τηρ-έω G5083
To watch over, guard, keep, or observe; ranging from obeying commands to protecting persons to reserving things for the future.
In the New Testament, τηρέω carries a rich range of meaning anchored in the idea of vigilant attention. Most often it describes the faithful observance of commandments and teachings — when Jesus says "if you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15), the word conveys not grudging compliance but attentive devotion. Hindi मानना ('to obey') and Arabic حفظ ('to preserve, observe') both capture this sense well. The word also extends to guarding persons from danger, as when Jesus prays that the Father would "keep" his disciples (John 17:11). In a handful of passages, especially in the Petrine epistles, it describes something reserved or preserved for a future purpose — an inheritance "kept in heaven" (1 Pet 1:4). Korean 예비되다 ('be reserved') and 보존된 ('preserved') neatly distinguish this third sense from the more active first two.
2. guard or protect someone — To guard, watch over, or protect a person or thing from harm, loss, or escape. This is the classical Greek core — Aristophanes and Thucydides use it of guarding walls and watching prisoners. In the NT, Jesus declares he has 'kept' his disciples in the Father's name (John 17:12), and soldiers are set to 'guard' the tomb (Matt 27:36). Hindi पहरा देना ('keep watch') and Swahili -linda ('guard, protect') capture the watchful protective aspect well. The sense shades from physical custody (Acts 12:5, Peter kept in prison) to spiritual preservation. 23×
amh["ጠብቁ","ጠብቋቸዋል"]·AR["أَنْ-يُحْرَسَ","أَنْ-يُحْفَظَ","احفظوا","احْفَظْ","الحُرّاسُ","اِحْفَظْ","حفظ","حَرَسُوهُ","حَفِظْتُ","سَأَحْفَظُ","كَانُوا-يَحْرُسُونَ","كُنْتُ-أَحْفَظُ","يَحفَظُهُ","يَحْرُسُونَ"]·ben["পালন-কর","পালন-করেছি","পাহারা-দিচ্ছিল","পাহারা-দিতে","পাহারাদারীরা","প্রহরীরা","রক্ষা-কর","রক্ষা-করতাম","রক্ষা-করেন","রাখ।","রাখব।","রেখেছি","রেখেছি।","রেখেছেন"]·ces["střeží","zachovejte"]·dan["bevar,","har-bevaret;"]·DE["bewahren","bewahret","bewahrt","hat-er-bewahrt"]·ell["τετήρηκεν·","τηρήσατε,"]·EN["I-have-kept","I-kept","I-will-keep","have-kept","he-has-kept","keep","keeping-guard","keeps","they-were-keeping-guard","to-be-kept","was-keeping","were-keeping"]·FR["garder","gardez,","il-a-gardés;","préserver"]·guj["રાખો,","રાખ્યા-છે;"]·hat["kenbe"]·hau["ku-kiyaye","ya-kiyaye-su"]·heb["אֶשְׁמֹר","לְהִשָׁמֵר","לִשְׁמֹר","שְׁמֹר","שָׁמְר-וּ","שָׁמְרוּ","שָׁמַרְתִּי","שׁוֹמְרִים","שׁוֹמֵר","שמר","שמרו"]·HI["पहरा-दे-रहे-थे","पहरा-देते-थे","पहरा-देनेवाले","पहरेदार","मअन","मान","माना-है","मैंने-रखा","रख","रख.","रखा-है।","रखाजाना","रखूंगा","रखेजाना","रखेजाने","रखो","सुरक्षित-रख","सुरक्षित-रखता-था","सुरक्षित-रखता-है"]·hun["megtartotta","tartsátok-meg"]·ID["Aku-menaati","Ia-telah-simpan","akan-aku-jaga","aku-menjaga","aku-telah-menjaga","dijaga","jagalah","memelihara","menjaga","mereka-menjaga","peliharalah","yang-menjaga"]·IT["custodire","custodite","ha-custodito"]·jav["badhé-kula