παρεισδύνω (pareisdunō)
pareisdunō
to infiltrate
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb pareisdunō describes a person who slips in secretly or enters by stealth. It is not a word for open arrival, but for a quiet, unauthorized intrusion that avoids detection. This sense of covert entry captures the idea of someone gaining access to a group without proper invitation or right.
Its formation combines prefixes meaning "beside" and "into," with a root for "going down" or entering, creating a vivid image of slipping through a gap. The New Testament uses this term only once, in Jude 4, to describe false teachers who have crept into the community unnoticed. This single usage highlights the danger of threats that operate from within, hidden behind a facade of belonging.
Translators typically render it as "creep in" or "slip in," emphasizing the secretive nature of the act. The word serves as a warning against those who exploit trust by hiding their true intentions until it is too late to prevent their influence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pareisdunō paints a vivid picture of someone slipping through a gap in a fence, entering without invitation or right. It describes a quiet, unauthorized intrusion that avoids detection. In Jude 4, this term warns against false teachers who have crept into the community unnoticed, hiding their true intentions behind a facade of belonging.
This single usage highlights the danger of threats that operate from within. It reminds us that not everyone who appears to be part of the group shares its values. The word serves as a caution to remain discerning, recognizing that some may exploit trust by gaining access secretly. We are called to guard our hearts and communities against such covert influences.
Ultimately, this passage invites us to stay grounded in truth. By knowing what is true, we can better identify what is not. This awareness helps us protect the integrity of our faith and relationships, ensuring that our community remains a place of genuine welcome and honesty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Came in stealthily1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παρεισέδυσαν1×
Key Verses
-
Jude 1:4
For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
This verse uses pareisdunō to describe false teachers who slipped into the community unnoticed, turning grace into indecency and denying Christ.