Pronunciation Guide: pah-rah-BYE-no
Quick Answer: παραβαίνω (parabainō) means “to transgress” or “to step across a boundary” – literally describing someone who deliberately walks alongside or beyond established limits. In the New Testament, it primarily appears in the Messiah’s confrontation with religious leaders who violated God’s commandments while claiming to uphold tradition, revealing the dangerous gap between religious performance and true obedience to יהוה (Yahweh).
What Does παραβαίνω Mean?
Strong’s G3845: παραβαίνω represents one of Scripture’s most precise terms for deliberate transgression, carrying the vivid imagery of someone who intentionally steps beyond established boundaries. The word describes not accidental stumbling but willful crossing of known lines, particularly divine commandments or moral principles. In its three New Testament appearances, παραβαίνω exposes the heart of religious hypocrisy – those who claim to honor God while systematically violating His explicit commands. When the Messiah used this word in Matthew 15:2-3, He was making a devastating theological point: religious tradition that contradicts God’s Word is not mere error but active transgression. The word carries legal undertones, suggesting accountability before divine judgment, and emphasizes the serious nature of stepping outside יהוה’s revealed will.
Key Insight: True transgression isn’t ignorance of God’s ways but deliberately choosing human traditions over divine commands.
Where Does παραβαίνω Come From?
- Part of Speech: Verb (present active infinitive)
- Root Words: παρά (para – “beside, alongside”) + βαίνω (bainō – “to go, walk, step”)
- Language Origin: Classical Greek, adopted into Koine Greek
- Primary Usage: Legal and moral contexts describing boundary violations
- Hebrew Equivalents: עבר (abar – “to cross over, transgress”), פשע (pasha – “to rebel, transgress”)
What Is the Historical and Cultural Context of παραβαίνω?
The etymology of παραβαίνω reveals fascinating layers of meaning that illuminate its biblical usage. In classical Greek literature, particularly in Homer’s works, the word παραβαίνω originally described physical movement – someone walking alongside another, especially warriors standing beside each other in battle chariots. Homer used παρβεβαως twice to describe one who stands by another’s side in a war-chariot in the Iliad, establishing the foundational image of proximity and parallel movement.
Classical Development and Legal Usage
By the time of Aeschylus and other classical dramatists, παραβαίνω had evolved into a powerful metaphorical term for moral and legal transgression. The word was used frequently in secular authors from Aeschylus down to describe overstepping, neglecting, violating, or transgressing, particularly in legal contexts where someone had crossed established boundaries of law or custom. This legal background becomes crucial for understanding its New Testament usage, as the word carries inherent implications of accountability and judgment.
The progression from “walking alongside” to “transgressing” reflects a profound truth about human nature – we often begin by walking parallel to righteousness but gradually drift beyond acceptable boundaries. This semantic development mirrors the spiritual reality that the Messiah exposed in His confrontations with religious leaders who had slowly moved from supporting God’s law to actively contradicting it.
Septuagint and Hebrew Connections
In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures), παραβαίνω frequently translates Hebrew words like עבר (abar) and פשע (pasha), both carrying meanings of crossing over or rebelling against established order. This translation choice connects παραβαίνω to the rich Hebrew understanding of sin as rebellion against יהוה’s covenant relationship with His people.
Historical Summary: παραβαίνω evolved from describing physical proximity in battle to moral transgression in law, perfectly capturing deliberate rebellion.
How Is παραβαίνω Used in the Bible?
The New Testament usage of παραβαίνω is remarkably focused, appearing only three times but each with devastating theological precision. The word serves as the Messiah’s surgical instrument for exposing religious hypocrisy, particularly in His confrontation with the Pharisees over ritual handwashing versus honoring parents.
In Matthew 15:2-3, the progression is telling: first the Pharisees accuse the disciples of transgressing “the tradition of the elders,” then the Messiah immediately reverses the charge, declaring that they themselves παραβαίνετε (transgress) “the commandment of God.” This rhetorical structure reveals the heart of the issue – competing authorities and the question of which boundaries truly matter before יהוה.
The word’s final biblical appearance comes in the disputed text of 2 John 9, where some manuscripts read παραβαίνων (the one transgressing) to describe someone who doesn’t remain in the teaching of the Messiah. This usage maintains the word’s emphasis on crossing doctrinal boundaries, showing how παραβαίνω continued to serve as a precise term for deliberate departure from established truth.
Usage Summary: παραβαίνω appears strategically to expose the difference between human religious tradition and divine commandment transgression.
Biblical Cross-References:
- Matthew 15:2 – “Why do Your disciples transgress [παραβαίνουσιν] the tradition of the elders?”
- Matthew 15:3 – “Why do you also transgress [παραβαίνετε] the commandment of God because of your tradition?”
- Acts 1:25 – “From which Judas by transgression fell [παρέβη], that he might go to his own place”
How Should παραβαίνω Be Translated?
