Original Word: παρακούω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: parakouó
Pronunciation: pah-rah-KOO-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (par-ak-oo'-o)
KJV: neglect to hear
NASB: refuses to listen, overhearing
Word Origin: [from G3844 (παρά - than) and G191 (ἀκούω - heard)]

1. to mishear
2. (by implication) to disobey

neglect to hear.

From para and akouo; to mishear, i.e. (by implication) to disobey -- neglect to hear.

see GREEK para

see GREEK akouo

Cognate: 3878 parakoúō – properly, to hear in a contrary (flawed) way, i.e. is inattentive and refuses to regard sound counsel.

Word Origin
from para and akouó
Definition
to overhear, to hear amiss, to take no heed
NASB Translation
overhearing (1), refuses to listen (2).

STRONGS NT 3878: παρακούω

παρακούω: 1 aorist παρήκουσα;

1. to hear aside i. e. casually or carelessly or amiss (see παρά, IV. 2) (often so in classical Greek; on the frequent use of this verb by Philo see Siegfried, Philo van Alex. as above with (1875), p. 106).

2. to be unwilling to hear, i. e. on hearing to neglect, to pay no heed to (with a genitive of the person, Polybius 2, 8, 3; 3, 15, 2); contrary to Greek usage (but cf. Plutarch, Philop. § 16, 1 καί παριδεῖν τί καί παρακουσαι τῶν ἁμαρτανομενων, de curios. § 14 πείρω καί τῶν ἰδίων ἐνια παρακουσαι πότε καί παριδεῖν, with an accusative, τόν λόγον, Mark 5:36 T WH Tr text (others, 'overhearing the word as it was being spoken'; cf. Buttmann, 302 (259)); to refuse to hear, pay no regard to, disobey: τίνος, what one says, Matthew 18:17 (Tobit 3:4; τά ὑπό τοῦ βασιλέως λεγόμενα, Esther 3:3).

Overview of the Term

The verb under consideration portrays a deliberate refusal to heed what is heard—more than a mere failure to perceive, it is an intentional setting-aside of a spoken word. In its three New Testament appearances, it marks decisive moments where either unbelief is overcome or stubbornness is exposed.

Usage in the Synoptic Gospels

Mark 5:36 presents the most vivid instance. As anxious messengers announce the death of Jairus’ daughter, the text records that Jesus “overhearing what was spoken said to the synagogue ruler, ‘Do not fear; only believe’” (Berean Standard Bible). The Lord purposefully disregards words of despair so that faith might prevail. His act embodies righteous “selective hearing,” teaching believers to sift every report through trust in God’s power.

Matthew 18:17 repeats the term twice in the context of church discipline: “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector”. Here the refusal underscores hardened resistance to corrective counsel. The twofold mention strengthens the legal tone of the procedure, showing that all due appeals have been exhausted.

Theological Implications

1. Faith’s triumph over fear

Jesus’ response in Mark ties hearing directly to believing. Disregarding unbelief is not denial of reality but submission to a higher reality—God’s sovereign ability. The passage affirms that true faith may require turning a deaf ear to voices that contradict divine promise.

2. Accountability within the covenant community

Matthew’s usage grounds the authority of the gathered church to render judgments when repeated admonitions are dismissed. The verb’s force indicates that disobedience is not passive but willful, creating a rupture that justifies formal separation.

3. Hearing and obedience as covenantal twins

Throughout Scripture, to “hear” ordinarily means to heed (for example, Deuteronomy 6:4–5). The refusal to hear is therefore tantamount to rebellion. The three occurrences highlight both sides: Christ models perfect discernment in what to ignore; unrepentant members display culpable deafness to truth.

Historical Development in Church Practice

Early Christian writers such as Ignatius of Antioch echoed Matthew 18, urging congregations to separate from those who obstinately refused apostolic teaching. The patristic era viewed the church not as a voluntary association but a covenant family where correction is an act of love. The Reformation, while redefining certain ecclesial structures, retained the principle that persistent refusal to hear warranted exclusion, maintaining holiness and safeguarding doctrine.

Connections with Old Testament Themes

Prophets repeatedly accused Israel of “ears but no hearing” (for example, Isaiah 6:9–10). The Greek term under study mirrors that prophetic indictment. Yet Mark 5 shows a positive counterpart: the Messiah Himself “hears” selectively, embodying the Servant who listens perfectly to the Father (Isaiah 50:4–5). Thus the Gospels present both the ideal listener and the peril of not listening.

Practical Lessons for Discipleship

• Guard the gateway of the ear. Like Jesus, believers are called to reject voices that undermine faith, whether internal doubts or external cynicism.
• Embrace gracious correction. The Matthew 18 pattern teaches that submitting to godly counsel is a mark of genuine discipleship.
• Exercise restorative discipline. Churches must pursue the stray with patience, yet ultimately uphold purity when refusal persists.

Ministerial Applications Today

Pastors and leaders can teach Mark 5:36 as an antidote to anxiety-driven reports, encouraging congregations to anchor their hearing in the promises of Christ. Matthew 18:17 supplies a biblical blueprint for resolving conflict: private reproof, small-group confirmation, congregational involvement, and, if necessary, separation—all aimed at restoration. The sparse but potent appearances of this verb remind the modern church that what is heard, and how it is received or rejected, shapes destinies.

παρακούεις παρακούουσι παρακουσας παρακούσας παρακουση παρακούση παρακούσῃ παρακούσης παρεκρούσατο παρηκούσατε parakousas parakoúsas parakouse parakousē parakoúsei parakoúsēiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts