Greek word · G3867

παραινέω

paraineō

to urge

To advise, recommend or urge someone toward a course of action. It is the language of counsel: an adviser speaking to people who must decide for themselves. It is softer than a command and more pointed than a suggestion.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

παρ-αινέω, -ω

[in LXX: 2Ma.7:25-26, 3Ma.5:17 3Mac 7:12 * ;]

to exhort, advise: with accusative of person(s) and inf. (see Bl., § 72, 5; M, Pr., 205), Acts 27:22; absol., before λέγων, Acts 27:9.†

(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 Acts 27:22

Range of meaning

To advise, recommend or urge someone toward a course of action. It is the language of counsel: an adviser speaking to people who must decide for themselves. It is softer than a command and more pointed than a suggestion.

Against the English

KJV and YLT say 'exhort,' which to modern ears sounds like a sermon. BSB says 'urge.' 'Advise' links up best with 27:9, where the same verb is usually translated 'advised' or 'warned.'

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in classical and Hellenistic Greek for giving advice. Josephus and Philo use it often. A related noun, parainesis, became the standard term for moral advice. In the NT the verb occurs only in Acts 27:9 and 27:22.

From the study of Acts 27:9

Range of meaning

To advise, recommend, exhort, urge a course of action. It is the vocabulary of giving counsel in a decision ('I advise you to...'). It is related to parainesis, moral exhortation. The word is warm or neutral in tone, not scolding.

Against the English

KJV and WEB say 'admonished'. In 1611 'admonish' could mean simply 'advise, warn', but today it usually means 'reprimand'. BSB's 'advised' and YLT's 'was admonishing' (with the ongoing tense kept) differ in tone. The Latin Vulgate's consolabatur ('he comforted') and the Douay-Rheims 'comforted them' miss the sense entirely.

How it drifted

Over time English 'admonish' narrowed from 'counsel, warn' to 'scold, rebuke'. Older translations that keep 'admonished' now suggest a reprimanding tone that the Greek lacks.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it occurs only here and at Acts 27:22, where Paul 'now urges' the same people to take heart. In Greek literature and papyri it is the standard word for advising someone.

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 27:9 παρῄνει was admonishing [them]

    By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,

    Here: Imperfect tense: 'began advising' or 'kept advising'. This is the word for giving counsel in a discussion about what to do. It is not a rebuke. Paul offers advice to the people deciding the voyage (v.11).

  2. Acts 27:22 παραινῶ I exhort

    But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship.

    Here: Present tense, 'I am advising you.' It is the same verb Luke used in 27:9 for Paul's warning that the crew ignored. Paul offers advice a second time, and this time it is to take heart.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.