παρεκτός (parektos)
parektos
except
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word parektōs functions as a preposition meaning "except" or "apart from," establishing a clear boundary around what is included in a statement. In its most notable usage, it appears in Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9, where it introduces the sole exception clause regarding marital separation. This grammatical precision allows the text to define the general rule while carving out a specific, limited scenario.
As an adverb, the term can also mean "besides" or "in addition," adding something extra to what has already been mentioned. Paul uses this sense in 2 Corinthians 11:28 when describing the "besides" things that press upon him—the daily anxiety for all the churches. Here, it highlights burdens that exist outside of his immediate, specific trials, emphasizing the weight of his broader pastoral responsibility.
The word’s structure combines a prefix suggesting position with a root related to standing or being set apart. This etymology supports its dual role in Scripture: either excluding something from a group or adding something to it. Translators typically render it as "except" when limiting a scope, and "besides" when expanding a list, ensuring the logical relationship between the parts remains clear.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word parektōs helps us see how God’s instructions balance clear boundaries with necessary exceptions. In Matthew, Jesus uses it to define the limits of marriage, showing that while the general rule is permanence, there is a specific, limited scenario where separation is acknowledged. This precision prevents vague interpretations and grounds our understanding in concrete reality.
Paul also employs this term in 2 Corinthians to describe the weight of his ministry. He speaks of anxieties that come besides his immediate trials, highlighting the broader pastoral burden he carries for every church. This usage reminds us that leadership involves not just direct challenges, but also the cumulative weight of caring for many.
Whether excluding a possibility or adding a layer of responsibility, this word invites us to pay attention to the details of Scripture. It encourages a faithful engagement with God’s word, recognizing that His instructions are both firm and nuanced, designed to guide us through complex human situations with clarity and grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- except2×
- external1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παρεκτὸς3×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 5:32
but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
This verse establishes the sole exception clause in Jesus’ teaching on divorce, defining the specific boundary where marital separation is acknowledged.
-
Acts 26:29
Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.”
Paul uses this term to express a humble wish for his listeners to share his faith while acknowledging the unique constraint of his imprisonment.
-
II Corinthians 11:28
Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily: anxiety for all the assemblies.
Here the word shifts to mean 'besides,' highlighting the additional, daily anxiety Paul feels for the churches beyond his personal sufferings.