Greek word · G3908

παρατίθημι

paratithēmi

to set before

In the active voice: to set before, to serve (food), to present (an argument). In the middle voice: to entrust, to commit something to someone's care, to deposit. The related noun παραθήκη (parathēkē) is a deposit held in trust, a technical term in Greek law and banking.

Appears 19 times in 18 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

παρα-τίθημι

[in LXX chiefly for שׂוּם ;]

I. Act., to place beside, set before, with accusative and dative: of food, Mark 6:41 8:6-7, Luke 9:16 11:6; τράπεζαν, Acts 16:34; pass. ptcp., Luke 10:8, 1 Corinthians 10:27; metaphorically, of teaching, παραβολήν, Matthew 13:24, 31.

II. Mid.,

1. to have set before one (Hom., Thuc., Xen., al.).

2. to deposit with another, give in charge or commit to (Hdt., Xen., Polyb., al.) : with accusative and dative, Luke 12:48 23:46, Acts 14:23 20:32, 1 Timothy 1:18, 2 Timothy 2:2, 1 Peter 4:19.

3. to bring forward, quote as evidence: before ὅτι, Acts 17:3 (see Page, in l).†

(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 1 Timothy 1:18

Range of meaning

In the active voice: to set before, to serve (food), to present (an argument). In the middle voice: to entrust, to commit something to someone's care, to deposit. The related noun παραθήκη (parathēkē) is a deposit held in trust, a technical term in Greek law and banking.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have 'commit'. BSB has 'entrust you with'. Both are good. 'Commit' has weakened in modern English and can sound like 'dedicate', but here it means 'hand over to be guarded'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 23:46 ('into your hands I commit my spirit', echoing Psalm 31:5); Acts 14:23 and 20:32 (Paul committing churches to the Lord); 2 Tim 2:2 ('entrust these to faithful men'). The noun παραθήκη appears in 1 Tim 6:20 and 2 Tim 1:12, 14 ('guard the good deposit'). In Greek law the person who held a deposit was bound in honour to return it intact.

From the study of 2 Timothy 2:2

Range of meaning

Literally "to set beside" or "set before" (for example, setting food before guests, Mark 6:41; Luke 10:8). It can also mean "to put forward" an argument (Acts 17:3). In the middle voice (the form here) it often means "to deposit with someone" or "to entrust for safekeeping" (BDAG s.v. 2). The related noun parathēkē means "a deposit."

Against the English

"Entrust" (BSB, ESV, NASB) catches the sense well. KJV and WEB "commit" was accurate in older English ("commit to someone's keeping"). Today "commit" usually means pledging yourself to something, which hides the picture of valuables handed over. YLT "be committing" makes the action ongoing, but the Greek is aorist, a simple command to do it.

How it drifted

The English "commit" shifted from "hand over into someone's care" to "dedicate oneself." The banking and safekeeping picture behind the Greek is lost to most modern readers.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) uses parathēkē for goods left in a neighbour's care in the law on deposits (Lev 6:2, 4 [5:21, 23 LXX]; cf. Exod 22:7–13). In Tobit 1:14 Tobit deposits silver with Gabael using this verb. Greek writers treated betraying a deposit as a serious sin (Herodotus 6.86, the story of Glaucus). Jesus uses the verb in Luke 12:48 ("to whom much was entrusted") and in Luke 23:46 ("into your hands I commit my spirit," quoting Ps 31:5). Paul uses it for entrusting elders to the Lord (Acts 14:23; 20:32).

From the study of Luke 23:46

Range of meaning

The active παρατίθημι means "to set beside, set before": putting food in front of guests (Luke 9:16; 10:8; 11:6) or laying out a teaching or argument (Matt 13:24; Acts 17:3). The middle form used here means "to entrust, commit to someone's care, deposit with someone for safekeeping." The related noun παραθήκη means a deposit, something left in trust (1 Tim 6:20; 2 Tim 1:12, 14).

Against the English

"Commit" (BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV) and "commend" (KJV, from the Vulgate's commendo) are both acceptable. But modern "commit" leans toward pledging yourself to something ("commit to a plan"), or carries a resigned "I give up" tone. The Greek picture is more concrete: placing something precious into a trustworthy person's hands to be kept safe. NLT's "entrust" comes closest.

How it drifted

Modern English "commit" has moved toward meaning "pledge or dedicate yourself" and has lost most of its older sense "hand over into someone's charge," which survives only in phrases like "committed to prison" or "committed to the earth."

