What does προϋπάρχω (proÿpárchō) mean in the Bible?
προϋπάρχω (proÿpárchō) is a Greek word meaning "be formerly".
Greek · G4391
προϋπάρχω
Be formerly
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προϋπάρχωG4391
Pronunciationproÿpárchō
What does προϋπάρχω (proÿpárchō) mean in the Bible?
προϋπάρχω (proÿpárchō) is a Greek word meaning "be formerly".
Full entry for προϋπάρχω (G4391) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G4391?
The BSB source-word alignment has 2 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include before this [time] (1), Prior to that time (1).
Where does προϋπάρχω (proÿpárchō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 23:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (1), Luke (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 Itbefore this [time]1×Luke 23:12
Prior to that time1×Acts 8:9
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowLuke 23:12
Aligned rows2
Books represented2
Luke1Acts1
Source forms
προϋπῆρχεν1xproupērchenActs 8:9
προϋπῆρχον1xproupērchonLuke 23:12
Parsing patterns
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural1xLuke 23:12
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular1xActs 8:9
Evidence Summary
Greek word. be formerly
Source Gloss
be formerly
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
2 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Luke 23:12Verb Third Person Plural Imperfect Active Indicative
προϋπῆρχονprouphrcon
I have been already
Read verseActs 8:9Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
προϋπῆρχενprouphrcen
I have been already
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.
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 1 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
imperfect1
Voice
active1
Mood
indicative1
NT Occurrences
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
προϋπάρχω is built from these roots: