Beware (4337) (prosecho from pros = before, toward + echo = hold) means literally to hold to, toward or before. Originally it was followed by the word "the mind" (nous) but at times "the mind" was omitted but still the idea of "the mind" was implied. To apply one’s self to. To attach one’s self to. Prosecho means to moor a ship, to tie it up. Prosecho was also used to mean “to remain on course”. Figuratively (see also below) the idea is to hold one's mind before then to take heed, to pay attention, to give heed, be in a state of alert, to watch out for or to be on guard. The word implies the giving one’s consent, as well as one’s attention. When used in this manner prosecho always warns of some type of danger (usually spiritual danger but occasionally physical)! Prosecho is not a call simply to notice or sense something, but to be on guard against it because it is so harmful (eg, the danger of practicing your righteousness for others to see, the danger of false prophets, false teachers and false teaching, the danger of the Pharisees and Sadducees). The idea is to turn one’s mind or attention to a thing by being on one’s guard against it. The present imperative calls for the wise citizen of the kingdom of heaven to be continually on the look out for false prophets especially those who promote the deadly deceptive "doctrine" of the wide gate and the wide way that leads to death and destruction (cp Mt 7:13, 14-note). Remember that a false teaching is the more dangerous the more truth it contains. And as someone well said an error no wider than a hair will lead a hundred miles away from the goal. Jesus' point is that not every who claims to belong to God and to speak for Him actually proclaims God's truth. His message speaks poignantly to the evangelical church in our day of shallow teaching which sets the saints up for false teaching! Watch out! The best antidote for the "arsenic" or leaven of false teaching is to teach sound doctrine (cp 2Ti 4:2-note, 2Ti 4:3, 4-note, Heb 5:14-note, Titus 1:9-note, 1Pe 2:2-note) As J C Ryle put it "Ignorance of the Scriptures is the root of all error." It is noteworthy that 12 of the 24 NT uses of prosecho are in the present imperative which is a command (see below) calling for continual attention! Prosecho means (1) To bring to, bring near, in Greek writings of bringing near a place, such as to bring a ship to land, and simply to touch at, put in. BDAG adds that "In non-biblical writings the primary meaning (is to) ‘have in close proximity to’; frequently... of mental processes ‘turn one’s mind to’." (2) To hold or turn one's mind toward a person or thing. To attend to, be attentive. To pay close attention to something. To give assent to. (of the crowds listening to Phillip = Acts 8:6, 10, 11) (Of Lydia paying attention and thus responding Acts 16:14) (Notice that the meanings #2 and #3 are related and some lexicons do not separate the meanings). (3) To be in a state of alert, be concerned about, care for, take care. The idea is to be in a continuous state of readiness to learn of any future danger, need, or error, and to respond appropriately. This meaning is frequently found as a command calling for continued attention (present imperative) - beware, be on alert, watch out, etc. (Mt 6:1, 7:15, 10:17, 16:6, 11, Lk 12:1, 17:3, 20:46, 21:34, Acts 5:38, 20:28, 1Ti 4:13) Notice also that it is Jesus Who is most often using this verb as a command! (4) Continue to believe. Hold firmly to a particular belief (1Ti 1:4, 6:3) Wherever the narrow demands of following Jesus are taught, there are false prophets who advocate the wide gate and easy way watering down the truth to the point that as Spurgeon sarcastically quipped... There is not enough left to make soup for a sick grasshopper. Prosecho - 24x in 24v - NAS = addicted(1), beware(8), give attention(1), giving...attention(1), giving attention(2), guard(3), officiated(1), pay attention(2), pay...attention(1), paying attention(2), respond(1), take care(1). Matthew 6:1-note "Beware (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually on the alert!) of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:15-note "Beware (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually on the alert!) of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matthew 10:17 "But beware (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually on the alert!) of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; Matthew 16:6 And Jesus said to them, "Watch out (horao - present imperative) and beware (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually on the alert! A charge for constant watchfulness.) of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Matthew 16:11 "How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually on the alert!) of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Matthew 16:12 Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Luke 12:1 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, "Beware (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually on the alert! Calls for this to be one's continual attitude.) of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke 17:3 "Be on your guard! (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually on the alert!) If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Luke 20:46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, Luke 21:34 "Be on guard (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually on the alert!), so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; Comment: Disciples are to watch out. If they are too absorbed into everyday life, they will stop watching and living faithfully. (NET Bible note) Acts 5:35 And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually carefully consider) what you propose to do with these men. Acts 8:6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention (imperfect tense = over and over) to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. Acts 8:10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention (imperfect tense = over and over) to him, saying, "This man is what is called the Great