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke quotes Psalm 31:5 in the Greek Septuagint (Psalm 30:6 there): εἰς χεῖράς σου παραθήσομαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου. Behind it is the Hebrew אַפְקִיד (afqid), from פקד (paqad), which in this form means to deposit or put in someone's charge. The noun פִּקָּדוֹן (piqqadon) is a legal deposit left with a neighbour (Lev 5:23; 6:4 in English Bibles). Luke uses the same middle verb in Acts 14:23 and 20:32, where Paul "commits" believers to the Lord. 1 Peter 4:19 tells sufferers to "entrust their souls to a faithful Creator." In Greek papyri the word family belongs to deposits and the duties of the person holding them.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 13:24 παρέθηκεν put He before

    Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

    Here: Literally 'he set before them'. The verb is used for setting food on a table and for laying words before people (as Moses did in Exodus 19:7 in the Greek Old Testament). The teaching is put in front of the hearers for them to take up.

  2. Matthew 13:31 παρέθηκεν put He before

    He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.

    Here: Literally 'he set beside/before them'. The same verb is used for setting food before guests (Mark 6:41; Luke 10:8). Jesus lays the parable out in front of the crowd for them to take up and digest.

Mark · 4

  1. Mark 6:41 παρατιθῶσιν they may set before

    Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

    Here: 'They might keep setting it before.' This is ordinary meal language for serving food to guests. It answers Jesus' earlier command in 6:37, 'You give them something to eat.'

  2. Mark 8:6 παρατιθῶσιν· παρέθηκαν they may set before [them];, they set [it]

    And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd.

    Here: The normal word for putting food in front of a guest. The present tense suggests serving that goes on, one group of guests after another.

  3. Mark 8:7 παρατιθέναι. to be set before [them].

    They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.

Luke · 5

  1. Luke 9:16 παραθεῖναι to set

    Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

    Here: 'To set before,' the ordinary word for serving food at a table (compare Luke 10:8; 11:6). The disciples act as table servants at Jesus' meal.

  2. Luke 10:8 παρατιθέμενα set before

    If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you.

  3. Luke 11:6 παραθήσω I will set before

    because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’

  4. Luke 12:48 παρέθεντο has been committed

    But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

    Here: 'They deposited / entrusted.' This is the vocabulary of a deposit left for safekeeping, which must be handed back in full. The unnamed 'they' is most likely a respectful way of referring to God (see debates).

  5. Luke 23:46 παρατίθεμαι I myself commit

    Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.

    Here: Present tense, middle voice: "I hand over, for my own sake, into your keeping." It is the language of placing something valuable with a trusted guardian. The tense makes it an act done right now, as he speaks.

Acts · 4

  1. Acts 14:23 παρέθεντο they committed

    Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

    Here: "They entrusted" or "committed". The word is used for leaving something valuable in someone else's safekeeping. The apostles are leaving, so they place the believers in the Lord's keeping.

  2. Acts 16:34 παρέθηκεν he laid

    Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

    Here: 'He set beside (them).' This is the ordinary verb for serving food to someone, the same one used in Luke 11:6 of the man who has a friend arrive at midnight and has 'nothing to set before him.'

  3. Acts 17:3 παρατιθέμενος setting forth

    explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.

    Here: Laying passages and facts side by side in front of the hearers, as evidence is laid out. It describes what Paul did, not whether it convinced anyone. Verse 4 says only some were persuaded.

  4. Acts 20:32 παρατίθεμαι I commit

    And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.

    Here: 'I entrust, I place in safekeeping.' This is the vocabulary of leaving valuables in trust with someone reliable. The present tense means the act happens as Paul speaks the words: saying it is the handing over.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:27 παρατιθέμενον is being set before

    If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 1:18 παρατίθεμαί I commit

    Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,

    Here: In the middle voice: 'I hand over for safekeeping, I entrust.' The order is a deposit placed in Timothy's hands, and he will answer for it (compare 'guard the deposit' in 6:20).

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2 παράθου do yourself entrust

    And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.

    Here: An aorist middle command: "deposit [these] with…" This is the technical verb for leaving valuables with a trusted person for safekeeping. It ties to the "deposit" (parathēkē) language of 1:12, 14.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 4:19 παρατιθέσθωσαν they should commit

    So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

    Here: A third-person command in the present tense: 'let them keep entrusting'. The middle form is the regular word for handing valuables to a trusted person for safekeeping. It is the word Jesus prays in Luke 23:46: 'into your hands I commit my spirit.'

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