Greek word · Strong's G5083

τηρέω

tēréō · verb · “to keep, guard, obey”

In a sentence

Tēreō means to keep, watch over, or obey — both protecting something entrusted and continuing in what we have heard. Jesus pairs love and keeping his word.

Tēreō has the sense of careful watching — guarding, preserving, holding fast. Jude tells believers to “keep yourselves in the love of God”; Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep (tērēsete) my commandments.”

It is also what God does for us: he is able to “keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24). Christian discipleship is therefore reciprocal keeping — we keep his word, and he keeps us.

Strong's reference

Definition: perhaps akin to G2334 (θεωρέω)); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from G5442 (φυλάσσω), which is properly to prevent escaping; and from G2892 (κουστωδία), which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried)

KJV usage: hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 17:11 “I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one.” Jude 1:21 “keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.