Power of God." Acts 8:11 And they were giving him attention (imperfect tense = over and over. It pictures repeated action) because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. Acts 16:14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira (city in the province of Lydia in Asia Minor), a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. Comment: The NET Bible notes that BDAG says prosecho here means "gives the meaning "pay attention to" here, (but that) this could be misunderstood by the modern English reader to mean merely listening intently. The following context, however, indicates that Lydia responded positively to Paul's message, so the verb here was translated "to respond." Acts 20:28 "Be on guard (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually on the alert! This is to be your habitual attitude/action!) for yourselves (Note: Pastors, elders = first watch over your own heart and soul!) and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 1 Timothy 1:4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. Comment: Vine says that "The verb prosecho sometimes signifies to be attentive to, as in Acts 6:14; 8:6, more strongly, to apply oneself to, to attach oneself to, to cleave to a person or thing; this is the meaning here, as also in 4:1, and Titus 1:14. In 1 Timothy 3:8, the meaning is to be addicted to and in 4:13, to devote thought and effort to. The danger mentioned in this verse was not merely that of giving attention to fables, etc., but rather of following such teachings by attaching oneself to the propagandists. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) 1 Timothy 3:8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted ("turning one's mind" or "devoted" or "occupy oneself with" or) to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, Comment: MacArthur writes that prosecho "expresses more than merely listening to something. It means “&to assent to,&” “&to devote oneself to,&” or “&cling to something.&” The present tense of the participle shows that apostates continually cling to demonic teaching. They understand the facts of the gospel intellectually, and outwardly identify with the Christian faith. Since their hearts are not right with God and they do not have the Spirit to teach and protect them (&cf. &Jude 19&), however, they are lured away by deceitful spirits. Planos (deceitful, cp word study on related verb planao) comes from the root word from which our English word “&planet&” derives. It carries the idea of wandering, and thus came to mean “&seducing,&” or “&deceiving.&” Demons are called deceitful because they cause men to wander from the orbit of the truth. The Holy Spirit leads people into saving truth (&cf.& &Jn 16:13&), while these unholy spirits lead them into damning error." (MacArthur, John: 1Timothy Moody Press or Logos) 1 Timothy 4:13 Until I come, give attention to (prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually devote yourself to!) the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Comment: Robertson translates, “keep on putting your mind on". MacArthur writes that "Give attention to is the present active indicative form of prosecho. Timothy was to continually give his attention to those things; it was to be his way of life. Donald Guthrie writes that the verb “&implies previous preparation in private&” (The Pastoral Epistles, rev. &ed.& [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990], 109). It encompasses not just the act of teaching, but all the commitment, study, and preparation associated with it. (MacArthur, John: 1Timothy Moody Press or Logos) Titus 1:14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. Hebrews 2:1-note For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. Comment: Vine says that Prosecho "means to hold to, to turn attention to, hence to take heed in a practical way. In 3:12 the verb is blepo, to look, to give earnest consideration. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) MacArthur: "Pay much closer attention" to and is emphatic. In other words, on the basis of who Christ is, we must give careful attention to what we have heard about Him. We cannot hear these things and let them just slide through our minds. (MacArthur, John: Hebrews. Moody Press or Logos) Hebrews 7:13-note For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated (gave attendance, served) at the altar. Comment: Vine says that Prosecho means "to give attendance, usually signifies to give heed (Ed comment: see Lxx uses - Ps 5:2 = "Heed", Ps 17:1 = "give heed"; Ps 22:19 = "hasten to", multiple other similar uses - see Lxx entries below), and therefore suggests devotional thought and effort to a thing. Cp. “give heed” in Acts 16:14 and 1Timothy 4:13. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) 2 Peter 1:19-note So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. Prosecho - 90v in Septuagint (LXX) - Ge 4:5; 24:6; 34:3; Exod 9:21; 10:28; 19:12; 23:21; 34:11f; Lev 22:2; Deut 1:45; 4:9, 23; 6:12; 8:11; 11:16; 12:13, 19, 23, 30; 15:9; 24:8; 32:1, 46; 1 Kgs 7:30; 2 Chr 25:16; 35:21; Ezra 7:23; Neh 1:6, 11; 9:34; Esth 8:12; Job 1:8; 2:3; 7:17; 10:3; 13:6; 27:6; 29:21; Ps 5:2; 10:17; 17:1; 22:1, 19; 35:23; 38:22; 40:1, 13; 55:2; 59:5; 61:1; 66:19; 69:18; 70:1; 71:12; 77:1; 78:1; 80:1; 81:11; 86:6; 130:2; 141:1; 142:6; Prov 1:24, 30; 4:1, 20; 5:1, 3; 7:24; 17:4; Eccl 4:13; Song 8:13; Isa 1:10, 23; 28:23; 32:4; 49:1; 55:3; Jer 6:19; 7:24, 26; 25:4; Dan 9:18; 12:10; Hos 5:1; Mic 1:2; Zech 1:4; 7:11; Mal 3:16. Below are some representative uses of prosecho in the Septuagint (as noted above there are multiple uses in the Psalms where prosecho reflects a crying out to God asking Him to heed) Genesis 4:5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard (Lxx = prosecho). So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Proverbs 1:24 "Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention (Lxx = prosecho); Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention (Lxx = prosecho - present imperative = command to be continually devote yourself to!) to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.