περισπάω

μεριμνάω merimnáō · G3309 · to be worried about, to be anxious about

Greek verb expressing anxious care and worry, closely parallel to the distraction-with-care sense of περισπάω. While μεριμνάω focuses on the mental state of anxiety, περισπάω emphasizes the distraction or pulling-away effect of that care.

θορυβέω thorybéō · G2350 · to stir up against, to start a riot, to cause an uproar

Greek verb expressing inner turmoil and disturbance. In contexts of being troubled with many concerns, it overlaps with περισπάω's sense of being distracted by multiple cares, though θορυβέω emphasizes emotional disturbance and tumult more than the scattering of attention.

προσέχω proséchō · G4337 · to pay attention to, to keep on the lookout for, to be alert for

Greek verb meaning to focus attention on something, the opposite of being distracted (περισπάω). Where περισπάω involves being pulled away in multiple directions, προσέχω denotes concentrated, undivided attention.

To be overburdened and worried, to be distracted and anxious25.238

περισπάω describes being pulled in different directions by anxious cares, so as to lose focus. Luke uses it of Martha's state while Mary sat listening to Jesus: “Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself?’” (Luke 10:40).

Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.

Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.