The Greek word translated here as “urge” is παρακαλέω (G3870) parakaléō; from pará (G3844), to the side of, and kaléō (G2564), to call. To aid, help, comfort, encourage. Translated: to comfort, exhort, desire, call for, beseech with a stronger force than aitéō (G154).[1]
It can be translated in many ways. παρακαλεω occurs 111 times in the new testament and is translated with these words: appeal (5), appealed (1), appealing (2), beg (1), begging (2), beseeching (1), comfort (5), comforted (11), comforts (2), conciliate (1), encourage (6), encouraged (4), encouraging (3), entreat (1), exhort (8), exhortation (1), exhortations (1), exhorted (2), exhorting (3), exhorts (1), given (1), implore (4), implored (9), imploring (5), invited (2), making (1), plead (1), pleaded (1), pleading (1), preach (1), requested (1), urge (17), urged (5), urging (1).
It carries with it a sense of someone coming along side of a person to offer aid. A vivid picture of this can be seen in Matthew 2:18
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
And she refused to be comforted,
Because they were no more.”
The word here for comforted is our word παρακαλεω. And here it is seen as a shutting out of others in order to embrace despair. In this instance the “coming along side” was rejected.
In Matthew 8:5 we read: “And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him.” Imploring is the word here translated from παρακαλεω and we get a sense of urgency here and a sense of intimacy, a desire for help.
So we see here in Romans 12:1 that Paul is more than urging them, he is offering to come along side of them and render aid. It is almost as if Paul is putting his arm around their shoulder and saying let me show you.
[1] The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament
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