verb

fulassamō

Greekφυλάσσω (fulassō)

Strong’sG5442

I keep, guard, observe

stem fulass-31 times in the New Testamentin 13 of 27 books21 forms occur

Translated as

guard5×keep5×kept4×beware2×guarded2×kept under guard2×observe2×abstain from1×guarding1×guards1×keep … from1×keeping1×

4 rarer renderings are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.

What it means

φυλάσσω

[in LXX chiefly and very freq. for שָׁמַר, also for נָצַר, etc.;]

to guard, watch;

(a) to guard or watch: c. cogn. acc., φυλακάς, Lk 2:8; c. acc. pers., Ac 12:4 28:16; pass., Lk 8:29, Ac 23:35; c. acc. rei, Ac 22:20;

(b) to guard or protect: c. acc., Lk 11:21, Jo 12:25 17:12, II Th 3:3, I Ti 6:20, II Ti 1:12, 14, II Pe 2:5; ἑαυτὸν ἀπό, I Jo 5:21 (Westc., in l.); metaph. of law, precept, etc., to keep, preserve, observe: Mt 19:20, Lk 11:28 18:21, Jo 12:47, Ac 7:53 16:4 21:24, Ro 2:26, Ga 6:13, I Ti 5:21. Mid., to be on one's guard (against), keep oneself from, beware of: c. acc., Ac 21:25, II Ti 4:15; seq. ἀπό., Lk 12:15; ἵνα μή, II Pe 3:17; as in LXX (Ex 12:17, Le 18:4, al.), of laws, etc., to keep, observe: ταῦτα πάντα, Mk 10:20 (cf. δια-φυάσσω).†

SYN.: τηρέω, q.v

G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.

Strong’s G5442 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from

Saidfoo-las'-so

to watch, i.e. be on guard (literally of figuratively); by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid

Fromprobably from G5443 through the idea of isolation;

King Jamesbeward, keep (self), observe, save.

James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.

Forms in the New Testament

Form and the Greek behind it	What it is	Usually	Times
fulassalōφυλάσσουσιν	happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural	keep	1×
fulassatiφυλάξει	will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular	keep	2×
fulassamaἐφύλαξα	happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular	kept	3×
fulassataἐφύλαξεν	happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular	preserved	1×
fulassavaἐφυλάξατε	happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural	kept	1×
fulassemaἐφυλαξάμην	happened · Iaorist middle indicative 1st person singular	kept	1×
fulassateiōφυλάσσῃ	happening now · he/she/itpresent active subjunctive 3rd person singular	keeps	2×
fulassaseiaφυλάξῃς	happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular	observe	1×
fulassateiaφυλάξῃ	happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular	keep	1×
fulassesōrφυλάσσου	happening now · youpresent middle imperative 2nd person singular	beware	1×
fulassevōrφυλάσσεσθε	happening now · yepresent middle imperative 2nd person plural	beware	2×
fulassasarφύλαξον	happened · youaorist active imperative 2nd person singular	guard	2×
fulassavarφυλάξατε	happened · yeaorist active imperative 2nd person plural	keep	1×
fulassarōφυλάσσειν	happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive	guard	2×
fulasserōφυλάσσεσθαι	happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle infinitive	abstain from	1×
fulassirōφυλάσσεσθαι	happening now · the “to …” formpresent passive infinitive	kept under guard	1×
fulassaraφυλάξαι	happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive	guard	2×
fulassarōtosφυλάσσων	happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine	guarding	2×
fulassarōtoφυλάσσοντι	happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative singular masculine	guarded	1×
fulassarōtoisφυλάσσοντες	happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine	keep	2×
fulassirōtosφυλασσόμενος	happening now · subjectpresent passive participle nominative singular masculine	kept under guard	1×

Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.

Every form the system can build — all 258, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses

Statements — indicative mood, 9 occurrences

the subject acts active voice

Who person	happening now present	was happening imperfect	will happen future	happened aorist	has happened perfect	had happened pluperfect
I 1st person singular	fulassamō	fulassame	fulassami	fulassama3×ἐφύλαξα	fulassamē	fulassamelē
you 2nd person singular	fulassasō	fulassase	fulassasi	fulassasa	fulassasē	fulassaselē
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassatō	fulassate	fulassati2×φυλάξει	fulassata1×ἐφύλαξεν	fulassatē	fulassatelē
we 1st person plural	fulassanō	fulassane	fulassani	fulassana	fulassanē	fulassanelē
ye 2nd person plural	fulassavō	fulassave	fulassavi	fulassava1×ἐφυλάξατε	fulassavē	fulassavelē
they 3rd person plural	fulassalō1×φυλάσσουσιν	fulassale	fulassali	fulassala	fulassalē	fulassalelē

