Brief Overview of προσφέρω (Strong’s G4374: prospherō)

Strong’s G4374: A compound verb combining πρός (toward) with φέρω (to bear, carry), meaning to bring to, offer, or present. Used extensively in religious contexts for bringing offerings to God, presenting gifts, and making sacrifices, emphasizing both physical presentation and spiritual dedication.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προσφέρω embodies the action of bringing something forward or presenting it to someone. As a compound word, it joins πρός (toward) with φέρω (to bear/carry), creating a term that emphasizes purposeful presentation. In New Testament usage, it spans contexts from the Magi offering gifts to Christ to Jesus offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice. The early church understood this term as central to both worship and sacrifice, particularly in discussing Christ’s self-offering. Today, it continues to inform our understanding of worship, sacrifice, and service to God.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προσφέρω, prospherō, /pros-FE-rō/
• Detailed pronunciation: pros (as in ‘prose’) + fe (as in ‘fair’) + rō (as in ‘row’)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• πρός (pros-) – prefix meaning “toward”
• φέρω (pherō) – root verb meaning “to bear, carry”
  The combination emphasizes directed movement or presentation.

D – Defining Meanings

• To bring to
• To offer
• To present

For compound words:
The prefix πρός adds directional intent to the base verb φέρω, emphasizing movement toward a specific recipient or purpose.

Translation Options:

1. “To offer” – Best captures sacrificial and worship contexts
2. “To bring to” – Emphasizes physical movement toward
3. “To present” – Highlights formal presentation aspect

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἀναφέρω (anapherō, /a-na-FE-rō/) – To bring up, offer up
  See G399
• δίδωμι (didōmi, /DI-dō-mi/) – To give
  See G1325
• παρίστημι (paristēmi, /pa-RIS-tē-mi/) – To present, stand beside
  See G3936

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, προσφέρω exhibits these morphological features:

• Tense: Present, Future, Aorist, Perfect
• Voice: Active, Passive
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Imperfective (Present), Perfective (Aorist)

Example morphological variations:

• Present: προσφέρω (I offer)
• Future: προσοίσω (I will offer)
• Aorist: προσήνεγκα (I offered)
• Perfect: προσενήνοχα (I have offered)

Related words in other parts of speech:

• προσφορά (prosphora) – noun form meaning “offering”

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its use in both cultic and non-cultic contexts. Thayer’s notes its significance in sacrificial language. LSJ provides examples from religious and secular contexts. Vine’s highlights its importance in Hebrews’ sacrificial theology. Strong’s emphasizes the compound nature and sacrificial associations. Moulton and Milligan cite examples from religious and legal documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
“And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they [προσφέρω] offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Additional References:
Matthew 8:4
Mark 1:44
Luke 23:36
John 16:2
Hebrews 5:1

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προσφέρω beautifully captures the essence of worship and sacrifice, from the Magi’s gifts to Christ’s ultimate self-offering. It reminds us that the good news of King Jesus centers on His perfect sacrifice, which enables us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices in response to His grace.

D – Did You Know?

1. This word appears over 50 times in Hebrews, emphasizing its sacrificial significance.
2. It was a technical term in Greek religious ceremonies.
3. Early Christian liturgies used this word for the presentation of communion elements.

Strong’s G4374: A compound verb combining πρός (toward) with φέρω (to bear, carry), meaning to bring to, offer, or present. Used extensively in religious contexts for bringing offerings to God, presenting gifts, and making sacrifices, emphasizing both physical presentation and spiritual dedication.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: offering, sacrifice, presentation, worship, gifts, dedication, bringing, religious service, ritual, devotion​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​