παραφέρω (parapherō)
parapherō
to take away
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb parapherō literally means to carry or bring something toward a person, often in the sense of setting food before them. This concrete image appears in its basic usage, describing the physical act of presenting provisions. However, the word carries a significant secondary meaning: to carry away, lead aside, or remove someone from a proper course.
In the New Testament, this "carrying away" sense dominates. Jesus uses it in Gethsemane to ask that the cup of suffering be taken away from Him (Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42). The passive form appears in Jude 1:12, describing those who are carried away by false teachings or moral currents. Hebrews 13:9 warns against being led astray by strange doctrines, using the same root idea of being diverted from the right path.
The word combines para ("beside" or "alongside") with pherō ("to carry"). This structure suggests movement that is not direct but rather lateral or distracting. Translators often render it as "take away" or "lead astray," depending on context. The term captures both physical removal and spiritual diversion, highlighting how external forces can shift a person’s direction.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word parapherō paints a vivid picture of movement that pulls you off course. It combines the idea of carrying with the notion of moving sideways or away from a direct path. In our daily lives, this often looks like being distracted by trends, opinions, or teachings that feel compelling but do not lead to truth. We can easily find ourselves swept along by currents that pull us away from the stability of God’s grace.
Jesus used this word in His most painful moment, asking the Father to remove the cup of suffering. He did not want to be carried away into despair, but sought alignment with the Father’s will. This shows us that even in deep distress, we are invited to hold fast to God’s plan rather than letting fear or pain dictate our direction.
When we feel pulled by strange teachings or emotional winds, remember that your heart is meant to be established by grace. You do not have to navigate these currents alone. Rest in the certainty that Christ holds you steady, keeping your focus on what truly sustains your soul.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do take away2×
- do be taken away;1×
- being carried away,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παρένεγκε2×
- παραφέρεσθε·1×
- παραφερόμεναι,1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 14:36
He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
Jesus uses this word to express His desire for the cup of suffering to be taken away, showing a human plea that remains submitted to the Father’s ultimate will.
-
Hebrews 13:9
Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
The writer warns believers not to be swept away by unfamiliar teachings, contrasting this drift with the stability found in grace.
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Jude 1:12
These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
This verse describes false teachers as clouds carried along by winds, illustrating how they lack substance and are driven by external forces rather than divine truth.