σκοπέω
To watch out
Reading a lexicon entry
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Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does σκοπέω (skopéō) mean in the Bible?
σκοπέω (skopéō) is a Greek word meaning "to watch out". ακοπέω, -ῶ (σκοπός), [in LXX: Est. Calls for active vigilance in protecting doctrinal purity.
Meaning
Means to look carefully and purposefully, often implying watchful consideration or scrutiny of a specific target.
(σκοπός), [in LXX: Est.8:13, 2Ma.4:5 * ;] to look at, behold, watch, contemplate. Metaphorical, to look to, consider: with accusative of thing(s), 2Co.4:13, Php.2:4; with accusative of person(s), Rom.16:17, Php.3:17; before μή, Luk.11:35; σεαυτόν, before μή (see M, Pr., 192), Gal.6:1 (cf. ἐπι-, κατα-σκοπέω).
Why This Word Matters
Calls for active vigilance in protecting doctrinal purity. Romans 16:17-20
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Imperative command or strong request 2×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 3×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 6 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
New Testament Witnesses
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain