Preposition – πρό + Genitive

ObjectivesLearning objectives

The semantics of the preposition πρό

VocabularyVocabulary

Greek	Gloss	Part of speech	Paradigm
τὸ βῆμα, -ατος	the platform	noun	B.a.γ.i(a)
τὸ κλάσμα, -ατος	the piece	noun	B.a.γ.i(a)
τὸ μνημεῖον, -ου	the tomb	noun	B.a.β.ii
δώδεκα	twelve	number
παραδίδωμί σοί τι	(I) hand over to you (dat) something (acc)	verb	C.a.ε
ἕκαστος, -η, -ον	each	adjective	A.a.α

SemanticsSemantics: Preposition – πρό + genitive

There are three basic senses of the word πρό. First, it can refer to a physical location that is ‘before’, or in front of, something else:

Example 181Before a physical location

Two guards were πρὸ τῆς θύρας [in front of the door] (Acts 12:6)

In addition to this spatial sense, πρό may also be interpreted temporally as referring to the time ‘before’ another eventuality:

Example 182Before an event in time

Many Jews went up to Jerusalem πρὸ τοῦ πάσχα [before the Passover] (John 11:55)

Finally, the word πρό is found in the phrase πρὸ πάντος or πρὸ πάντων meaning ‘before everything else’ as in 1 Peter 4:8:

Example 183Before (everything) in order of priority

πρὸ πάντων [before everything else] have earnest love for each other

This phrase is found twice in the New Testament (James 5:12 is the other example), and in both cases, it is used before commands to prioritize what the addressee should do ‘before all other things.’

Lesson 21.4 quiz

Check your understanding

2 questions · self-graded

1Which senses of πρό + genitive does this lesson describe?Select all that apply
In front of a physical locationBefore an event in timeBefore everything else in priorityAround an approximate timeUnder someone’s authority
2What does the phrase πρὸ πάντων mean in 1 Peter 4:8?
in front of everyonebefore everything elseunder all thingsabout everything

End of Chapter 21Take the Chapter 21 exam9 questions covering all 4 lessons in this chapter

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