What does προσφωνέω (prosphōnéō) mean in the Bible?
προσφωνέω (prosphōnéō) is a Greek word meaning "to call to/summon".
Greek · G4377
προσφωνέω
To call to/summon
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
προσφωνέωG4377
Pronunciationprosphōnéō
What does προσφωνέω (prosphōnéō) mean in the Bible?
προσφωνέω (prosphōnéō) is a Greek word meaning "to call to/summon".
Full entry for προσφωνέω (G4377) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G4377?
The BSB source-word alignment has 7 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include calling out (2), [and] he addressed [them] (1), addressed (1), He called (1), He called [her] over (1).
Where does προσφωνέω (prosphōnéō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 11:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (4), Acts (2), Matthew (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itcalling out2×Matthew 11:16, Luke 7:32
[and] he addressed [them]1×Acts 21:40
addressed1×Luke 23:20
He called1×Luke 6:13
He called [her] over1×Luke 13:12
him speak to1×Acts 22:2
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 11:16προσφωνοῦνταtocalling outVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter PluralLuke 6:13προσεφώνησενtoHe calledVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularLuke 7:32προσφωνοῦσινtocalling outVerb - Present Participle Active - Dative Neuter PluralLuke 13:12προσεφώνησενtoHe called [her] overVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularLuke 23:20προσεφώνησενtoaddressedVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularActs 21:40προσεφώνησενto[and] he addressed [them]Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularActs 22:2προσεφώνειtohim speak toVerb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowMatthew 11:16
Aligned rows7
Books represented3
Matthew1Luke4Acts2
Source forms
προσεφώνησεν4xprosephōnēsenLuke 6:13, Luke 13:12, Luke 23:20, Acts 21:40
προσεφώνει1xprosephōneiActs 22:2
προσφωνοῦντα1xprosphōnountaMatthew 11:16
προσφωνοῦσιν1xprosphōnousinLuke 7:32
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular4xLuke 6:13, Luke 13:12, Luke 23:20, Acts 21:40
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular1xActs 22:2
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Neuter Plural1xLuke 7:32
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural1xMatthew 11:16
Evidence Summary
Greek word. to call to/summon
Strong'sG4377
Lexical occurrences7 versesGreek text appearances7 timesWord forms2 forms7 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Source Gloss
to call to/summon
Extended definitionSource: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
1to address, call to; in cl., with accusative of person(s), with dupl. accusative (cf. 2Mac, l.with); absol. (Hom., Od., v, 159, al.): Act.21:40 In late writers, with dative of person(s): Mat.11:16, Luk.7:32 13:12 23:20, Act.22:2.
2to call by name, summon: with accusative (as in cl.), Luk.6:13.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
7 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 11:16Verb Present Active Participle Dative Plural Neuter
προσφωνοῦσιprosfwnousin
I call to, summon
Read verseLuke 6:13Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
προσεφώνησεprosefwnhsen
I call to, summon
Read verseLuke 7:32Verb Present Active Participle Dative Plural Neuter
προσφωνοῦσινprosfwnousin
I call to, summon
Read verseLuke 13:12Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
προσεφώνησε,prosefwnhsen
I call to, summon
Read verseLuke 23:20Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
προσεφώνησε,prosefwnhsen
I call to, summon
Read verseActs 21:40Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
προσεφώνησεprosefwnhsen
I call to, summon
Read verseActs 22:2Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
προσεφώνειprosefwnei
I call to, summon
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms7TensesAorist, Present, ImperfectVoicesActive
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality5×
Aorist ActiveLuke 6:13 · Luke 13:12 · Luke 23:20 · Acts 21:404×
Imperfect ActiveActs 22:21×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality2×
Present ActiveMatt 11:16 · Luke 7:322×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 7 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist4present2imperfect1
Voice
active7
Mood
indicative5participle2
NT Occurrences
Matthew 11:16προσφωνοῦνταpresent active participleparticipleLuke 6:13προσεφώνησενaorist active indicativecompletedLuke 7:32προσφωνοῦσινpresent active participleparticipleLuke 13:12προσεφώνησενaorist active indicativecompletedLuke 23:20προσεφώνησενaorist active indicativecompletedActs 21:40προσεφώνησενaorist active indicativecompletedActs 22:2προσεφώνειimperfect active indicativebackground
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 Origins
προσφωνέω is built from these roots: