Paratereo is close, sustained watching, including watch kept for a purpose and observance of set times.

The dominant attested use is close or sustained watching of a person or place, often with an intended outcome: watching for healing, accusation, a statement to exploit, or access to the gates. A distinct use in Galatians 4:10 concerns the observance of days, months, seasons, and years.

1. Close watching with a purpose · dominant

   In Mark 3:2 and Luke 6:7, imperfect indicative forms describe ongoing watching to see whether healing would occur, with accusation stated as the aim. In Luke 20:20 the aorist participle precedes sending spies to catch him in a statement; Luke 14:1 likewise has a present participle while they were watching him. Acts 9:24 applies the imperfect middle form to keeping watch on the gates day and night in order to kill Saul.

   Mark 3:2Luke 6:7Luke 14:1Luke 20:20Acts 9:24
2. Observing recurring times · rare

   In Galatians 4:10, the present middle indicative addresses people who are observing days, months, seasons, and years; the clause identifies the objects of this observance.

   Galatians 4:10

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the observing action as “watched” or “watching,” and in Acts 9:24 as “kept watch.” In Galatians 4:10 it renders the clause “You are observing days and months and seasons and years”; these are verse-level renderings rather than definitions.