Brief Overview of προορίζω (Strong’s G4309: proorizō)

Strong’s G4309: A compound verb combining “pro” (before) and “horizō” (to mark out boundaries), meaning to predetermine or foreordain. In biblical usage, it specifically relates to God’s sovereign determination of events and people’s destinies, particularly in salvation history.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προορίζω embodies the concept of divine predetermination and sovereign purpose. As a compound word, it combines the temporal aspect of “before” with the act of setting boundaries or limits. In the New Testament, it appears in crucial contexts regarding God’s eternal purpose in salvation (Romans 8:29-30), Christ’s crucifixion (Acts 4:28), and believers’ adoption (Ephesians 1:5). The early church understood this term as foundational to understanding God’s sovereign plan of redemption. Today, it continues to affirm God’s purposeful direction of history and personal salvation.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προορίζω, proorizō, pro-o-RID-zo
• Pronunciation Guide: pro (as in “pro-fessional”) + o (as in “oh”) + RID (as in “rid”) + zo (as in “zone”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• πρό (pro-) – prefix meaning “before”
• ὁρίζω (horizō) – root verb meaning “to mark out boundaries, determine”
• -ω (-ō) – verbal suffix indicating first person singular present active

D – Defining Meanings

• To predetermine
• To foreordain
• To mark out beforehand

For compound words:
The prefix πρό (pro-) adds the temporal aspect of “beforehand,” while ὁρίζω (horizō) provides the sense of marking boundaries or determining limits.

Translation Options:

• “to predestine” – emphasizes divine determination
• “to foreordain” – highlights advance appointment
• “to predetermine” – stresses advance planning

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ὁρίζω (horizō, ho-RID-zo) – See G3724: basic form meaning “to determine”
• προγινώσκω (proginōskō, pro-gi-NO-skō) – See G4267: emphasizes foreknowledge
• προτίθημι (protithēmi, pro-TI-thay-mi) – See G4388: focuses on purpose

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, προορίζω exhibits:

• Tense: Aorist/Perfect
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Indicative/Participle
• Person: Third
• Number: Singular
• Aspect: Punctiliar/Perfective

Examples of usage:

• Aorist: “predetermined”
• Perfect: “has predetermined”
• Participle: “having predetermined”

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes divine determination in salvation history. Thayer’s highlights its use in eternal divine planning. LSJ notes its rare usage in classical Greek. Vine’s connects it to God’s sovereign purpose. Strong’s emphasizes the compound nature suggesting advance determination. Moulton and Milligan cite limited papyri examples showing formal determination.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Acts 4:28: “to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined [προώρισεν] to take place.”

Additional References:
Romans 8:29
Romans 8:30
1 Corinthians 2:7
Ephesians 1:5
Ephesians 1:11

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προορίζω powerfully proclaims God’s sovereign control over salvation history. This word proclaims the good news by showing that our salvation is not accidental but part of God’s eternal plan. It reminds us that Christ’s work was no afterthought but God’s predetermined purpose, giving believers confidence in their eternal security.

D – Did You Know?

• Προορίζω became central to theological discussions about predestination
• The word appears predominantly in Paul’s writings about salvation
• Early church fathers used it extensively in discussions about divine sovereignty

Strong’s G4309: A compound verb meaning to predetermine or foreordain, specifically used of God’s sovereign determination in salvation history. Emphasizes divine purpose in Christ’s death, believers’ adoption, and conformity to Christ’s image.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: predestination, sovereignty, divine-purpose, salvation, election, romans, ephesians, acts, foreknowledge, adoption, christ’s-death, god’s-plan​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​