Brief Overview of προσάββατον (Strong’s G4315: prosabbaton)

Strong’s G4315: A compound noun combining “pro” (before) and “sabbaton” (Sabbath), meaning the day before the Sabbath or preparation day. In biblical context, it specifically refers to Friday, the day of preparation before the weekly Sabbath, particularly significant in the timing of Jesus’s crucifixion.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προσάββατον represents the crucial time of preparation before the Sabbath. As a compound word, it combines anticipatory preparation with the sacred rest day. In the New Testament, it appears in Mark 15:42 regarding Jesus’s burial, highlighting the urgency of completing burial preparations before the Sabbath began. The early church understood this term as significant in establishing the chronology of Christ’s death and resurrection. Today, it continues to teach us about proper preparation for sacred times and the importance of honoring holy days.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προσάββατον, prosabbaton, pro-SAB-ba-ton
• Pronunciation Guide: pro (as in “pro-fessional”) + SAB (as in “Sabbath”) + ba (as in “father”) + ton (as in “tone”)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• πρό (pro-) – prefix meaning “before”
• σάββατον (sabbaton) – root noun meaning “Sabbath”
• -ον (-on) – neuter nominal ending

D – Defining Meanings

• The day before the Sabbath
• Friday (in Jewish reckoning)
• Preparation day

For compound words:
The prefix πρό (pro-) adds the temporal aspect of “before,” while σάββατον (sabbaton) provides the reference to the Sabbath day.

Translation Options:

• “preparation day” – emphasizes the function
• “day before Sabbath” – highlights the temporal relationship
• “Friday” – provides cultural equivalent

E – Exploring Similar Words

• παρασκευή (paraskeuē, pa-ra-skeu-AY) – See G3904: another term for preparation day
• σάββατον (sabbaton, SAB-ba-ton) – See G4521: the Sabbath itself
• ἑορτή (heortē, he-or-TAY) – See G1859: feast or festival

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, προσάββατον exhibits:

• Case: Nominative/Accusative/Genitive/Dative
• Number: Singular/Plural
• Gender: Neuter
• Declension: Second

Case forms:

• Nominative: τὸ προσάββατον
• Genitive: τοῦ προσαββάτου
• Dative: τῷ προσαββάτῳ
• Accusative: τὸ προσάββατον

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its specific reference to preparation day. Thayer’s highlights its Jewish cultural context. LSJ notes its limited use outside biblical literature. Vine’s connects it to Jewish time-reckoning. Strong’s emphasizes the compound nature suggesting preparation time. Moulton and Milligan cite limited papyri examples from Jewish contexts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Mark 15:42: “And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation [προσάββατον], that is, the day before the Sabbath.”

Additional References:
As a hapax legomenon, προσάββατον appears only once in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προσάββατον beautifully captures the importance of proper preparation in spiritual matters. This word proclaims the good news by highlighting the careful timing of Christ’s death and burial, showing God’s sovereign control even in these details. It reminds us that preparation for sacred times remains important in Christian worship and life.

D – Did You Know?

• Προσάββατον appears only once in the New Testament
• The word was crucial in early church discussions about crucifixion chronology
• It reflects Jewish care in preparation for holy times

Strong’s G4315: A compound noun meaning the day before the Sabbath, specifically referring to Friday in Jewish reckoning. Used in Mark’s gospel to establish the timing of Jesus’s burial, emphasizing the urgency of completing preparations before the Sabbath.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: sabbath, preparation, friday, crucifixion, burial, mark, jewish-customs, time-reckoning, holy-days, worship, sacred-time, preparation-day​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​