παρόμοιος (paromoios)
paromoios
like
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective paromoios means "like" or "similar to." It appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in Mark 7:13. In this context, Jesus uses it to describe how human traditions can nullify God’s word, suggesting that such practices are merely comparable to valid divine commands without actually being them.
Etymologically, the word combines a prefix indicating proximity or likeness with homoios, meaning "same" or "like." This construction emphasizes resemblance rather than identity. Unlike words that might imply exact equivalence, paromoios points to a surface-level similarity that lacks substantive weight, highlighting the gap between human invention and divine authority.
Translators typically render this term as "make void" or "nullify" in English Bibles to capture the functional result of the comparison. The Greek text itself does not use a verb for cancellation but relies on the adjective to show that the tradition is just a shadow of the law, insufficient to carry its weight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word paromoios describes a likeness that stops at the surface. It suggests something is merely similar to another thing, lacking its true substance or authority. In Mark 7:13, Jesus uses this concept to show how human traditions can look like God’s commands but fail to carry their weight. This distinction helps us see that not every religious practice holds equal standing with Scripture.
When we face choices in our daily lives, this reminder encourages us to check the source of our habits. Are we following a custom because it aligns with God’s truth, or simply because it feels familiar? The call is to value what God has spoken above what people have invented. This keeps our faith grounded in divine authority rather than shifting cultural trends.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like [things]1×
- like1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- παρόμοια2×
Key Verses
-
Mark 7:13
making void the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down. You do many things like this.”
This occurrence highlights how human traditions can appear similar to God's commands but ultimately lack the power to uphold them.
-
Mark 7:8
“For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
Although the word paromoios does not appear here, this verse provides the necessary context of setting aside God's command for human tradition.