παραγγέλλω (parangellō)
parangellō
to order
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 32 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb parangellō describes the act of passing on a command from one person to another. Its structure combines a prefix meaning "beside" or "alongside" with a root for "announcing," creating a sense of transmitting an instruction through a chain of authority. In the New Testament, it appears thirty-two times, frequently in Acts and the Pauline epistles, where leaders relay directives from Jesus or apostolic authority to local communities.
Unlike terms that imply internal moral conviction, parangellō emphasizes the external transmission of an order. It functions as a formal charge, often used when establishing church discipline or outlining ethical boundaries. For instance, Paul uses it to instruct believers on how to live quietly and mind their own affairs (1 Thessalonians 4:11), and he charges Timothy to command certain people not to teach false doctrines (1 Timothy 1:3). The word carries the weight of an official decree rather than a casual suggestion.
This nuance is visible in its usage for judicial or military contexts. In Acts 16, Paul commands a spirit to leave a slave girl, using a term that reflects authoritative power over spiritual forces. Similarly, when Jesus sends out the twelve, he gives them specific instructions on where to go, framing their mission with clear, transmitted boundaries. The word underscores that Christian teaching is not merely personal opinion but a message received and passed on with fidelity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word parangellō describes passing on a command from one authority to another. It is not about personal opinion but transmitting an official instruction with fidelity. In the New Testament, leaders like Paul used it to relay directives from Jesus or apostolic authority to local communities. This emphasizes that Christian teaching is a received message, not merely a suggestion.
For your faith, this word offers comfort in knowing that the instructions you follow are grounded in divine authority. When Paul commanded believers to live quietly and mind their own affairs (1 Thessalonians 4:11), he was passing on a charge that brought order to a chaotic community. Similarly, Jesus’ commands to his disciples were clear boundaries for their mission.
This transparency in communication helps us trust the source of our guidance. Whether it is a call to repentance (Acts 17:30) or a directive to avoid false teaching (1 Timothy 1:3), the weight of the command comes from the One who issued it. You can rely on these instructions as stable foundations for your daily walk, knowing they are passed down with care and purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 32 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- He instructed4×
- having instructed2×
- you may warn1×
- we were commanding1×
- we warn1×
- we commanded;1×
- we commanded1×
- we command1×
- to command [them]1×
- they commanded [them]1×
- they commanded1×
- ordered1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παρήγγειλεν7×
- παραγγείλας4×
- παρήγγειλαν2×
- παραγγέλλω2×
- παραγγέλλομεν2×
- παραγγέλλει2×
- παράγγελλε,1×
- παράγγελλε1×
- παρηγγέλλομεν1×
- παρηγγείλαμεν·1×
- παρηγγείλαμεν1×
- παρηγγελμένα1×
Key Verses
-
I Thessalonians 4:11
and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you,
Paul uses this term to relay a specific ethical boundary about living quietly, showing how apostolic authority structures community life.
-
Acts 17:30
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,
This verse highlights the universal scope of God's command, shifting from past oversight to a present directive for all people to repent.
-
I Corinthians 7:10
But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband
Paul distinguishes his own instruction from the Lord's direct command, using this word to emphasize the weight of Jesus' teaching on marriage.
-
Acts 16:18
She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour.
Here the term reflects authoritative power over spiritual forces, showing that commands can be directed at unclean spirits in Jesus' name.