Primary Meanings:
- To transgress (violate moral or legal boundaries)
- To go beyond (exceed established limits)
- To step aside from (deviate from proper path)
- To violate (break commandments or laws)
- To rebel against (actively oppose authority)
Translation Tip: Context determines whether παραβαίνω emphasizes the action of crossing boundaries or the result of violation.
παραβαίνω Translation Options:
| Translation | Context | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| “transgress” | Legal/moral violations | Present active forms emphasize ongoing action of boundary-crossing |
| “violate” | Commandment breaking | Captures the active nature of deliberate disobedience |
| “step beyond” | Metaphorical contexts | Preserves the original spatial imagery of the compound verb |
| “rebel against” | Authority contexts | Emphasizes the willful nature of the transgression |
| “depart from” | Doctrinal contexts | Shows movement away from established teaching |
What Does παραβαίνω Teach Us About God?
The usage of παραβαίνω in Scripture reveals profound truths about יהוה’s character and His expectations for His people. God establishes clear boundaries not as arbitrary restrictions but as protective guidelines that reflect His righteousness and love. When the Messiah used παραβαίνω to confront the Pharisees, He was defending the integrity of God’s commandments against human traditions that nullified divine intent.
The word demonstrates that יהוה values authentic obedience over religious performance. The Pharisees’ tradition of Corban (dedicating resources to the temple to avoid supporting aging parents) might have appeared pious, but it παραβαίνω – transgressed – the fundamental commandment to honor father and mother. This reveals that God sees through external religious displays to the heart of true righteousness.
Moreover, παραβαίνω shows that divine boundaries are non-negotiable. While human traditions may evolve and change, God’s moral commandments represent eternal principles that cannot be circumvented through clever interpretations or religious technicalities. The deliberate nature implied by παραβαίνω underscores that accountability before God involves not just knowing His will but actively choosing to remain within His revealed boundaries.
Theological Core: παραβαίνω reveals that God values obedience to His commandments above conformity to human religious traditions.
How Can I Apply παραβαίνω to My Life?
The ancient word παραβαίνω challenges modern believers to examine whether we, like the Pharisees, have subtle ways of stepping around God’s clear commands while maintaining an appearance of spirituality. Are there areas where we’ve allowed cultural traditions, personal preferences, or even church practices to override the clear teaching of Scripture? The Holy Spirit can use this word to reveal where we might be walking παρά (alongside) righteousness rather than directly in it.
This word calls us to value authentic discipleship over religious reputation. When human approval conflicts with divine commands, παραβαίνω reminds us that crossing God’s boundaries – even for seemingly good reasons – remains transgression. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal any areas where we’ve gradually drifted from יהוה’s clear expectations while convincing ourselves we’re being faithful.
Self-Examination Questions: Where might I be prioritizing human approval over God’s clear commands? Are there traditions I follow that actually contradict Scripture? How can I ensure my obedience remains authentic rather than merely external?
What Words Are Similar to παραβαίνω?
- παράβασις (parabasis) – “transgression, violation” – The noun form describing the act of transgression – See G3847
- παραπίπτω (parapiptō) – “to fall beside, fall away” – Describes falling away from faith rather than deliberate transgression – See G3895
- παρανομέω (paranomeō) – “to act contrary to law” – Emphasizes legal aspects more than moral boundaries – See G3891
- ἁμαρτάνω (hamartanō) – “to sin, miss the mark” – General term for sin versus specific boundary-crossing – See G264
- ἀθετέω (atheteō) – “to nullify, reject” – Used in Mark 7:9 parallel to describe rejecting God’s commandments – See G114
Did You Know?
- What does παραβαίνω mean in modern Greek? Modern Greek retains the basic meaning “to transgress” or “to violate,” particularly in legal contexts describing someone who breaks traffic laws or violates regulations.
- How did Aeschylus use παραβαίνω? The great Greek tragedian Aeschylus employed παραβαίνω to describe characters who violated divine or moral laws, setting up tragic consequences that would unfold throughout his plays.
- What’s the difference between παραβαίνω and ἁμαρτάνω? While ἁμαρτάνω (hamartanō) pictures missing a target, παραβαίνω emphasizes deliberately stepping across a known boundary, making it more specific to willful disobedience.
- Why does the Bible use παραβαίνω in Matthew 15? The Messiah chose this precise word to expose how the Pharisees had gradually moved from supporting God’s law to actively circumventing it through human traditions.
- How does παραβαίνω relate to covenant theology? The word connects to the concept of covenant boundaries – יהוה establishes relationship parameters, and παραβαίνω describes what happens when people step outside those protective limits.
- What causes religious transgression today? Like the Pharisees, modern believers often παραβαίνω when we prioritize human approval, denominational traditions, or cultural accommodation over clear biblical commands.
- The compound structure reveals divine wisdom – By combining παρά (“alongside”) with βαίνω (“walk”), the word teaches that we can walk close to righteousness while still missing God’s will entirely, emphasizing the need for precise obedience rather than approximate spirituality.
Remember This
παραβαίνω stands as Scripture’s warning against the subtle drift from walking with God to walking alongside His will while actually crossing His boundaries.
