Lexical Definition

‎φυλάσσω‎ phylássō (foo-las'-so) to keep/guard: observe ^G:V
probably from ‎φυλή‎ through the idea of isolation

beward, keep (self), observe, save.

• to watch, i.e. be on guard (literally of figuratively)
• by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid

Abbott-Smith

φυλάσσω [in LXX chiefly and very freq. for שָׁמַר, also for נָצַר, etc. ;]
to guard, watch;
(a) to guard or watch: c. cogn. acc., φυλακάς, Lk 2:8; c. acc. pers., Ac 12:4 28:16; pass., Lk 8:29, Ac 23:35; c. acc. rei, Ac 22:20;
(b) to guard or protect: c. acc., Lk 11:21, Jo 12:25 17:12, II Th 3:3, I Ti 6:20, II Ti 1:12, 14, II Pe 2:5; ἑαυτὸν ἀπό, I Jo 5:21 (Westc., in l.); metaph. of law, precept, etc., to keep, preserve, observe: Mt 19:20, Lk 11:28 18:21, Jo 12:47, Ac 7:53 16:4 21:24, Ro 2:26, Ga 6:13, I Ti 5:21. Mid., to be on one's guard (against), keep oneself from, beware of: c. acc., Ac 21:25, II Ti 4:15; seq. ἀπό., Lk 12:15; ἵνα μή, II Pe 3:17; as in LXX (Ex 12:17, Le 18:4, al.), of laws, etc., to keep, observe: ταῦτα πάντα, Mk 10:20 (cf. δια-φυάσσω).†
SYN.: τηρέω, q.v

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

φυλάσσω,

Attic dialect φυλάττω, Epic dialect infinitive φυλασσέμεναι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; poetry imperfect φύλασσε [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future φυλάξω [Refs 8th c.BC+]aorist ἐφύλαξα, Epic dialect φύλ- [Refs 8th c.BC+]: perfect πεφύλᾰχα [LXX+5th c.BC+]:—middle, future -άξομαι[Refs 5th c.BC+]; also in passive sense, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐφυλαξάμην [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, future -αχθήσομαι[Refs 1st c.BC+]: aorist ἐφυλάχθην [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: perfect πεφύλαγμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; imperative, only in middle sense in early writers, πεφύλαξο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; participle, [Refs 8th c.BC+]

__A absolutely, keep watch and ward, keep guard, especially by night, ἀνίη καὶ τὸ φυλάσσειν πάννυχον ἐγρήσσοντα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; εἰ μέν κ᾽ ἐν ποταμῷ δυσκηδέα νύκτα φυλάσσω [Refs 8th c.BC+]; (middle, see below c); σὺν κυσὶ.. φυλάσσοντας περὶ μῆλα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; φ. τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις keep watch for.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φ. ἕως.. watch or wait till.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φ. πηνίκα.. [NT+5th c.BC+]
__A.2 to be on one's guard, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B transitive, watch, guard, defend, ἀθανάτων ὅστις σε φυλάσσει [Refs 8th c.BC+]; σύας, μῆλα, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; φ. τινὰ ἀπὸ τῶν δυσχωριῶν guard one from.. [Refs 5th c.BC+] keep away from.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]: with accusative et infinitive, τοὐμὸν φυλάξει ὀ ὄνομα μὴ πάσχειν κακῶς [Refs 5th c.BC+]: followed by a relative clause, φ. ἑαυτὸν ὅπως μὴ ἀδικήσει [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φ. τινά, εἰ.. [Refs]:—passive, to be watched, kept under guard, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.2 watch for, lie in wait or ambush for, αὐτὸν ἰόντα λοχήσομαι ἠδὲ φυλάξω ἐν πορθμῷ Ἰθάκης [Refs 8th c.BC+]; φ. τὸ σύμβολον look out for the signal-fire, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; keep a watch on, [τινα] [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.2.b especially watch, wait for, observe an appointed time or a fixed event, τὴν κνρίην τῶν ἡμερέων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φυλάξαντες νύκτα wait for night, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with a participle added, δείλην ὀψίην γινομένην φυλάξαντες [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀριστοποιουμένους φ. τοὺς στρατιώτας
__D [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__D.3 metaphorically, preserve, maintain, cherish, [χόλον] [Refs 8th c.BC+]; φ. ἔπος observe a command,[Refs 5th c.BC+]; λόγον πρός τινα [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; φ. σιγήν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐ γὰρ ἀπειλὰς ὑμετέρας ἐφύλαξα I regarded not your threats, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; φ. σκαιοσύναν cling to it, foster it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φ. τὸν θυμόν[Refs 5th c.BC+]; τἀγαθά, opposed to κτήσασθαι, [Refs 4th c.BC+]: with a predicate added, φ. τινά δεδεμένον [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, ὅσος παρ᾽ ὑμῖν ὁ φθόνος φυλάττεται is fostered by.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__D.4 keep in a place, continue in, τόδε δῶμα φυλάσσοις, ἀθάνατός τ᾽ εἴης [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__D.5 notice, observe, Ath. [prev. cited]
__D.6 maintain, hold fast to a view, τινὰ σπουδαῖον εἶναι [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__D.7 with accusative, beware of, avoid, ἅπαντα ταῦτα φυλάττειν κελεύει [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__D.8 φ. μὴ with subjunctive, take care lest.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φ. ἐμὲ καὶ τηρεῖν ὅπως μή.. [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__D.9 middle, φυλάξασθε τοῦ ἀγαπᾶν Κύριον be careful to.., [LXX]
__C middle,
__C.I absolutely, to be on one's guard, keep watch, [Refs 8th c.BC+] only in participle, νύκτα φυλασσομένοισι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι to be cautious, prudent,[Refs 5th c.BC+]with caution, [Refs]
__C.I.2 with accusative, keep a thing by one, bear it in mind or memory, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; more fully, ἐν θυμῷ δ᾽ εὖ πάντα φυλάσσεο[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.I.3 guard, keep safe, καὶ κεφαλὴν πεφύλαξο Oracle texts cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.I.4 with genitive, φυλάσσεσθαι τῶν νεῶν μὴ ξυντρίψωσιν act cautiously with regard to the ships, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; beware of, τῶν εὖ φύλαξαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.II φυλάσσεσθαί τι or τινα to beware of, be on one's guard against, avoid a thing or person, [Refs 7th c.BC+]; τινας [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.II.b ἐφυλαξάμην διαλέκτους I put in as a precaution 'except in dialects', [Refs]
__C.II.2 φ. πρός τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.II.3 with infinitive, φυλάξομαι δὲ τάσδε μεμνῆσθαι.. ἐφετμάς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but also without μή, ἵνα.. τις ὕστερον φυλάσσηται ἐπὶ γῆν τὴν σὴν στρατεύεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.II.4 φ. μή followed by subjunctive, take care lest.., τούτου φυλάσσου μή ποτ᾽ ἀχθεσθῇ κέαρ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so φ. ὅπως μή.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.1Kgs.25.21 ☩ Luke.2.8 ☩ LXX.Josh.23.11}