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G3879 παρακύπτω (parakýptō)

Greek 📖 Greek Word Study
Verb
‹ G3878 Greek Dictionary G3880 ›

Quick Definition

παρακύπτω v. I stoop, peer in, look down

Strong's Definition

to bend beside, i.e. lean over (so as to peer within)

Derivation: from G3844 (παρά) and G2955 (κύπτω);

KJV Usage: look (into), stoop down

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

verb | κύπτω

17.31 · Stances and Events Related to Stances · Bend Over, Straighten Up

to bend over, to stoop down to bend over or stoop down, with the implication of looking into something

LUK 24:12 · JHN 20:5 · JHN 20:11

24.13 · Sensory Events and States · See

to stoop and look into to look into something by stooping down

LUK 24:12 · JHN 20:11 · JAS 1:25

27.39 · Learn · Try To Learn

to try to learn, to desire to learn (a figurative extension of meaning of παρακύπτω[b] ‘to stoop and look into,’ 24.13) to make considerable effort in order to try to find out something

JAS 1:25 · 1PE 1:12

1 In παρακύπτω[a] there appear to be two coordinate semantic elements: ‘to stoop down’ and ‘to look into.’ It is possible, of course, to understand the second element as implying the purpose for the first, but in translation it is essential that both elements, especially in the context of JHN 20:11, be adequately noted. The fact that there are two significant elements of meaning in παρακύπτω[a] means that this term is essentially a member of two different domains at the same time, namely, Domain 17 dealing with Stances and Domain 24 Sensory Events and States. 2 Since παρακύπτω, particularly in the context of JHN 20:11, involves two quite distinct semantic features, namely ‘to stoop down’ and ‘to look into,’ it may be classified either as a particular stance (17.31) with the added element of seeing, or one may classify παρακύπτω as here, in the sensory subdomain of ‘seeing,’ with an adjunct feature of ‘stooping down.’ See also 17.31 and footnote.

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

παρα-κύπτω: 1 Δ0Υ. παρέκυψα; to stoop to (ef. παρά, IV. 1] @ thing in order to look at it; to look at with head bowed forwards ; to look into with the body bent; to stoop and look into: Lk. xxiv. 12 [T om. L Tr br. WH reject the vs.]; Jn. xx. 53 εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, Jn. xx. 11; metaph. to look carefully into, inspect curiously, ets τι, of one who would become acquainted with something, Jas. i. 25; 1 Pet. i. 12. (Arstph., Theocr., Philo, Dio Cass., Plut., al. ; Sept.)

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

παρακύπτω parakyptō 5x

to stoop beside; to stoop down in order to take a view, Lk. 24:12; Jn. 20:5, 11; to bestow a close and attentive look, to look intently, to penetrate, Jas. 1:25; 1 Pet. 1:12*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

παρα-κύπτω,

[in LXX chiefly for שׁקף ni., hi.;]

to stoop sideways.

to stoop to look: Lk 24:12 (R, txt.), Jo 20:5, 11. Metaph. (v. Hort, Ja., in l.), to look into: seq. εἰς, Ja 1:25, I Pe 1:12.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

παρακύπτω. In accordance with its derivation this verb suggests primarily looking at something not immediately in the line of vision, which may be seen e.g. by stretching or stooping, and, ‘“‘ when used figuratively, it commonly implies a rapid and cursory glance, never the contrary’ (Hort ad 1 Pet 117; see also his note on Jas 17°), An instructive ex. is P Oxy III. 47525 (aA.p. 182) where a slave, anxious to catch a glimpse of castanet-players in the court below, is described as—Bovdnfels ἀπὸ τοῦ δώματος τῆς αὐτῆς οἰκίας παρακύψαι : cf. Jn 201, Ev. Petr. 11. The verb is also found in P Lips I. 2910 (a will—a.p. 295) μηδὲ παρακ[ὑ]πίτ]ειν ᾧτινιοῦν πράγματ]. δια[φ]έρον[τ] por. TLapakiarw is discussed by Field ores pp. So f., 235f., and Abbott Jo. Voc. p. 300 ff. Ὑπερκύπτω occurs in Sy// 802 (= #1168) 9 (c. B.C. 320) ὑπερέκυπτε εἰς τὸ ἄβατον. See also s.vz. κύπτω, ἀνακύπτω, κατακύπτω, and Epict. i. 1. 16 (cited by Sharp Zfict. p. 75)-

