Greek · G4291 · unreviewed

προΐστημι

To set before

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προΐστημι G4291

Pronunciation proḯstēmi

What does προΐστημι (proḯstēmi) mean in the Bible?

προΐστημι (proḯstēmi) is a Greek word meaning "to set before". προ-ΐστημι [in LXX: 2Ki. Believers are to prioritize good works intentionally, not passively, demonstrating structured commitment to gospel fruit.

Full entry for προΐστημι (G4291) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to set before

Extended definition

Leadership role emphasizing active governance and oversight, not merely nominal position or authority.

1trans. in fut., 1 aor., and mid. 1 aor., to put before, set over (Plat., al.).

2Intrans., in pf., plpf., 2 aor. and mid. Pres. and impf.;

ato preside, rule, govern: Rom.12:8, 1Ti.5:17; with genitive, 1Th.5:12, 1Ti.3:4-5 3:12;

bto direct, maintain: with genitive of thing(s), καλῶν ἔργων, Tit.3:8, 14 (on R, mg., profess honest occupations, see CGT, in l; Field, Notes, 223 f.).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Believers are to prioritize good works intentionally, not passively, demonstrating structured commitment to gospel fruit. 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Family leadership reveals a man’s capacity to shepherd the church. Titus 3:8-11

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Present Aorist Perfect

Voices

Middle Active

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 3×

Present Middle Titus 3:8 · Titus 3:14 2×

Aorist Active 1 Tim 3:5 1×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 5×

Present Middle Rom 12:8 · 1 Thess 5:12 · 1 Tim 3:4 · 1 Tim 3:12 4×

Perfect Active 1 Tim 5:17 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 8 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

infinitive 3 participle 5

Tense

present 6 aorist 1 perfect 1

Voice

middle 6 active 2

Mood

participle 5 infinitive 3

NT Occurrences

Romans 12:8 προϊστάμενος present middle participle participle 1 Thessalonians 5:12 προϊσταμένους present middle participle participle 1 Timothy 3:12 προϊστάμενοι present middle participle participle 1 Timothy 3:4 προϊστάμενον present middle participle participle 1 Timothy 3:5 προστῆναι aorist active infinitive infinitive 1 Timothy 5:17 προεστῶτες perfect active participle participle Titus 3:14 προΐστασθαι present middle infinitive infinitive Titus 3:8 προΐστασθαι present middle infinitive infinitive

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)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 Timothy 3:1-7 manage proḯstēmi Infinitive · Aorist Active

To stand before, direct, and care for responsibly.

Titus 3:8-11 devote themselves proḯstēmi Infinitive · Present Middle

To give focused attention and leadership toward something.

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

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.

Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy

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

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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