Greek word · G3842
πάντοτε
pantote
always
'Always' plus 'living', in the present tense: continuously alive.
Appears 40 times in 37 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
πάντοτε
adv.
of time
(πᾶς), [in LXX: Wisdom of Solomon 11:21 19:18 * ;]
in late writers (once in Arist.) for διαπαντός, ἑκάστοτε, at all times, always: Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7, Luke 15:31, John 6:34, Romans 1:10, and frequently in Paul. Epp
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
From the study of Hebrews 7:25
- Range of meaning
'Always' plus 'living', in the present tense: continuously alive.
- Against the English
KJV 'ever liveth', BSB/ESV 'always lives', WEB 'lives forever'. All are accurate.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Within Hebrews: 7:3 (Melchizedek 'remains a priest perpetually'), 7:8 ('one of whom it is testified that he lives'), 7:16 ('indestructible life'), 7:23-24. Josephus counts 83 high priests from Aaron to the Temple's fall (Antiquities 20.227-251), the succession of dying priests Hebrews has in view.
- Range of meaning
'Always, at all times, on every occasion.' In ordinary Koine (the everyday Greek of the period) it often means 'habitually, continually' rather than 'without a single moment's break'.
- Against the English
'Always' (KJV, NIV, ESV, WEB) and 'at all times' (BSB, NASB) are accurate. The risk is in what readers assume. Some take it as a demand for literally nonstop prayer. Others water it down to 'pray regularly'. The context sits between the two: keep coming back and don't stop.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Luke's parallel at 21:36, 'stay awake at every time, praying', comes in the same end-time setting. Jewish piety of the time had set prayer hours: the Shema morning and evening, prayer at the times of the temple sacrifices (Acts 3:1), and Daniel's three times a day (Dan 6:10). Paul's 'pray without ceasing' (1 Thess 5:17) uses a different word with a similar sense.
From the study of Ephesians 5:20
- Range of meaning
Always, at all times, on every occasion.
- Against the English
'Always' is accurate. Hearers would take it as 'on every occasion', a constant habit, not a demand for unbroken conscious thought.
- Used elsewhere in the period
A Koine word (classical Greek preferred other words). Paul uses it often for his own constant thanksgiving and prayer (1 Cor 1:4; Phil 1:4; 1 Thess 1:2).
Similar words
Where it appears
Matthew · 2
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Matthew 26:11 πάντοτε πάντοτε Always, always
The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.
Here: Put first for emphasis. It sets up the contrast: the poor are a constant presence, and the same word comes back negated for Jesus ("not always").
Mark · 2
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Mark 14:7 πάντοτε πάντοτε Always, always
The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
Here: Placed first for emphasis. It sets up the contrast that closes the verse: the poor are 'always' there, Jesus is 'not always'.
Luke · 2
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Luke 15:31 πάντοτε always
‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
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Luke 18:1 πάντοτε always
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
Here: 'At all times'. In context this means continually and without quitting through the whole waiting period, as the widow keeps coming (18:3, 5) and the chosen ones cry 'day and night' (18:7). It does not mean a nonstop flow of words.
John · 7
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John 6:34 πάντοτε always
“Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”
Here: "Always." It comes first in the request for emphasis. They want a supply that never stops, as the manna came every morning in the wilderness, not one more meal.
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John 7:6 πάντοτέ always
Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come.
Here: "At all times." It answers "not yet": for Jesus the moment has not come, for them it never stops being there.
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John 8:29 πάντοτε. always.
He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
Here: 'Always, at all times.' Placed last for emphasis. It leaves no exceptions and prepares for the challenge in 8:46: 'Which of you convicts me of sin?'
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John 11:42 πάντοτέ always
I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me.”
Here: It stands first in its clause for emphasis. The Father's hearing is not a one-off answer for this occasion. It is the constant condition of the relationship.
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John 12:8 πάντοτε πάντοτε always
The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”
Here: The first 'always' describes the poor as a lasting part of life in the community, which echoes Deuteronomy 15:11.
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John 18:20 πάντοτε always
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
Here: "Always" in the sense of "as my regular practice". Jesus also taught on hillsides and by the lake (John 6), but whenever he taught formally it was in the recognised public places.
1 Corinthians · 2
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1 Corinthians 1:4 πάντοτε always
I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.
Here: 'Always' means regularly, every time Paul prays, not without a break. Letters of the period used the same kind of phrasing ('I always remember you').
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1 Corinthians 15:58 πάντοτε, always,
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Here: Goes with 'overflowing': in every season, not just in bursts. It fits the present-tense, ongoing verbs.
2 Corinthians · 4
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2 Corinthians 2:14 πάντοτε always
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
Here: 'At all times.' The procession never stops. It goes on through Paul's anxieties and travels, not just on good days.
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2 Corinthians 4:10 πάντοτε always
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Here: Placed first for emphasis: this is not an occasional crisis but the constant condition of Paul's ministry. Verse 11 restates it with the synonym aei ('always').
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2 Corinthians 5:6 πάντοτε always
Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
Here: "At every point." After the beatings, hardships and wasting away described in 4:7–18, it means courage that holds in every circumstance, not just on good days.
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2 Corinthians 9:8 πάντοτε always
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Here: 'At all times'. The third 'all' word, which extends the promise across time as well as across circumstances.
Galatians · 1
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Galatians 4:18 πάντοτε, at all times,
Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.
Ephesians · 1
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Ephesians 5:20 πάντοτε at all times
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here: 'At all times', meaning on every occasion. Thanksgiving is a constant habit of life, not something kept for special moments.
Philippians · 4
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Philippians 1:4 πάντοτε always
In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
Here: 'At all times.' It opens a run of 'all'-words (pantote… pasē… pantōn) that gives the sentence its sound and its emphasis: there are no exceptions in when, how often or for whom Paul prays.
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Philippians 1:20 πάντοτε always
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Here: Points back over Paul's whole ministry. Christ has always been magnified through him, and the trial will be no exception.
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Philippians 2:12 πάντοτε always
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Here: A compliment: they have responded faithfully from the beginning. Paul builds on their record instead of scolding them.
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Philippians 4:4 πάντοτε· always;
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Here: At every time, including prison, opposition and quarrels. This does not depend on how things are going, because its ground is "in the Lord", not in circumstances.
Colossians · 3
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Colossians 1:3 πάντοτε continually
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
Here: 'Always', meaning each time we pray, as a regular habit. It can go with 'we give thanks' (BSB, ESV) or with 'praying' (KJV, WEB, YLT). The Greek allows either.
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Colossians 4:6 πάντοτε [be] always
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Here: At all times. This is not only for set-piece religious conversations; it applies to every exchange.
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Colossians 4:12 πάντοτε always
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
Here: Habitual and constant. Letters of the time often said 'I pray for you constantly', but here the word sits next to a verb of hard effort.
1 Thessalonians · 6
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1 Thessalonians 1:2 πάντοτε always
We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
Here: Goes with "we give thanks": every time they pray, thanks for Thessalonica is part of it. It describes a regular habit, not an unbroken mental state.
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1 Thessalonians 2:16 πάντοτε· always;
hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
Here: "All along" or "continually." It ties the present opposition to a long pattern, reaching back to the prophets mentioned in v.15. Each act adds to the measure.
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1 Thessalonians 3:6 πάντοτε always
But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.
Here: Most naturally goes with 'you always have a good remembrance'; it could also be read with the longing that follows.
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1 Thessalonians 4:17 πάντοτε always
After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
Here: 'At all times': no more parting. It answers the Thessalonians' fear of separation from their dead.
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1 Thessalonians 5:15 πάντοτε always
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
Here: At every point, including the moment you have just been wronged. The same word opens the next verse ('Rejoice always'), linking the two commands.
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1 Thessalonians 5:16 πάντοτε Always
Rejoice at all times.
Here: Placed first for emphasis: 'at every time, on every occasion.' It points back to verse 15 ('always pursue what is good') and forward to 'unceasingly' (v.17) and 'in everything' (v.18), so it opens a run of 'all' words that leaves no situation outside the command.
2 Thessalonians · 3
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2 Thessalonians 1:3 πάντοτε always
We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
Here: 'At all times'. Thanksgiving is ongoing and regular, a stock feature of Paul's letter openings (compare 1 Thess 1:2), not a one-off.
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2 Thessalonians 1:11 πάντοτε always
To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith,
Here: "At all times." This is the usual way Paul describes regular, repeated prayer. It does not mean prayer without any break.
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2 Thessalonians 2:13 πάντοτε always
But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
Here: Means at every time of prayer: thanks that keeps coming back, not a single occasion.
2 Timothy · 1
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2 Timothy 3:7 πάντοτε always
who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Here: 'At all times, constantly.' It is set up to clash with 'never' (mēdepote) later in the verse: always one thing, never the other.
Philemon · 1
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Philemon 1:4 πάντοτε always
I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,
Here: 'Always' means every time Paul prays, not without a break. It could go with 'I thank' or with 'making mention'. Either way it says Philemon is a regular part of Paul's prayers.
Hebrews · 1
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Hebrews 7:25 πάντοτε always
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Here: 'Always.' It contrasts with the Levitical priests, whom death 'prevented from continuing' (7:23).
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.