Greek word · G3905

παρατείνω

parateinō

to prolong

Parateinō: to stretch out alongside, extend, prolong (used of space and of time). Logos here has its ordinary sense: speech, talk, discourse.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

παρα-τείνω

[in LXX: Numbers 23:28 (שָׁקַף ni.), etc. ;]

to extend, pro­long: τ. λόγον, Acts 20:7.†

(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 20:7

Range of meaning

Parateinō: to stretch out alongside, extend, prolong (used of space and of time). Logos here has its ordinary sense: speech, talk, discourse.

Against the English

"Continued his speech" (KJV/WEB) and "kept on speaking" (BSB) are accurate. "Prolonged" (ESV) is closest to the stretching image.

Used elsewhere in the period

Parateinō appears only here in the New Testament. Greek writers such as Polybius use it for drawing something out or extending it. Logos meaning "a speech" is very common, e.g. Acts 15:32; 20:2.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 20:7 παρέτεινέν he was continuing

    On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.

    Here: "He kept stretching out" the talk. The word appears only here in the New Testament. The picture is of a speech pulled longer and longer, which sets up Eutychus nodding off in v. 9.

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