Lexical Definition
τηρέω tēréō (tay-reh'-o) to keep: observe G:V
from
hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch.
- perhaps akin to θεωρέω)
- to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon
- and thus differing from φυλάσσω, which is properly to prevent escaping
- and from κουστωδία, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy
- figuratively, to fulfil a command)
- by implication, to detain (in custody
- figuratively, to maintain)
- by extension, to withhold (for personal ends
- figuratively, to keep unmarried)
- by extension, to withhold (for personal ends
- figuratively, to keep unmarried)
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| ἐτήρησασ | you have kept | Rev.3.10 |
| ἐτήρησαν | they kept | John.15.20 |
| ἐτήρησάσ | you have kept | Rev.3.8 |
| τηρῶν | is keeping | Rev.2.26 |
| keeping | John.14.21 • 1John.2.4 • 1John.3.24 • Rev.22.7 | |
| τηρῶμεν | we may keep | 1John.5.3 |
| we shall keep | 1John.2.3 | |
| τηρῶ | I keep | John.8.55 |
| τηρῇ | may keep | 1John.2.5 |
| τηρῆσαί | to keep | 1Tim.6.14 |
| τηροῦντεσ | keeping | Rev.1.3 • Rev.14.12 |
| τηροῦμεν | we keep | 1John.3.22 |
| τηρούντων | are keeping | Rev.12.17 |
| keeping | Rev.22.9 | |
| τηρεῖτε | do observe | Matt.23.3 |
| τηρεῖν | to keep | Matt.23.3 • Acts.15.5 |
| to observe | Matt.28.20 | |
| τηρεῖ | He does keep | John.9.16 |
| does keep | John.14.24 | |
| τηρήσῃ | may keep | Jas.2.10 |
| shall keep | John.8.51 • John.8.52 | |
| τηρήσουσιν | they will keep | John.15.20 |
| τηρήσητε | you shall keep | John.15.10 |
| τηρήσετε | you will keep | John.14.15 |
| τηρήσει | he will keep | John.14.23 |
| τηρήσατε | do keep | Jude.1.21 |
| τηρήσαντασ | having kept | Jude.1.6 |
| τετήρηκαν | they have kept | John.17.6 |
| τετήρηκα | I have kept | 2Tim.4.7 |
| have kept | John.15.10 | |
| τήρησον | do keep | Matt.19.17 |
| τήρει | do keep | Rev.3.3 |
Abbott-Smith
τηρέω, -ῶ [in LXX for שָׁמַר, נָצַר, etc. ;]
1. to watch over, guard, keep, preserve: Mt 27:36, Ac 16:23, al.; ἑαυτόν, II Co 11:9, I Ti 5:22, Ja 1:27, Ju 21; seq. εἰς, Jo 12:7, Ac 25:21, I Pe 1:4, II Pe 2:4, 9 3:7, Ju 6; ἐν, Jo 17:11, 12, Ju 21; ἐκ, Jo 17:15, Re 3:10; τ. πίστιν, II Ti 4:7, Re 14:12; τ. ἑνότητα τ. πνεύματος, Eph 4:3.
2. to watch, give heed to, observe: τ. σάββατον, Jo 9:16; τ. ἐντολήν (-άς), Mt 19:17, Jo 14:15 15:10, I Ti 6:14, I Jo 2:3, 4 3:22, 24 5:3, Re 12:17 14:12; τ. λόγον (-ους), Jo 8:51, 52, 55 14:23, 24 15:20 17:6, I Jo 2:5, Re 3:8, 10 22:7, 9; τ. νόμον, Ac 15:5, Ja 2:10; τ. παράδοσιν, Mk 7:9; τ. ἔργα, Re 2:26; τ. γεγραμμένα, Re 1:3 (cf. δια-, παρα-, συν-τηρέω)
SYN.: φυλάσσω, implying custody and protection: τ. expresses the idea of watchful care and "may mark the result of which φ. is the means" (Thayer s.v.).
Abbott-Smith References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Matthew | 19:17 · 27:36 |
| Mark | 7:9 |
| John | 8:51 · 8:52 · 8:55 · 9:16 · 12:7 · 14:15 · 14:23 · 14:24 · 15:10 · 15:20 · 17:6 · 17:11 · 17:12 · 17:15 |
| Acts | 15:5 · 16:23 · 25:21 |
| 2 Corinthians | 11:9 |
| Ephesians | 4:3 |
| 1 Timothy | 5:22 · 6:14 |
| 2 Timothy | 4:7 |
| James | 1:27 · 2:10 |
| 1 Peter | 1:4 |
| 2 Peter | 2:4 · 2:9 · 3:7 |
| 1 John | 2:3 · 2:4 · 2:5 · 3:22 · 3:24 · 5:3 |
| Jude | 1:6 · 1:21 |
| Revelation | 1:3 · 2:26 · 3:8 · 3:10 · 12:17 · 14:12 · 22:7 · 22:9 |
Liddell-Scott-Jones
τηρέω-έω
(τη- also in Doric dialect, [τηρέωέω)">Refs 7th c.BC+], perfect τετήρηκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—watch over, take care of, guard, δώματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; rarely of persons, δαιμόνων.., αἵτινες τηρέωοῦμεν ὑμᾶς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. τὴν ἀρχήν maintain it, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —passive, τὸ ἔξωθεν [τεῖχος] ἐτηρέωεῖτο was constantly guarded, [Refs 5th c.BC+]future middle τηρέωήσομαι in passive sense, [Refs]
__2 τ. ὅπως.. ἔσται take care that.. , [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τ. μὴ.. cavere ne.. , [Refs 5th c.BC+]: also in middle, τηρέωώμεσθ᾽, ὅπως μὴ.. αἰσθήσεται [τηρέωοῦ μὴ λάβῃς ὑπώπια [prev. work] 1386. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]
__3 τηρέωεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ πυρός protect them from the fire, i.e. cook them slowly, Bilabel Ὀψαρτ.[Refs]
__II give heed to, watch narrowly, observe, τηρέωῶ αὐτοὺς οὐδὲ δοκῶν ὁρᾶν κλέπτοντας [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 watch for a person or thing, with a participle, παραστείχοντα τηρέωήσας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔνδον ὄντα τηρέωήσαντες αὐτόν having watched for his being within, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. τὸν πορθμὸν κατιόντος τοῦ ἀνέμου watching for a crossing with the wind blowing down, [Refs]; τ. τινὰ ἀνιόντα watch for one's coming up, [τηρέωῆσαι 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.65; τ. νύκτα χειμέριον [prev. author] 3.22, compare 4.27 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; νύκτα καὶ ὕδωρ, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὴν θήραν τ. [Refs] —passive, ὁ καιρὸς ἐτηρέωήθη was watched for, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.3 absolutely, watch, keep watch, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, watch or look out, so as to.., ἐτήρουν ἀνέμῳ καταφέρεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4 observe, notice, [μετακόσμησιν σωμάτων] [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.5 test by observation or trial, τετηρέωημένον βοήθημα an approved method of treatment, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; as Empiric term, τετηρέωημένης ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῖς τῆς θεραπείας, οὐκ ἐνδεικτικῶς εὑρισκομένης [τηρέωῆσθαι φλεβοτομίαν [prev. author] 15.766. ">Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__III observe or keep an engagement, ὅρκους [NT+5th c.BC+]
__III.2 preserve, retain, τὰς αἰσθήσεις uncertain in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
LSJ Scripture Refs: 2Tim.4.7