παρακύπτω (parakuptō)
parakuptō
to stoop
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb parakuptō describes the physical act of bending forward or stooping to look closely at something. It appears five times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels of Luke and John, capturing a moment of curiosity or investigation. In Luke 24:12, Peter is described as running to the tomb and stooping to peer inside, while John 20:5 and 20:11 record both Peter and Mary Magdalene leaning down to see the burial cloths and the angels within.
Its meaning extends beyond mere physical posture. In James 1:25 and 1 Peter 1:12, the word is used metaphorically to describe a careful, attentive examination of truth or prophecy. The prefix para suggests being beside or near, implying that the observer is close enough to inspect details that would otherwise be missed. This usage highlights a deliberate focus, where one bends their body and attention toward a subject to gain deeper understanding.
Translators often render this word as "stoop" or "look into," preserving the image of physical engagement with the object of study. The sources note its connection to the Hebrew concept of looking intently, emphasizing that true insight often requires leaning in rather than standing back. This lexical choice underscores the value placed on close observation and thorough inquiry in the biblical text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word parakuptō invites us into a posture of humble attention. It describes bending forward, not just with the body but with the heart, to see what is truly there. In the Gospels, this physical act reveals a spiritual reality: understanding often requires getting close to the truth, leaving no detail unexamined.
When Peter and Mary stooped to look into the empty tomb, they were driven by curiosity mixed with awe. They did not stay at a distance where things remain vague. Instead, they leaned in, risking confusion for the chance to witness the evidence of resurrection. This same attentive posture is called for when we engage with Scripture today.
James and Peter extend this image beyond physical sight. To look into the law or the angels' desire is to commit to careful study. It suggests that faith is not passive observation but active engagement. By bending toward God's word, we allow it to shape our lives, finding blessing in the details we might otherwise miss.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having stooped down2×
- to look.1×
- she stooped down1×
- having looked intently1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παρακύψας3×
- παρέκυψεν1×
- παρακύψαι.¶1×
Key Verses
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Luke 24:12
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened.
Peter’s stooping reveals his personal investigation of the resurrection evidence, showing curiosity turning into wonder.
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John 20:5
Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in.
The disciple sees the linen cloths from a bent position, highlighting the intimate detail of the empty tomb without yet entering.
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James 1:25
But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Here the word shifts to metaphorical attention, describing the blessed state of one who carefully studies and obeys God's law.