ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA GRIEGA
Para (G3844) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Para (παρά) is a Greek preposition meaning 'beside' or 'near,' whose meaning shifts with the genitive, dative, or accusative case to convey source, presence, motion, or comparison.
Significado de la palabra
The core idea of παρά is 'beside' or 'near,' a spatial sense that extends figuratively into source, comparison, and opposition. Because Greek prepositions are case-sensitive, the same word takes on different shadings depending on the case it governs.
With the genitive, παρά points to source or origin, answering 'from beside whom?' or 'from whose side?' It is used after verbs of motion, receiving, or hearing to indicate the one from whom something comes, and after passive verbs it can even mark the agent (similar to ὑπό). It can also refer to a person's family or possessions, as in 'his people' (Mark 3:21) or 'what one has to live on' (Mark 5:26; Luke 10:7; Philippians 4:18).
With the dative, παρά indicates location: 'beside,' 'by,' or 'in the presence of' a person. It can be used at home (παρ᾽ ἑαυτῷ, 1 Corinthians 16:2), among a group (Matthew 22:25), or in the sense of 'in the sight of' God (Luke 1:30; Romans 2:13; James 1:27). With the accusative, it describes motion toward or alongside a place, and figuratively adds ideas of comparison ('more than,' Hebrews 1:4), opposition ('against,' Acts 18:13; Romans 1:26), or exception ('except,' 2 Corinthians 11:24).
Uso en las Escrituras
Para appears about 166 times in the New Testament, making it one of the most versatile prepositions in Greek. In narrative settings it commonly describes Jesus' physical location, sitting by the sea (Matthew 13:1) or walking beside it (Matthew 4:18), giving readers a sense of proximity and immediacy.
Beyond geography, παρά carries theological weight. Jesus says that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26, Para anthrōpois… para theō), contrasting human limitation with divine power. The same construction frames the relationship between faith and sight (Luke 1:30), law and practice (Romans 2:13), and pure religion before God (James 1:27). In compound verbs it contributes shades such as 'beside' (paralambanō), 'past' (parerchomai), and 'compared with' (paromoiazō), extending the preposition's reach into thousands of derived words.
In the provided examples, παρά marks the source of Herod's information (Matthew 2:7, 2:16), the way-side where seed falls (Matthew 13:4), and the heavenly Father from whom answered prayer comes (Matthew 18:19). These uses illustrate how a single preposition can be both literally spatial and theologically loaded.
La palabra en detalle
- G3844 Para (παρά) is a case-sensitive preposition whose three core uses—genitive (source), dative (presence), and accusative (motion/comparison)—must be read in context. The extended definition draws on Cremer's and other classical lexica, noting Septuagint background (מֵאֵצֶל, מִיַד, אֵצֶל, etc.). Pay attention to whether the following noun is personal, local, or abstract, as that determines the case and the resulting English gloss.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Matthew 4:18 Para with the accusative of place: Jesus walks beside the Sea of Galilee, illustrating the spatial 'alongside' sense of the preposition in narrative.
- Matthew 13:1 Mark 5:21 and Luke 8:35 use the same construction (καθίσθη παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν), showing παρά with accusative after verbs of rest still implying close proximity.
- Matthew 19:26 Para with the dative in a theological comparison: 'with men… with God.' The same preposition in the same verse contrasts human impossibility with divine possibility.
- Matthew 2:16 Para with the genitive marks the source of Herod's information (παρὰ τῶν μάγων), illustrating the 'from beside' sense after verbs of learning or receiving.
Preguntas frecuentes
Why does para have so many different translations in English Bibles?
Because Greek prepositions change meaning with the case they govern, παρά can be rendered as 'from,' 'by,' 'beside,' 'with,' 'more than,' or 'against' depending on context. Translators choose the gloss that best fits each verse.
Is para ever used of God or Christ in a theological sense?
Yes. Passages like Matthew 19:26 (with God all things are possible), Luke 1:30 (grace in God's sight), and John 19:26 (those standing by the cross) use παρά to express both presence with and comparison to the divine.
What is the difference between para with the genitive and para with the dative?
The genitive points to source—'from beside' someone or something (e.g., learning from the magi). The dative indicates location or presence—'beside' or 'in the presence of' someone (e.g., standing by the cross).