παράκειμαι (parakeimai)
parakeimai
be present
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb parakeimai means to lie beside or be near, describing a state of close presence. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in Romans 7, where Paul uses it to illustrate how sin resides within him. The sense is not merely proximity but an active, indwelling reality that coexists with his inner self.
Its etymology combines para ("beside") and keimai ("to lie"), evoking the image of something resting alongside another. This spatial metaphor underscores the persistent nature of sin in Paul’s argument—it is not an external force but a companion he cannot easily shake off, lying right beside his will.
Translators often render it "dwells" or "is present," capturing its static yet powerful presence. The word’s rarity highlights its specific rhetorical purpose here: to convey the intimate struggle between desire and action, showing how sin occupies the same space as the person, making resistance both urgent and deeply personal.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Even the apostle Paul felt evil lying right alongside him. The word parakeimai, used only in Romans 7, captures this: evil isn't far off but a stubborn companion sharing your space. Paul writes, 'I desire to do good, but evil is present.' That 'present' means lying right there, ready to trip you up. Your own struggles with unwanted thoughts or habits do not surprise God. He knows how close the battle gets and meets you with compassion, not condemnation.
The nearness of sin is not the final word. The same chapter ends with thanks to God through Jesus Christ. Christ's presence is more powerful and permanent. You are not defined by what lies beside you but by the One who lives within you. When that stubborn companion presses close, remember you never fight alone. God's grace is closer still. Rest in that today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- is present with.1×
- is present with1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παράκειταί1×
- παράκειται.1×
Key Verses
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Romans 7:18
For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.
Here 'present with me' (parakeimai) shows that the desire to do good coexists intimately with the flesh's inability—sin lies right alongside Paul's will.
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Romans 7:21
I find then the law that, while I desire to do good, evil is present.
The word underscores evil's constant nearness; it is not an occasional visitor but a persistent companion, making the internal conflict immediate and personal.