preposition
pro
Greekπρό (pro)
Strong’sG4253
before
stem pro-47 times in the New Testamentin 17 of 27 books
Translated as
What it means
πρό,
prep. c. gen.,[in LXX chiefly for לִפְנֵי;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4253 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidpro
"fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to
Froma primary preposition;
King Jamesabove, ago, before, or ever.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
This word never changes. It is spelled the same wherever it appears, so there is nothing to learn beyond the word itself.
Where it appears
47 occurrences, every one of them listed
pro42×
Matthew 5:12“before”chairavōr kai agallievōr, hoti tos misthos vu pollos en toi ouranoi; houtōs gar diōkala toin profētoin toin pro vu.Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
Matthew 6:8“before”mē oun homoiiveia autoi, oidatē gar tos patēros vu heiu chreian echavō pro teu vin aitara auton.Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Matthew 8:29“before”kai idou krazala legarōtois; Tinem ni kai si, huior tou theou? erchasa hōde pro kairou basanizara nin?“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Matthew 11:10“before”houtos atō peri hou grafitē; Idou mis apostelamō ton angelon mu pro prosōpeu su, hos kataskeuazati tan hodan su emprosthen su.This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’
Matthew 24:38“before”hōs gar ale en tai hēmerai tai pro tou kataklusmou trōgarōtois kai pinarōtois, gamarōtois kai gamizarōtois, achri hau hēmerau eiserchata Nōe eis tan kibōtan,For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark.
Mark 1:2“before”Kathōs grafitē en to Ēsaio to profēto; Idou apostelamō ton angelon mu pro prosōpeu su, hos kataskeuazati tan hodan su;As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”
Luke 2:21“before”Kai hote pimplēila hēmerais oktō teu peritemnara auton, kai kalita tem onomem autou Iēsus, tem kaliratem hupo tou angelou pro teu sullambira auton en ta koilia.When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
Luke 7:27“before”houtos atō peri hou grafitē; Idou apostelamō ton angelon mu pro prosōpeu su, hos kataskeuazati tan hodan su emprosthen su.This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’
Luke 9:52“before”kai apostelata angeloin pro prosōpeu autou. kai poreuiratois eiserchala eis kōman Samaritoiu, hōs hetoimazara auto;He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.
Luke 10:1“before”Meta de houteim anadeiknuata tos kurios kai heteroin hebdomēkonta duo kai apostelata autoin ana duo duo pro prosōpeu autou eis pantan politan kai topon hou mellate autos ercherō.After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.
Luke 11:38“before”tos de Farisaios horaratos thaumazata hoti ouk prōtem baptizita pro teu aristeu.But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
Luke 22:15“before”kai legata pros autoin; Epithumia epithumama houtem tem pascha esthiara meta vu pro teu min paschara;And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.
John 5:7“before”apokrinita auto tos asthenarōtos; Kurior, anthrōpon ouk echamō hina hotan tarassiteia tem hudōrem ballateia min eis tan kolumbēthran; en ho de erchemō mis allos pro mu katabainatō.“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am on my way, someone else goes in before me.”
John 10:8“before”pantois hosois erchala pro mu kleptois alō kai lēstois; alla ouk akouala autoiu teim probateim.All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
John 11:55“before”Ate de engus tem pascha toiu Ioudaioiu, kai anabainala pollois eis Hierosolumeim ek tau chōrau pro teu pascha hina hagnizaleia heautoin.Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover.
John 12:1“before”Tos oun Iēsus pro hex hēmeraiu teu pascha erchata eis Bēthanian, hopou ate Lazaros, hon egeirata ek nekroiu Iēsus.Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
John 13:19“before”apo arti legamō vi pro teu ginera, hina pisteuaveia hotan gineteia hoti mis amō.I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.
John 17:5“before”kai nun doxazasar min sis, patēror, para siauto ta doxa ha echame pro teu ton kosmon arō para si.And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
John 17:24“before”patēror, hem dōasē mi, thelamō hina hopou amō mis kakeinois aleiō meta mu, hina theōraleiō tan doxan tan ēman han dōasē mi, hoti agapasa min pro katabolau kosmou.Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Acts 5:36“ago”pro gar houtaiu taiu hēmeraiu anistanata Theudaos, legarōtos arō tinon heauton, ho prosklinita anēroiu arithmos hōs tetrakosioi; hos anairita, kai pantois hosois peithile auto dialuila kai ginela eis oudenem.Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
Acts 12:6“before”Hote de mellate proagara auton tos Hērōdos, ta nuxa ekeina ate tos Petros koimerōtos metaxu duo stratiōtoiu dirētos halusiai duo, fulaxois tē pro tau thurau tērale tan fulakan.On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.
Acts 12:14“at”kai epignōskaratas tan fōnan tou Petrou apo tau charau ouk anoigata ton pulōnon, eistrecharatas de apangellata histanarē ton Petron pro tou pulōnou.When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!”
