παραρρέω (pararreō)
pararreō
to drift away
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb pararreō describes a subtle loss of grip, meaning to slip away or drift off course. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 2:1, where the author warns believers not to let the gospel message they heard simply glide past them. The imagery suggests something small and slippery escaping from one’s hand before it can be secured.
Its structure combines a prefix indicating motion alongside a root related to flowing or gliding. This creates a sense of passive movement rather than active rebellion; the danger is not necessarily turning away in defiance, but failing to hold on tightly enough as life moves forward. Translators often render this "neglect" or "drift away," capturing the quiet risk of gradual spiritual distance.
The context in Hebrews highlights how easily truth can become background noise if not actively engaged. The warning implies that salvation requires careful attention, for even good hearing is insufficient if the mind does not retain what it has heard. This single usage serves as a stark reminder that faithfulness involves active retention against the natural tendency to let things slip.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pararreō paints a quiet but serious picture of spiritual life. It describes slipping away, like water flowing through open fingers or a boat drifting from its mooring without anyone actively steering it wrong. In Hebrews 2:1, the writer warns us not to let the gospel simply glide past our attention. This is not about dramatic rebellion or turning against God; it is about passive neglect. We hear the truth, but we fail to hold onto it tightly enough as daily life moves forward.
This gentle warning invites us to examine how we engage with Scripture. Faithfulness often requires active retention rather than passive hearing. When we let important truths become background noise, we risk drifting from the center of God’s will. The invitation here is not to fear failure, but to practice steady attention. By keeping our focus fixed on what we have heard, we anchor ourselves securely in Christ.
May you find peace in knowing that God desires your steady gaze upon Him. Let this verse encourage you to hold fast to the truth with care and intentionality, trusting that His grace sustains your grip even when life feels slippery.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- we may drift away.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παραρυῶμεν.¶1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 2:1
Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.
This is the only occurrence of pararreō in the New Testament, where it warns believers against passively neglecting the gospel message they have heard.