-jagi","ingkang-njagi","jagènana","kacekel","kula-jagi","kula-jagi.","netepi,","njagi","padha-jagi.","prajurit-jagi,","reksa","rumeksa","sampun-njagi","tetepna"]·JA["守れ","彼は守っている"]·KO["지켜라.","지켜져야-한다고","지켰고","지켰다","지키고-있었다","지키는","지키는-자들-이","지키되","지키라","지키셨느니라","지키소서","지키신다","지킬-것이다"]·mar["राखले-आहे;","राखा,"]·mya["စောင့်ထိန်းကြ","စောင့်ထိန်းထားခဲ့"]·nld["bewaard-heeft","bewaart"]·nor["bevar","har-bevart"]·pnb["رکھو","رکھیا"]·pol["zachowajcie","zachował"]·PT["conserva","guarda","guardai","guardando","guardarei","guardava","guardavam","guardei","guardou","o-guarda,","para-ser-guardado","ser-guardado","tenho-guardado"]·ron["i-a-păzit;","păziți-vă,"]·RU["охранять","охраняться","соблюдай","сохрани","сохранил","сохраните","сохраню","сохраняй","стерегли","стерегущие","хранил","хранит","я-сохранил"]·ES["custodiaban","guarda","guardaba","guardaban","guardad","guardaré","guardé","ha-guardado.","he-guardado","le-guarda","que-guardaban","ser-custodiado","ser-guardado"]·SW["-","amewahifadhi","anamlinda","jilinde","jilindeni","kulindwa","nilijilinda,","niliwahifadhi","nimelinda","nimezishika","nitajilinda.","ushike","walilinda","walimlinda","walinde","walinzi","waliomlinda"]·swe["bevara","har-han-bevarat"]·tam["காத்திருக்கிறார்","காத்துக்கொள்ளுங்கள்"]·tel["ఉంచియున్నాడు","కాపాడుకొనుడి"]·tgl["ingatan","iniingatan"]·TH["พระองค์ทรงรักษาไว้","รักษาไว้"]·TR["bekleyenler","bekliyorlardı","koru","korunmasını","korur","koruyordum","koruyun,","sakladı;","tut","tutacağım","tuttum","tutulmasını","tutuyorlardı"]·ukr["збережіть","зберіг"]·urd["حفاظت-کرتا-ہے","رکھا","رکھا-ہے","رکھنا","رکھو","رکھوں-گا","رکھ۔","مان","محفوظ رکھ","محفوظ رکھتا تھا","میں-نے-حفاظت-کیا-ہے","پالن-کر","پورا کیا ہے","پہرہ-دیتے-تھے","پہرہ-دینے-والوں-نے","پہرہ-کرتے-تھے","پہرے-دار"]·VI["Ngài-đã-giữ","hãy-giữ"]·yor["ó-pa-mọ́;","ẹ-pa-mọ́,"]·yue["保守","保守住"]·ZH["祂保守着","要保守"]
Matt 19:17, Matt 27:36, Matt 27:54, Matt 28:4, John 15:10, John 17:11, John 17:12, John 17:15, Acts 12:6, Acts 24:23, Acts 25:4, Acts 25:21 (+11 more)
▼ 3 more senses below
Senses
1. observe or obey commands — The most frequent NT sense: to observe, obey, or keep commandments, teachings, words, or the law with faithful attentiveness. Hindi मानना ('to obey') and Arabic حفظ (in the sense of religious observance) confirm the core notion of careful adherence. Exemplified in Matt 28:20 ('teaching them to observe all I commanded you') and John 8:51 ('if anyone keeps my word, he shall never see death'). The emphasis falls less on mere compliance and more on vigilant, loving fidelity to what has been entrusted. 41×
AR["أَن-تَحفَظوا","أَن-يَحفَظَ","أَنْ-تَحْفَظَ","أَنْ-يَحْفَظَ","الحافِظينَ","الحافِظُ","الَّذي يَحْفَظُ","حافِظينَ","حافِظُ","حَفِظَ","حِفظُ","نَحفَظُ","يَحفَظ","يَحفَظُ","يَحْفَظُهَا"]·ben["পালন-করতে","পালন-করি","পালন-করে","পালনকারী","পালনকারীরা","যে-পালন-করে","রাখতে","রাখা"]·DE["bewahren","bewahrt"]·EN["keeping","keeps","to-keep","we-keep"]·FR["garder","préserver"]·heb["הַ-שּׁוֹמְרִים","הַשּׁוֹמְרִים","יִשְׁמֹר","לִ-שְׁמֹר","לִשְׁמֹר","נִשְׁמֹר","שׁוֹמְרִים","שׁוֹמֵר"]·HI["जो-मानता-है","पालन-करनेवाले","मानता-रहे","मानता-रहेगा","मानता-है","मानने-वाला","मानने-वाले","माने","रखन","रखना","हम-मानते-हैं","हम-मानें"]·ID["kita-pelihara,","kita-pelihara.","kita-pelihara;","memelihara","memelihara,","menaati","menaatinya","menepati,","menjaga","menyimpan;","yang-memelihara","yang-menjaga"]·IT["custodire"]·jav["ingkang-netepi","kawula-tetepi","netepi","njagi","njagi,","njagi;","nyimpen,","tiyang-tiyang-ingkang-netepi"]·KO["우리-가-지키도록","우리-가-지키면","우리-가-지킨다","지키기를","지키기를;","지키는","지키는-것","지키는-자","지키는-자가","지키는-자들","지키다가,","지키라고","지키려","지키면"]·PT["guarda","guarda,","guardamos,","guardando","guardar","guardarmos.","guardemos;","que-guarda","que-guardam"]·RU["беречь","охранять","соблюдаем,","соблюдаем.","соблюдает","соблюдали.","соблюдающие","соблюдающий","соблюдающий,","соблюдёт,","сохранит","сохранить","сохранять","сохраняющими","хранить"]·ES["guarda","guardamos","guardando","guardar","guarde","guardemos","que-guarda","que-guardan"]·SW["anayeshika","anayezishika","atashika","ayashikaye","kuhifadhi","kujilinda","kulishika","kumhifadhi","kuwalinda","kuwaweka","shiki","tunazishika","tuzishike","wayashikao","wazishikao"]·TR["korumak","o-","tutalım","tutan","tutanlar","tutarsa","tutmak","tutmayı","tutuyorsak","tutuyoruz"]·urd["رکھنا","رکھنا؛","رکھنے-والا","رکھنے-والوں","رکھے٬","قائم-رکھنے-کو","مانتا،","مانتے-ہیں،","ماننا","ماننے-والا","ماننے-والے","مانیں؛","مانیں۔","مانے","پورا کرنے والا"]
Matt 23:3, Matt 28:20, Mark 7:9, John 2:10, John 8:51, John 8:52, John 8:55, John 9:16, John 12:7, John 14:15, John 14:21, John 14:23 (+29 more)
3. reserve or preserve for future — To reserve or preserve something for a future time or purpose, typically appearing in passive constructions. Peter speaks of an inheritance 'kept in heaven for you' (1 Pet 1:4) and of the heavens and earth 'reserved for fire' (2 Pet 3:7). Korean 예비되다 ('be reserved') and Arabic محفوظ ('preserved, kept in store') isolate this sense from active guarding. The emphasis is on something being held in a state of readiness for a coming moment — whether of blessing or judgment. 7×
amh["ለተጠበቁ","ተጠብቆላቸዋል"]·AR["تُحْفَظْ","محفوظة","محفوظين","مَحفوظينَ","مَحفوظٌ","مَحفوظٍ","مَحفوظَةٌ"]·ben["রক্ষিত","রক্ষিত-হওয়া","রক্ষিত-হোক","রাখা-আছে"]·ces["je-zachována","zachovaným"]·dan["bevarede","er-bevaret."]·DE["Bewahrten","bewahren","bewahrt-ist"]·ell["τετήρηται.","τετηρημένοις"]·EN["being-kept","has-been-kept","has-been-reserved","having-been-kept","may-be-kept"]·FR["est-réservée.","gardés","préserver"]·guj["રાખવામાં-આવ્યો-છે.","સાચવી-રખાયેલા"]·hat["kenbe"]·hau["an-kiyaye","an-kiyaye-su"]·heb["הַנִּשְׁמָרִים","השמורים","יִשָּׁמֵר","נִשְׁמֶרֶת","שְׁמוּרִים","שְׁמוּרָה","שמורה"]·HI["रख-जअये","रखा-गया-है","रखा-गया-है।","रखी-हुई","रखे-गए","रखे-जाते-हुए","रखे-जाने-के-लिए"]·hun["megtartottaknak","tartatik"]·ID["dipelihara","dipelihara;","disimpan.","telah-disimpan","terpelihara","yang-dipelihara","yang-tersimpan"]·IT["custodire","custoditi","è-riservata"]·jav["dijagi","dipun-rumeksa.","kajagi","kajagi;","kang-kasimpen","kasimpen.","sampun-dijagi"]·JA["守られた者たち-に","守られている"]·KO["보전되기를.","보존된","예비되었느니라","예비되었다.","지켜지는-자들이","지켜진","지키는-자들로;"]·mar["राखला-आहे।","राखलेल्यांना"]·mya["စောင့်ထိန်းခြင်းခံသော","သိုလှောင်ထားခဲ့"]·nld["bewaard-is","bewaarden"]·nor["bevarte","er-bevart"]·pnb["رکھیا","سنبھالے"]·pol["zachowany-jest","zachowanym"]·PT["está-reservada","guardados","reservada","seja-guardado","sendo-reservados"]·ron["este-păstrat.","păziți"]·RU["да-сохранится","соблюдённому","сохраняемые","сохраняемых","сохраняется","сохранён","сохранённым"]·ES["está-reservada","guardados","ha-sido-reservada.","reservada","sea-guardado","siendo-guardados","siendo-reservados"]·SW["ihifadhiwe","limehifadhiwa","uliohifadhiwa","wakihifadhiwa","waliohifadhiwa","zikihifadhiwa"]·swe["bevarade","är-bevarat"]·tam["காக்கப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு","வைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது"]·tel["ఉంచబడియున్నది","కాపాడబడినవారికి"]·tgl["iniingatan"]·TH["ถูกรักษาไว้"]·TR["korunmuşlara","korunsun","saklanmış","saklanmıştır","saklanmıştır.","tutulanlar","tutulanları"]·ukr["збереженим","збережено"]·urd["رکھا-گیا-ہے۔","رکھی-گئی-ہے","رکھے-گئے","رکھے-گئے؛","محفوظ","محفوظ-رکھی-گئی","محفوظ-رہے"]·VI["được-giữ","được-gìn-giữ"]·yor["a-ti-pa-mọ́.","tí-a-pa-mọ́"]·yue["保留","被保守-嘅"]·ZH["蒙保守的","被保留着"]
4. sense 4 — A single occurrence in Acts 12:5 where Peter 'was being kept' in prison — the imperfective passive highlighting the ongoing, continuous nature of his custody. While closely related to the guarding sense (sense 2), the multilingual evidence (Spanish era-custodiado, German bewahrt) shows translators treating this as a sustained state rather than a punctual act. It may represent a marginal overlap between the 'guard' and 'reserve' senses, describing someone held under watch for an impending event (his scheduled trial). 1×
AR["كَانَ-مَحْرُوسًا"]·ben["রাখা-হচ্ছিল"]·DE["bewahrt"]·EN["was-being-kept"]·FR["garder"]·heb["נִשְׁמַר"]·HI["रखा-जाता-था"]·ID["dijaga"]·IT["custodire"]·jav["kajagi"]·KO["갇혀-있었다"]·RU["содержался"]·ES["era-custodiado"]·SW["alihifadhiwa"]·TR["tutuluyordu"]·urd["رکھا-گیا-تھا"]
Related Senses
H8104 1. Qal: keep, observe (law/covenant) (399×)G3101 1. disciple, learner (263×)H5647 1. worship, serve (God/deity) (203×)H5826 1. Qal: to help, aid (53×)H8334 1. to minister, serve (52×)H8334 2. minister, servant, attendant (46×)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×)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×)G3936 1. present, offer, yield (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
τηρ-έω (τη- also in Doric dialect, 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 τηροῦμεν ὑμᾶς Refs 5th c.BC+; τ. τὴν ἀρχήν maintain it, Refs 2nd c.BC+ —passive, τὸ ἔξωθεν [τεῖχος] ἐτηρεῖτο was constantly guarded, Refs 5th c.BC+future middle τηρήσομαι in passive sense, Refs __2 τ. ὅπως.. ἔσται take…