παρά-κλητος G3875
Advocate, Helper, Comforter; one called alongside to aid, used of the Holy Spirit and of Christ.
A richly layered title meaning one called alongside to help — an advocate, counselor, or comforter. In the Upper Room Discourse (John 14–16), Jesus promises 'another Paraclete' (John 14:16), identifying the Holy Spirit as the one who will teach, remind, testify, convict, and guide into all truth. The word implies Jesus himself was the first Paraclete, and 1 John 2:1 confirms this explicitly: 'we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ the righteous.' The Spanish split between 'Abogado' (advocate, legal) and 'Consolador' (comforter, emotional) reveals the term's dual legal and pastoral dimensions, while the German 'Troester' and French 'Consolateur' emphasize the comforting aspect.
Senses
1. sense 1 — An advocate, helper, or comforter — one summoned to stand alongside another in support, whether as a legal defender or a strengthening companion. The term carries forensic origins (a legal assistant in court proceedings), which surfaces in 1 John 2:1 where the risen Christ serves as our παράκλητος before the Father. In John's Farewell Discourse, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit 'another Paraclete' (ἄλλον παράκλητον, John 14:16), implying he himself was the first. The Spirit-Paraclete will teach (14:26), testify (15:26), convict the world (16:7–11), and guide into all truth (16:13). The multilingual translations beautifully reveal the semantic breadth: Spanish 'Abogado' preserves the legal-advocacy sense, while 'Consolador,' French 'Consolateur,' and German 'Troester' emphasize the comforting, strengthening dimension. 5×
AR["-مُعَزِّي", "شَفيعٌ", "مُعَزِّي", "مُعَزِّيًا"]·ben["সহায়কারী", "সাহায্যকারী"]·DE["Troester"]·EN["Helper", "Parakletos", "an-Advocate"]·FR["Consolateur"]·heb["מֵלִיץ", "פָּרָקְלִיט"]·HI["सहायक"]·ID["Pengantara", "Penghibur"]·IT["parakleton", "parakletos", "paraklēton"]·jav["Juru-Panglipur", "Juru-Panglipur,", "Pangayom", "Panglipur", "Panglipur,"]·KO["대언자-를", "보혜자", "보혜자-가", "보혜자가", "보혜자를"]·PT["Advogado", "Consolador"]·RU["Заступника", "Утешитель", "Утешителя"]·ES["Abogado", "Consolador"]·SW["Mfariji", "Msaidizi", "Mwombezi"]·TR["Avukat", "Yardımcı"]·urd["مددگار"]
Related Senses
H8104 1. Qal: keep, observe (law/covenant) (399×)G3101 1. disciple, learner (263×)H5826 1. Qal: to help, aid (53×)H8334 1. to minister, serve (52×)H8334 2. minister, servant, attendant (46×)G5083 1. observe or obey commands (41×)H8104 2. Niphal: beware, take heed (34×)G1247 1. to serve or minister to (32×)H3256 1. discipline, chastise (Piel active) (27×)H5833 1. help, aid, assistance (26×)H8104 3. Qal: watch, look out (26×)H5341 1. keep, observe (commandments) (24×)G5083 2. guard or protect someone (23×)H5647 2. serve, minister to (a person) (21×)H5826 2. Qal participle: helper (21×)G5219 1. obey, be obedient to (20×)H5341 2. guard, protect, preserve (a person) (20×)G1398 1. serve, render service to (19×)H5828 1. help, assistance (19×)H5411 1. Nethinim, temple servants (18×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
παρά-κλητος, ον, called to one's aid, in a court of justice: as substantive, legal assistant, advocate, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 summoned, δοῦλοι Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II intercessor, NT+1st c.AD+, of the Holy Spirit, NT