acts on or for itself middle voice

Who person	happening now present	was happening imperfect	will happen future	happened aorist	has happened perfect	had happened pluperfect
I 1st person singular	fulassemō	fulasseme	fulassemi	fulassema1×ἐφυλαξάμην	fulassemē	fulassemelē
you 2nd person singular	fulassesō	fulassese	fulassesi	fulassesa	fulassesē	fulasseselē
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassetō	fulassete	fulasseti	fulasseta	fulassetē	fulassetelē
we 1st person plural	fulassenō	fulassene	fulasseni	fulassena	fulassenē	fulassenelē
ye 2nd person plural	fulassevō	fulasseve	fulassevi	fulasseva	fulassevē	fulassevelē
they 3rd person plural	fulasselō	fulassele	fulasseli	fulassela	fulasselē	fulasselelē

acted on passive voice

Who person	happening now present	was happening imperfect	will happen future	happened aorist	has happened perfect	had happened pluperfect
I 1st person singular	fulassimō	fulassime	fulassimi	fulassima	fulassimē	fulassimelē
you 2nd person singular	fulassisō	fulassise	fulassisi	fulassisa	fulassisē	fulassiselē
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassitō	fulassite	fulassiti	fulassita	fulassitē	fulassitelē
we 1st person plural	fulassinō	fulassine	fulassini	fulassina	fulassinē	fulassinelē
ye 2nd person plural	fulassivō	fulassive	fulassivi	fulassiva	fulassivē	fulassivelē
they 3rd person plural	fulassilō	fulassile	fulassili	fulassila	fulassilē	fulassilelē

May, might — subjunctive mood, 4 occurrences

the subject acts active voice

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist	has happened perfect
I 1st person singular	fulassameiō	fulassameia	fulassameiē
you 2nd person singular	fulassaseiō	fulassaseia1×φυλάξῃς	fulassaseiē
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassateiō2×φυλάσσῃ	fulassateia1×φυλάξῃ	fulassateiē
we 1st person plural	fulassaneiō	fulassaneia	fulassaneiē
ye 2nd person plural	fulassaveiō	fulassaveia	fulassaveiē
they 3rd person plural	fulassaleiō	fulassaleia	fulassaleiē

acts on or for itself middle voice

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist	has happened perfect
I 1st person singular	fulassemeiō	fulassemeia	fulassemeiē
you 2nd person singular	fulasseseiō	fulasseseia	fulasseseiē
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulasseteiō	fulasseteia	fulasseteiē
we 1st person plural	fulasseneiō	fulasseneia	fulasseneiē
ye 2nd person plural	fulasseveiō	fulasseveia	fulasseveiē
they 3rd person plural	fulasseleiō	fulasseleia	fulasseleiē

acted on passive voice

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist	has happened perfect
I 1st person singular	fulassimeiō	fulassimeia	fulassimeiē
you 2nd person singular	fulassiseiō	fulassiseia	fulassiseiē
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassiteiō	fulassiteia	fulassiteiē
we 1st person plural	fulassineiō	fulassineia	fulassineiē
ye 2nd person plural	fulassiveiō	fulassiveia	fulassiveiē
they 3rd person plural	fulassileiō	fulassileia	fulassileiē

Commands — imperative mood, 6 occurrences

the subject acts active voice

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist	has happened perfect
you 2nd person singular	fulassasōr	fulassasar2×φύλαξον	fulassasēr
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassatōr	fulassatar	fulassatēr
ye 2nd person plural	fulassavōr	fulassavar1×φυλάξατε	fulassavēr
they 3rd person plural	fulassalōr	fulassalar	fulassalēr

acts on or for itself middle voice

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist	has happened perfect
you 2nd person singular	fulassesōr1×φυλάσσου	fulassesar	fulassesēr
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassetōr	fulassetar	fulassetēr
ye 2nd person plural	fulassevōr2×φυλάσσεσθε	fulassevar	fulassevēr
they 3rd person plural	fulasselōr	fulasselar	fulasselēr

acted on passive voice

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist	has happened perfect
you 2nd person singular	fulassisōr	fulassisar	fulassisēr
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassitōr	fulassitar	fulassitēr
ye 2nd person plural	fulassivōr	fulassivar	fulassivēr
they 3rd person plural	fulassilōr	fulassilar	fulassilēr

Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences

the subject acts active voice

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist
I 1st person singular	fulassamoiō	fulassamoia
you 2nd person singular	fulassasoiō	fulassasoia
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassatoiō	fulassatoia
we 1st person plural	fulassanoiō	fulassanoia
ye 2nd person plural	fulassavoiō	fulassavoia
they 3rd person plural	fulassaloiō	fulassaloia

acts on or for itself middle voice

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist
I 1st person singular	fulassemoiō	fulassemoia
you 2nd person singular	fulassesoiō	fulassesoia
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassetoiō	fulassetoia
we 1st person plural	fulassenoiō	fulassenoia
ye 2nd person plural	fulassevoiō	fulassevoia
they 3rd person plural	fulasseloiō	fulasseloia

acted on passive voice

Who person	happening now present	happened aorist
I 1st person singular	fulassimoiō	fulassimoia
you 2nd person singular	fulassisoiō	fulassisoia
he/she/it 3rd person singular	fulassitoiō	fulassitoia
we 1st person plural	fulassinoiō	fulassinoia
ye 2nd person plural	fulassivoiō	fulassivoia
they 3rd person plural	fulassiloiō	fulassiloia

The “to …” form — infinitive, 6 occurrences

Who is acting voice	happening now present	will happen future	happened aorist	has happened perfect
the subject acts active voice	fulassarō2×φυλάσσειν	fulassari	fulassara2×φυλάξαι	fulassarē
acts on or for itself middle voice	fulasserō1×φυλάσσεσθαι	fulasseri	fulassera	fulasserē
acted on passive voice	fulassirō1×φυλάσσεσθαι	fulassiri	fulassira	fulassirē

Used as an adjective — participle, 6 occurrences

Who is acting voice	happening now present	will happen future	happened aorist	has happened perfect
the subject acts active voice	fulassarōtos5×φυλάσσων	fulassaritos	fulassaratos	fulassarētos
acts on or for itself middle voice	fulasserōtos	fulasseritos	fulasseratos	fulasserētos
acted on passive voice	fulassirōtos1×φυλασσόμενος	fulassiritos	fulassiratos	fulassirētos

Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.

How every form is built — the slots that make them

fulassstem+aeiwho is acting voice+mstnvl—who person+—eiroistatement, command, wish mood+ōeiaēelēwhen tense+—tthen it declines+—ogender+—sits job in the sentence case

fulass is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.

same in every form varies — every value shown

Where it appears

31 occurrences, every one of them listed

fulassalō“keep”happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural1×

Galatians 6:13“keep”oude gar tois peritemnirōtois autois nomon fulassalō, alla thelalō vin peritemnirō hina en ta humetera sarxa kaucheleia.For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

fulassati“keep”will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular2×

John 12:25“keep”tos filarōtos tan psuchan autou apolluatō autan, kai tos misarōtos tan psuchan autou en to kosmo houto eis zōan aiōnian fulassati autan.Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

2 Thessalonians 3:3“guard”pistos de atō tos kurios, hos stērizati vin kai fulassati apo tou ponērou.But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

fulassama“kept”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular3×

Matthew 19:20“kept”legatō auto tos neaniskos; Panteim houteim fulassama; tinem ēti husteramō?“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”

Luke 18:21“kept”tos de legata; Houteim panteim fulassama ek neotau mu.“All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.

John 17:12“guarded”hote eme meta autoiu mis tērame autoin en te onome su he dōasē mi, kai fulassama, kai oudenos ek autoiu apollueta ei mē tos huios tau apōleiau, hina tas grafas plēriteia.While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

fulassata“preserved”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular1×

2 Peter 2:5“preserved”kai archaiou kosmou ouk feideta, alla ogdoon Nōe dikaiosunau kēruxon fulassata, kataklusmon kosmo aseboiu epagaratos,if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;

fulassava“kept”happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural1×

Acts 7:53“kept”hotinois lambava ton nomon eis diatagain angeloiu, kai ouk fulassava.you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”

fulassema“kept”happened · Iaorist middle indicative 1st person singular1×

Mark 10:20“kept”tos de fēate auto; Didaskalor, houteim panteim fulassema ek neotau mu.“Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.”

fulassateiō“keeps”happening now · he/she/itpresent active subjunctive 3rd person singular2×

Luke 11:21“guards”hotan tos ischuros kathoplizerētos fulassateiō tan heautou aulan, en eirēna atō teim huparcharōteim autou;When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.