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

παρακύπτω (parakuptō) — to stoop. παρα-κύπτω, poetry παρκύπτω, stoop sideways, of the attitude of a bad harp-player, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; lean over a railing, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

II. stoop for the purpose of looking, and so,

II.1. look sideways at, cast a careless glance on a thing, παρακύψαντ᾽ ἐπὶ τὸν τῆς πόλεως πόλεμον [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II.2. peep out of a door or window, ἐκ θυρίδος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of girls peeping after a lover, [LXX+3rd c.BC+]; π. τὸν ἐραστὴν ἰδεῖν so as to see him, [Refs 1st c.AD+] a hope of safety peeped out, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὀδόντων παρακυψάντων, of the first teeth, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: followed by an interrogative clause, peep out and see, π. τίς ἄνεμος πνεῖ [Refs 2nd c.AD+] — passive, θυρίδες παρακυπτόμεναι probably out of which people look, [LXX]

II.3. of persons outside a place, peep in, look in, εἰς οἰκίαν[LXX+NT]; παρακύψας βλέπει[NT+2nd c.AD+]; of a thing, appear in, ἐς ἀρχόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.4. meddle with, πράγματι [Refs 3rd c.AD+]

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

παρα-κύπτω [in LXX chiefly for שָׁקַף ni., hi. ;] __1. to stoop sideways. __2. to stoop to look: Luk.24:12 (R, txt.), Jhn.20:5, 11, Metaphorical (see Hort, Ja., in l), to look into: before εἰς, Jas.1:25, 1Pe.1:12.† (AS)

Bible Occurrences (5)

📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin

Stoop and look (3879) parakupto

To look (3879) (parakupto from pará = beside, aside + kúpto = bend forward, stoop) means to stoop or bend beside or sideways in order to look into. It means to look at with head bent forward, to look into with the body bent, to stoop and look into and figuratively to look carefully into, to inspect curiously or with a focus on satisfying one's curiosity. The idea was to down and look into in order to see something exactly. Parakupto is used 5 times in the NT: (Luke 24:12; John 20:5, 11; Jas 1:25; 1 Pet 1:12) and is translated in the NAS as: look, 1; looks intently, 1; stooped and looked, 1; stooping and looking, 2. Parakupto - 6x in the Septuagint - Gen 26:8; Judg 5:28; 1 Kgs 6:4; 1 Chr 15:29; Prov 7:6; Song 2:9 Parakupto in some uses meant "to lean over the railing". For example it n the Septuagint in the context of the return of "the ark of the covenant of the Lord...to the city of David" Scripture records that "Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of (parakupto) the window, and saw King David leaping and making merry; and she despised him in her heart." (1Chr 15:29). Parakupto pictures the angels gazing carefully by the side of these great truths of salvation, "stooping" over in order to look, looking even with their heads bowed forward. Wuest adds that "the angels peer into the mysteries of Church truth from beside it, like the cherubim bending over the Mercy Seat where man has access to God through a substitutionary sacrifice that cleanses him from sin. They are not participants in the salvation but spectators of it." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) Parakupto describes John when he came to the empty tomb of His Lord, "stooping" in order to get a better view (Jn 20:5) and Mary who "stooped and looked into the tomb" (Jn 20:11 ). These uses of parakupto imply a willingness to exert or inconvenience oneself to obtain a better perspective. James used parakupto to describe the "one who looks intently (contemplative, meditative gazing) at the perfect law, the law of liberty..." (Jas 1:25-note) So on one hand, the verb literally describes the bodily posture (at the empty tomb) and on the other, is used figuratively of a man "stooping over" the Word of God. Vincent says that parakupto "Used by Aristophanes to picture the attitude of a bad harp-player. Here it portrays one stooping and stretching the neck to gaze on some wonderful sight." It is amazing to realize that even God's holy angels are (present tense) continually observing with great interest, the unfolding of the drama of human redemption. Perhaps this picture helps one understand Jesus' teaching that "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Lk 15:10) Stop and think for a moment that here we find the angels with all their associated glory and yet Peter says that their eyes are continually fixed on the earth. There is a greater glory yet to be fulfilled, and the angels cannot wait to witness it. They, like the prophets of old, do not seem to understand in advance just how these things will come to pass. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/1_peter_110-121.htm#To%20look%20(3879)%20parakupto

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