Lexical Summary
paraiteomai: To refuse, to reject, to decline, to avoid
Original Word: παραιτέομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: paraiteomai
Pronunciation: pah-rah-ee-TEH-oh-my
Phonetic Spelling: (par-ahee-teh'-om-ahee)
KJV: avoid, (make) excuse, intreat, refuse, reject
NASB: refuse, excused, begged, have nothing to do with, make excuses, refused, reject
Word Origin: [from G3844 (παρά - than) and the middle voice of G154 (αἰτέω - ask)]
1. to beg off, i.e. deprecate, decline, shun
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
refuse, reject.
From para and the middle voice of aiteo; to beg off, i.e. Deprecate, decline, shun -- avoid, (make) excuse, intreat, refuse, reject.
see GREEK para
see GREEK aiteo
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
para and
aiteóDefinitionto beg from, to beg off
NASB Translationbegged (1), excused (2), have nothing to do with (1), make excuses (1), refuse (4), refused (1), reject (1), requested (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3868: παραιτέομαιπαραιτέομαι,
παραιτοῦμαι, imperative present
παραιτοῦ; (imperfect 3 person plural
παρῃτοῦντο,
Mark 15:6 T WH Tr marginal reading, where others
ὅνπερ ᾐτοῦντο (which see)); 1 aorist
παρητησαμην; perfect passive participle
παρητημενος with a passive significance; from
Aeschylus and
Pindar down;
1. properly, to ask alongside (παρά (IV. 1)), beg to have near one; to obtain by entreaty; to beg from, to ask for, supplicate: (Mark 15:6 (see above)).
2. to avert (παρά aside (see παρά, IV. 1)) by entreaty or seek to avert, to deprecate;
a. properly, followed by μή and an accusative with an infinitive (to intreat that ... not), Hebrews 12:19 (Thucydides 5, 63); cf. Winers Grammar, 604 (561); (Buttmann, § 148,13).
b. equivalent to to refuse, decline: τό ἀποθανεῖν, Acts 25:11 (θανεῖν οὐ παραιτοῦμαι, Josephus, de vita sua29).
c. equivalent to to shun, avoid: τί, 1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 2:23; τινα, 1 Timothy 5:11; Titus 3:10; equivalent to to refuse, reject, Hebrews 12:25.
d. to avert displeasure by entreaty, i. e. to beg pardon, crave indulgence, to excuse: ἔχε με παρῃτημένον (see ἔχω, I. 1 f.), Luke 14:18f (of one excusing himself for not accepting an invitation to a feast, Josephus, Antiquities 7, 8, 9).
STRONGS NT 3868a: παρακαθέζομαιπαρακαθέζομαι: to sit down beside (παρά, IV. 1), seat oneself (Xenophon, Plato, others); 1 aorist passive participle παρακαθεσθεις (Josephus, Antiquities 6, 11, 9); πρός τί, Luke 10:39 T Tr WIt (cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 269).
Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Tone παραιτέομαι depicts an active turning away from something offered or demanded. Whether the object is an invitation, an accusation, sound instruction, or the voice of God Himself, the verb highlights a willful, personal refusal. The contexts show that such refusal can be polite and excusable (Luke 14) or culpably rebellious (Hebrews 12).
Old Testament Echoes
While the Septuagint rarely uses παραιτέομαι, the concept of refusing a divine offer recalls Israel’s repeated “hardening the neck” (for example, Judges 2 and 2 Chronicles 36). Hebrews explicitly links the Christian congregation with Israel at Sinai, warning that a greater revelation brings greater accountability (Hebrews 12 compared with Exodus 19).
Illustrations in the Gospels and Acts
• Luke 14:18-19 – Three invitees “began to make excuses.” Their polite refusals expose hearts preoccupied with possessions, work, and relationships. Jesus indicts superficial etiquette that masks deeper unbelief.
• Mark 15:6 – The crowd “kept requesting” that Pilate release a prisoner. Their persistent demand to free Barabbas becomes a tragic picture of humanity choosing rebellion over righteousness.
• Acts 25:11 – Paul declares, “I do not seek to avoid death.” Here παραιτέομαι marks noble submission to lawful authority while entrusting ultimate justice to God.
Apostolic Pastoral Guidance
• 1 Timothy 4:7 – “Reject profane, silly myths.” Sound ministry requires deliberate disengagement from spiritually empty narratives.
• 1 Timothy 5:11 – Younger widows who might “reject Christ” by impulsive remarriage illustrate how bodily desires can erode earlier devotion.
• 2 Timothy 2:23 – Timothy must “reject foolish and ignorant controversies,” preserving gospel focus amid distractions.
• Titus 3:10 – After patient admonition, the church is to “reject a divisive man,” safeguarding unity and holiness.
Supreme Warning: Refusing the Speaker from Heaven
Hebrews 12:19, 25 thrice employs παραιτέομαι to contrast Sinai’s trembling assembly with Zion’s heavenly gathering:
“See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven.” (Hebrews 12:25)
The passage climaxes the epistle’s exhortations. To “refuse” here is not a momentary doubt but decisive apostasy, turning from the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. The gravity rests on the superior revelation now offered through the Son.
Theological and Ministry Significance
1. Gospel Invitation: Luke 14 shows that salvation’s banquet is spurned not by overt hostility but by mundane preoccupations. Evangelism must expose such idols, calling hearers to urgent response.
2. Conscience and Civil Authority: Paul’s stance in Acts 25 balances respect for legal process with readiness for martyrdom, modelling submission without compromise.
3. Doctrinal Purity: The Pastoral Letters link refusal of error with affirmation of truth. A shepherd who will not say “no” to myths cannot faithfully say “yes” to sound teaching.
4. Church Discipline: Titus 3:10 authorizes measured but decisive rejection of persistent divisiveness, underscoring that biblical love sometimes excludes for the sake of redemption and order.
5. Eschatological Accountability: Hebrews anchors the verb in final judgment. To refuse the heavenly voice is to face an unshakable kingdom without refuge.
Practical Exhortations
• Cultivate a heart that quickly refuses vain disputes and promptly receives God’s word.
• When proclaiming the gospel, press hearers beyond courteous excuses to honest self-assessment.
• In leadership, exercise patient instruction yet remain willing to reject destructive influences for the flock’s welfare.
• Remember that ultimate refusal is not of doctrines or institutions but of the living Christ; therefore, heed His voice today.
Summary
παραιτέομαι reminds the Church that every soul is constantly deciding: will we embrace or evade God’s gracious summons? Scripture portrays refusal as tragically natural yet entirely avoidable through humble faith.
Forms and Transliterations
παραιτεισθαι παραιτείσθαι παραιτεῖσθαι παραιτησαμενοι παραιτησάμενοι παραιτήσασθαι παραιτησησθε παραιτήσησθε παραιτου παραιτού παραιτοῦ παραιτουμαι παραιτούμαι παραιτοῦμαι παραιτούμενος παρακαθήμενοι παρητημενον παρητημένον παρῃτημένον παρητησαντο παρητήσαντο παρῃτήσαντο παρητήσατο παρήτηται παρητουντο παρῃτοῦντο paraiteisthai paraiteîsthai paraitesamenoi paraitesámenoi paraitēsamenoi paraitēsámenoi paraitesesthe paraitēsēsthe paraitḗsesthe paraitḗsēsthe paraitou paraitoû paraitoumai paraitoûmai pareiteménon parēitēménon pareitḗsanto parēitḗsanto pareitoûnto parēitoûnto paretemenon parētēmenon paretesanto parētēsanto paretounto parētounto
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