Acts 13:24“before”prokērussaratou Iōannou pro prosōpeu tau eisodau autou baptismem metanoiau panto to lao Israēl.Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Acts 14:13“outside”tos tē hierevos tou Zeuou tou arōtou pro tau politau tauroin kai stemmeim epi toin pulōnoin feraratos sun toi ochloi thelate thuarō.The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.
Acts 21:38“before”ouk ara sis asō tos Aiguptios tos pro houtaiu taiu hēmeraiu anastataratos kai exagaratos eis tan erēman toin tetrakischilioi anēroin toiu sikarioiu?“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?”
Acts 23:15“before”nun oun vis emfanizavar to chiliarcho sun te sunedrie hopōs katagateia auton eis vin hōs mellarōtoin diagnōskarō akribesterem teim peri autou; nis de pro teu engizara auton hetoimois anō teu anairara auton.Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
Romans 16:7“before”aspazevar Andronikon kai Iounian toin sungenoin mu kai sunaichmalōtoin mu, hotinois alō episēmois en toi apostoloi, hois kai pro mu ginalē en Christo.Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
1 Corinthians 2:7“before”alla lalanō theou sofian en mustērie, tan apokruptirētan, han proorizata tos theos pro toiu aiōnoiu eis doxan nu;No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
1 Corinthians 4:5“before”hōste mē pro kairou tinem krinavōr, heōs an erchateia tos kurios, hos kai fōtizati teim krupteim teu skoteu kai fanerati tain boulain taiu kardiaiu, kai tote tos epainos gineti hekasto apo tou theou.Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
2 Corinthians 12:2“ago”oidamē anthrōpon en Christo pro eteiu dekatessares eite en sōme ouk oidamē, eite ektos teu sōmeu ouk oidamē, tos theos oidatē harpaziraton ton toiouton heōs tritou ouranou.I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.
Galatians 1:17“before”oude anerchama eis Hierosolumeim pros toin pro mu apostoloin, alla aperchama eis Arabian, kai palin hupostrefama eis Damaskan.nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
Galatians 2:12“before”pro teu gar erchara tinoin apo Iakōbou meta teiu ethneiu sunesthiate; hote de erchala, hupostellate kai aforizate heauton, foberōtos toin ek peritomau.For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
Ephesians 1:4“before”kathōs eklegeta nin en auto pro katabolau kosmou, arō nin hagioin kai amōmoin katenōpion autou en agapa,For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
Colossians 1:17“before”kai autos atō pro panteiu kai teim panteim en auto sunistanatē,He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
2 Timothy 1:9“before”tou sōzaratou nin kai kalaratou klēsia hagia, ouk kata teim ergeim nu alla kata idian prothesian kai charian, tan dōiratan ni en Christo Iēso pro chronoiu aiōnioiu,He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
2 Timothy 4:21“before”Spoudazasar pro cheimōnou erchara. Aspazetō sin Euboulos kai Poudos kai Linos kai Klaudias kai tois adelfois pantois.Make every effort to come to me before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
Titus 1:2“before”epi elpia zōau aiōniau, han epangelleta tos apseudos theos pro chronoiu aiōnioiuin the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Hebrews 11:5“before”Pistia Henōch metatithita teu mē horara thanaton, kai ouk heuriskite dioti metatithata auton tos theos; pro gar tau metathesiau marturitē euarestarē to theo,By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
James 5:9“at”mē stenazavōr, adelfoir, kata allēloiu, hina mē kriniveia; idou tos kritos pro taiu thuraiu histanatē.Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!
1 Peter 1:20“before”prognōskirētou men pro katabolau kosmou, faneriratou de epi eschatou toiu chronoiu dia vinHe was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
1 Peter 4:8“above”pro panteiu tan eis heautoin agapan ektenan echarōtois, hoti agapas kaluptatō plēthem hamartaiu;Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Jude 1:25“before”mono theo sōtēro nu dia Iēsu Christou tou kuriou nu doxas megalōsunas kratem kai exousias pro pantou tou aiōnou kai nun kai eis pantoin toin aiōnoin; amēn.to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
Pro5×
Luke 21:12“before”Pro de houteiu panteiu epiballali epi vin tain cheirain autoiu kai diōkali, paradōarōtois eis tain sunagōgain kai fulakain, apagirōtoin epi basilevoin kai hēgemōnoin heneken teu onomeu mu;But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
John 1:48“before”legatō auto Nathanaēl; Pothen min gnōskasō? apokrinita Iēsus kai legata auto; Pro teu sin Filippon fōnara arōton hupo tan sukan horama sin.“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
John 13:1“before”Pro de tau heortau teu pascha horarētos tos Iēsus hoti erchata autou tas hōras hina metabainateia ek tou kosmou houtou pros ton patēron agaparatos toin idioin toin en to kosmo eis telem agapata autoin.It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.
Galatians 3:23“before”Pro teu de erchara tan pistian hupo nomon frourine sunkleiirōtois eis tan mellarōtan pistian apokaluptira.Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
James 5:12“above”Pro panteiu de, adelfoir mu, mē omnuavōr, mēte ton ouranon mēte tan gēan mēte allon tinon horkon; atōr de vu tem Nai nai kai tem Ou ou, hina mē hupo krisian piptaveia.Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.