Romans 2:26“keeps”ean oun tas akrobustias teim dikaiōmeim tou nomou fulassateiō, ouk tas akrobustias autou eis peritoman logiziti?If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

fulassaseia“observe”happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular1×

1 Timothy 5:21“observe”diamarturemō enōpion tou theou kai Christou Iēsu kai toiu eklektoiu angeloiu, hina houteim fulassaseia chōris prokrimeu, mēdenem poiarōtos kata prosklisian.I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.

fulassateia“keep”happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular1×

John 12:47“keep”kai ean tinos mu akouateia teiu rēmeiu kai mē fulassateia, mis ouk krinamō auton, ouk gar erchama hina krinameia ton kosmon alla hina sōzameia ton kosmon.As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

fulassesōr“beware”happening now · youpresent middle imperative 2nd person singular1×

2 Timothy 4:15“beware”hon kai sis fulassesōr, liōs gar anthistanata toi hēmeteroi logoi.You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message.

fulassevōr“beware”happening now · yepresent middle imperative 2nd person plural2×

Luke 12:15“on … guard”legata de pros autoin; Horavōr kai fulassevōr apo pantau pleonexiau, hoti ouk en te perisseuarō tino tas zōas autou atō ek teiu huparcharōteiu auto.And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

2 Peter 3:17“beware”vis oun, agapētoir, prognōskarōtois fulassevōr hina mē ta toiu athesmoiu plana sunapagiratois ekpiptaveia tou idiou stērigmou,Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.

fulassasar“guard”happened · youaorist active imperative 2nd person singular2×

1 Timothy 6:20“guard”Ō Timotheor, tan parathēkan fulassasar, ektreperōtos tain bebēlain kenofōniain kai antithesiain tau pseudōnumau gnōsiau,O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”

2 Timothy 1:14“guard”tan kalan parathēkan fulassasar dia pneumeu hagieu teu enoikarōteu en ni.Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

fulassavar“keep”happened · yeaorist active imperative 2nd person plural1×

1 John 5:21“keep”Teknieim, fulassavar heauteim apo teiu eidōleiu.Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

fulassarō“guard”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive2×

Acts 12:4“guard”hon kai piazaratos titheta eis fulakan, paradōaratos tessares tetradiei stratiōtoiu fulassarō auton, boulerōtos meta tem pascha anagara auton to lao.He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

Acts 16:4“observe”hōs de diaporeuele tain politain, paradōale autoi fulassarō teim dogmeim teim krinirēteim hupo toiu apostoloiu kai presbuteroiu toiu en Hierosolumei.As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.

fulasserō“abstain from”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle infinitive1×

Acts 21:25“abstain from”peri de teiu pisteuarēteiu ethneiu nis apostelana krinaratois fulasserō autoin tem tē eidōlothutem kai haimem kai pniktem kai porneian.As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

fulassirō“kept under guard”happening now · the “to …” formpresent passive infinitive1×

Acts 23:35“kept under guard”Diakouemi su, fēate, hotan kai tois katēgorois su paragineleia; keleuaratos en te praitōrie tou Hērōdou fulassirō auton.he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.

fulassara“guard”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive2×

2 Timothy 1:12“guard”dia han aitian kai houteim paschamō, alla ouk epaischunemō, oidamē gar ho pisteuamē, kai peithimē hoti dunatos atō tan parathēkan mu fulassara eis ekeinan tan hēmeran.For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.

Jude 1:24“keep … from”To de dunerōto fulassara vin aptaistoin kai histanara katenōpion tau doxau autou amōmoin en agalliasiaNow to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy —

fulassarōtos“guarding”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine2×

Acts 21:24“observing”houtoin paralambaratos hagnizisar sun autoi kai dapanasar epi autoi hina xureli tan kefalan, kai gnōskeli pantois hoti heiu katēchilē peri su oudenem atō, alla stoichasō kai autos fulassarōtos ton nomon.Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

Acts 22:20“guarding”kai hote ekchite tem haimem Stefanou tou marturou su, kai autos eme efistanarētos kai suneudokarōtos kai fulassarōtos teim himatieim toiu anairarōtoiu auton.And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

fulassarōto“guarded”happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative singular masculine1×

Acts 28:16“guarded”Hote de eiserchana eis Rōman, epitrepita to Paulo menarō kata heauton sun to fulassarōto auton stratiōto.When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

fulassarōtois“keep”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine2×

Luke 2:8“keeping”Kai poimēnois ale en ta chōra ta auta agraularōtois kai fulassarōtois fulakain tau nuxau epi tan poimnan autoiu.And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

Luke 11:28“keep”autos de legata; Menoun makariois tois akouarōtois ton logon tou theou kai fulassarōtois.But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

fulassirōtos“kept under guard”happening now · subjectpresent passive participle nominative singular masculine1×

Luke 8:29“kept under guard”parangellate gar te pneume te akatharte exerchara apo tou anthrōpou. polloi gar chronoi sunarpazatelē auton, kai desmeuite halusiai kai pedai fulassirōtos, kai diarrēgnuarōtos teim desmeim elaunite hupo teu daimoneu eis tain erēmain.For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.