παρασκευή (paraskeuē)
paraskeuē
Preparation
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun paraskeuē literally means "preparation" or "equipment," derived from a root sense of making something ready. In the New Testament, however, it takes on a specific cultural identity: it refers to the day of preparation for the Sabbath or a Jewish feast. This usage appears in all four Gospels, highlighting how Jesus’ crucifixion unfolded within the rhythm of Jewish religious life.
Most notably, John’s Gospel uses the term frequently to anchor the timeline of the Passion. In John 19:14, the trial occurs on "the day of preparation for the Passover," while verses 31 and 42 note that Jesus was buried before the Sabbath began, as the day of preparation was ending. Matthew 27:62 and Mark 15:42 also employ this term to describe Friday, the day when Jews would prepare their homes and meals for the rest of the Sabbath.
This word bridges everyday activity and sacred observance. It reminds readers that the events of Good Friday were not chaotic interruptions but occurred within a structured, holy calendar. The term underscores the urgency of the final hours, as disciples hurried to complete burial rites before sunset, when the Sabbath would commence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word paraskeuē points to the day of preparation, a time when families hurried to ready their homes for the Sabbath rest. In the Gospels, this ordinary rhythm of life frames the most dramatic events in history. Jesus was buried before sunset because the sacred day was beginning, showing that even His death respected the holy calendar God gave His people.
For you, this reminds us that God works within our daily routines. The urgency of those final hours on Friday does not mean chaos, but purposeful order. Your own preparations—whether for work, family, or rest—are part of a life lived in rhythm with God’s timing. He meets you in the ordinary moments as surely as He met His disciples in their haste.
When you feel rushed or overwhelmed, remember that your efforts to prepare and care for others are seen by God. They are not distractions from faith but expressions of it. Rest in the knowledge that your life, with all its busy days, is held within His steady hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Preparation2×
- of Preparation,1×
- [the] Preparation1×
- [the] Day of Preparation1×
- Preparation,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παρασκευὴ3×
- παρασκευῆς,1×
- παρασκευήν,1×
- παρασκευὴν1×
Key Verses
-
John 19:14
Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, at about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!”
This verse anchors the trial of Jesus to the specific day of preparation for the Passover, highlighting the irony that the true Lamb was being presented while others prepared their meals.
-
Mark 15:42
When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
Mark uses this term to clarify that evening had come and the Sabbath was approaching, explaining why Joseph of Arimathea acted quickly to claim Jesus' body.
-
John 19:31
Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.
Here the preparation day is described as a 'special one,' showing the heightened urgency for the Jews to remove the bodies before the high Sabbath began.