Original Word: παροικέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: paroikeó
Pronunciation: pah-roy-KEH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (par-oy-keh'-o)
KJV: sojourn in, be a stranger
NASB: lived as an alien, visiting
Word Origin: [from G3844 (παρά - than) and G3611 (οἰκέω - dwells)]

1. to dwell near, i.e. reside as a foreigner

sojourn in, be a stranger.

From para and oikeo; to dwell near, i.e. Reside as a foreigner -- sojourn in, be a stranger.

see GREEK para

see GREEK oikeo

Word Origin
from para and oikeó
Definition
to dwell near, i.e. reside as a foreigner
NASB Translation
lived as an alien (1), visiting (1).

STRONGS NT 3939: παροικέω

παροικέω, παροίκῳ; 1 aorist παρῴκησα;

1. properly, to dwell beside (one) or in one's neighborhood (παρά, IV. 1); to live near; (Xenophon, Thucydides, Isocrates, others).

2. in the Scriptures to be or dwell in a place as a stranger, to sojourn (the Sept. for גּוּר, several times also for יָשַׁב and שָׁכַן): followed by ἐν with a dative of place, Luke 24:18 R L (Genesis 20:1; Genesis 21:34; Genesis 26:3; Exodus 12:40, the Alex. manuscript; Leviticus 18:3 (Ald.), etc.); with an accusative of place, ibid. G T Tr WH (Genesis 17:8; Exodus 6:4); εἰς with the accusative of place (in pregnant construction; see εἰς, C. 2), Hebrews 11:9. (Metaphorically and absolutely, to dwell on the earth, Philo de cherub. § 34 (cf. Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 1, 1 [ET] and Lightfoot and Harnack at the passage; Holtzmann, Einl. ins N. T., p. 484f. Synonym: see κατοικέω.).)

Biblical Occurrences

Strong’s Greek 3939 appears twice: Luke 24:18—where Cleopas calls Jesus the “only visitor to Jerusalem”—and Hebrews 11:9, which describes Abraham dwelling in the promised land “as a stranger in a foreign country.” In both contexts the verb conveys residence that is real yet temporary, underscoring the pilgrims’ status of the speaker or subject.

Historical and Cultural Background

In the Greco-Roman world, a resident alien had limited rights, paid special taxes, and depended on local goodwill. Scripture assumes this social reality (Genesis 23:4; Exodus 22:21) and often elevates it: God’s people are repeatedly reminded that they were once sojourners and therefore must show hospitality to outsiders (Leviticus 19:34). The two New Testament uses of 3939 retain that cultural backdrop while advancing a redemptive-historical theme: the faithful live in lands they do not finally possess.

Theological Significance

1. Faith’s Pilgrim Nature: Hebrews 11:9 links the temporary dwelling of Abraham to the forward-looking faith commended throughout the chapter. His tents testify that God’s promise extends beyond present geography to “the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10).
2. Spiritual Outsider Status: Cleopas’s question in Luke 24:18 unintentionally highlights Jesus’ hidden identity; the risen Lord is perceived as a mere passer-by. The narrative illustrates how divine purposes may be veiled to those settled in the world’s system.
3. Covenant Continuity: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—named together in Hebrews—share the same promissory future. Their joint sojourning models generational faithfulness for New-Covenant believers who likewise “look for a better country—a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16).

Practical Ministry Applications

• Hospitality: Since God “loves the foreigner residing among you” (Deuteronomy 10:18), churches extend welcome to refugees, immigrants, students, and the socially displaced.
• Detachment from Materialism: Temporary lodging imagery warns against rooting identity in possessions (Matthew 6:19-21).
• Perseverance in Trial: Knowing one is “a stranger and an exile” (1 Peter 2:11) steadies the soul amid cultural marginalization.

Related Concepts and Cross-References

• Paroikos (3900) and Parepidēmos (3927) describe foreigners and exiles (Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter 2:11).
• Old-Testament precedents: Abraham in Canaan (Genesis 17:8), Israel in Egypt (Exodus 6:4), and Judah in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:4-7).
• Pilgrimage Psalms (Psalms 120–134) reinforce the journey motif.

Christological Implications

Jesus fulfills the pattern of the sojourner: “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20). His earthly ministry was marked by dependence on the Father and the hospitality of others, culminating in the cross outside Jerusalem’s gate (Hebrews 13:12). Believers united to Christ share His pilgrim identity while awaiting resurrection life in the new creation.

Eschatological Hope

The verb 3939 propels hearts toward the consummation. Earthly tenure is provisional; citizenship is “in heaven, from which we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Until then, disciples occupy foreign soil as ambassadors, expecting the day when the temporary gives way to permanent inheritance.

παροικεί παροίκει παροικείν παροικεις παροικείς παροικεῖς παροικήσαι παροικήσει παροικήσεως παροικήσεώς παροικήσης παροικήσουσι παροικήσουσί παροικήσουσιν παροικήσω παροικούντα παροικούντας παροικούντες παροικούντων παροικούσιν παροικώ παροικών παρώκει παρωκήκασιν παρώκησα παρωκήσαμεν παρώκησαν παρώκησας παρωκήσατε παρώκησε παρωκησεν παρώκησεν παρῴκησεν paroikeis paroikeîs parṓikesen parṓikēsen parokesen parōkēsenInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts