Greek word · G3878

παρακούω

parakouō

to ignore

Built from para ('beside') and akouō ('hear'). There are two main senses. (1) Hearing something said beside you or not meant for you: to overhear. (2) Hearing something and setting it aside: to refuse to listen, disregard, disobey. In biblical-era Greek the second sense is far more common.

Appears 3 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

παρ-ακούω

[in LXX: Esther 3:3, 8 (עָבַר, עָשָׂה, with neg.) Esther 4:14 7:4 (חָרַשׁ hi.), Isaiah 65:12 (שָׁמַע, with neg.), I Esther 4:11, Tobit 3:4 * ;]

1. to overhear.

2. to hear amiss or imperfectly.

3. Later (as in LXX, Polyb., Plut.; also in π., see MM, xviii), to hear without heeding, take no heed: Mark 5:36; with genitive, Matthew 18:17.†

(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 Mark 5:36

Range of meaning

Built from para ('beside') and akouō ('hear'). There are two main senses. (1) Hearing something said beside you or not meant for you: to overhear. (2) Hearing something and setting it aside: to refuse to listen, disregard, disobey. In biblical-era Greek the second sense is far more common.

Against the English

Most modern versions (BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB, NLT) say 'overhearing'. The RSV said 'ignoring', and the ESV keeps 'ignoring' as a footnote. The KJV's 'as soon as Jesus heard' translates a different Greek reading (ἀκούσας, 'having heard') and so drops the word altogether.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) the word means 'refuse to obey', for example of Mordecai disregarding the king's command (Esther 3:3, 8) and of Israel not listening to God (Isa 65:12). The only other New Testament use is Matt 18:17 (twice), 'if he refuses to listen'. The sense 'overhear' is also found in classical Greek (LSJ). BDAG lists both senses for Mark 5:36 and leans toward 'ignore'.

From the study of Matthew 18:17

Range of meaning

Literally "hear alongside, hear past". Its senses range from (1) overhear and (2) mishear to (3) disregard, refuse to heed or disobey something one has clearly heard (BDAG; LSJ). Sense 3 is the one in play here.

Against the English

KJV's "neglect to hear" sounds passive, almost careless. BSB and WEB's "refuses to listen" captures the deliberate, stubborn quality better. YLT's "may not hear" is too weak and could suggest he simply didn't hear.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint Esther 3:3, 8: the king's servants and the Jews are accused of disregarding (parakouein) the royal commands. Tobit 3:4: "we disobeyed (parēkousamen) your commandments". Isaiah 65:12 (Septuagint): God spoke "and you did not heed". In the NT, Mark 5:36 uses it ambiguously: Jesus either overheard or ignored the messengers' report.

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 18:17 παρακούσῃ παρακούσῃ, he shall fail to listen, he shall fail to listen,

    If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

    Here: Literally "to hear past" someone. It means refusing to take the warning to heart. In vv.15–16 the hope was that he would "listen" (akousē). Now he hears the words and brushes them aside.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 5:36 παρακούσας having ignored

    But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”

    Here: Literally 'hearing alongside'. It can mean catching words not addressed to you (overhearing) or deliberately not acting on what you hear (ignoring). Here it probably carries both: Jesus catches the report and refuses to let it settle the matter. The past-tense participle puts this hearing before he speaks.

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