Greek · G4253, G2889, G1510 · unreviewed

πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον εἶναι

Before · world · I exist (used only when emphatic)

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

πρό G4253 before
Pronunciation pró
Temporal priority often expresses God's timeless action preceding human history and decision.
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κόσμος G2889 world
Pronunciation kósmos
The world as an ordered system, but especially the realm of human affairs hostile to God's kingdom.
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εἰμί G1510 I exist (used only when emphatic)
Pronunciation eimí
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What does πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον εἶναι (pro tou ton kosmon einai) mean in the Bible?

πρό · κόσμος · εἰμί is a Greek word meaning "before the world existed".

Full entry for πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον εἶναι (G4253, G2889, G1510) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

before the world existed
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Matt 5:12 · Matt 6:8 · Matt 8:29 · Matt 11:10 · Matt 24:38 · Mark 1:2 · Luke 2:21 · Luke 7:27 · Luke 9:52 · Luke 10:1 · Luke 11:38 · Luke 21:12 · Luke 22:15 · John 1:48 · John 5:7 · John 10:8 47×
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 1 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
ongoing 1
Tense
present 1
Voice
active 1
Mood
indicative 1

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 27 — The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Luke 21 — The Widow’s Gift, Jerusalem’s Fall, and Watchfulness before the Son of Man Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Mark 16 — He Has Risen: The Empty Tomb, the Angelic Announcement, Galilee Promise, and Trembling Witness Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Mark 8 — Seeing Jesus Clearly: Bread, Blindness, Confession, Cross, and Discipleship Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 28 — The Resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission of the Risen King Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called Philippians 4 — Rejoicing, Peace, Contentment, and Gospel Partnership in Christ Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources