown when he tells believers he does not cease to pray for them Colossians 1:9 and that for three years he did not cease to warn G3560 them Acts 20:31.
Divine Authority: The power of Jesus is revealed when he rebukes the wind and water and they ceased Luke 8:24. It is also used in direct confrontation with evil, as when Paul asks an enemy G2190 of righteousness, "wilt thou not cease to pervert G1294 the right ways of the Lord?" Acts 13:10.

Summary

In summary, G3973 is a dynamic verb that communicates a stop or conclusion. It is applied literally to physical actions and natural forces, but its greater significance lies in its theological applications. It defines the believer's call to cease from sin, the unyielding nature of apostolic prayer and ministry, and the absolute authority of God to command an end to chaos and opposition.

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 15 occurrences, inflected in 12 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Middle Indicative 3rd Plural 3×
Aorist Middle Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Aorist Active Imperative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Middle Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Aorist Middle Infinitive 1×
Future Middle Deponent Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Future Middle Deponent Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Imperfect Middle Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Perfect Middle Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Middle Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Present Middle Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Present Middle Indicative 3rd Singular 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Middle Deponent: Middle in form but active in meaning.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

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 15 verses across 7 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (6 verses); never once in the other 20.

Luke

Acts

1 Corinthians

Ephesians

Colossians

Hebrews

1 Peter

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.