to spare
pheidomai describes withholding a punitive, harmful, or burdensome action, and sometimes restraining oneself from a course of action.
The prevailing use concerns not withholding severe action: God does not spare angels, the ancient world, natural branches, or his own Son, and destructive intruders do not spare a flock. In several personal statements, the term instead marks restraint intended to avoid trouble, a burdensome visit, or excessive credit for boasting.
Senses in use
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Not withholding severe action · dominant
The aorist and future forms occur in statements that severe action is not held back: in 2 Peter 2:4 the APB renders that God “did not spare the angels who sinned,” and in 2 Peter 2:5 that he “did not spare the ancient world.” In Romans 11:21 the clause contrasts God's not sparing natural branches with his future action toward the audience; Romans 8:32 joins not sparing his own Son with delivering him up, while Acts 20:29 describes fierce wolves “not sparing the flock.”
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Restraining action to avoid burden or excess · common
In 1 Corinthians 7:28, the first-person present form stands with the speaker's wish to keep married people from the worldly troubles named in the verse; the APB renders the clause “I would spare you that.” In 2 Corinthians 1:23, a present middle participle explains why the speaker did not return to Corinth, and 2 Corinthians 12:6 places the present form in a decision not to press boasting so that no one credits him beyond what is seen or heard.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses “spare” or “did not spare,” including the future “will he spare.” In 2 Corinthians 12:6 it instead renders the surrounding clause “I refrain”; This is best read as the verse-level presentation of restraint rather than a separate fixed English equivalent.