Brief Overview of πρόδηλος (Strong’s G4271: prodēlos)

Strong’s G4271: A compound adjective meaning “evident beforehand” or “clearly manifest,” combining πρό (before) with δῆλος (clear/evident). Used in ecclesiastical and judicial contexts to describe what is obvious or manifestly clear, particularly regarding the visibility of sins and spiritual truths.

U- Unveiling the Word

πρόδηλος represents the quality of being manifestly clear or obvious beforehand. In its appearance in 1 Timothy 5:24, it describes the evident nature of some sins before judgment. Early church writers used this term to discuss moral discernment and divine judgment. Today, this word continues to inform our understanding of moral transparency and accountability in Christian community.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πρόδηλος, prodēlos, pro-DAY-los
• Detailed Pronunciation: pro (as in ‘protein’) + DAY (stressed) + los (as in ‘loss’)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• Prefix: πρό- (pro-) meaning “before”
• Root: δῆλος (dēlos) meaning “clear/evident”
• The combination creates “clear beforehand/manifestly evident”

D – Defining Meanings

• Evident beforehand
• Manifestly clear
• Obviously visible
• Plain to see

For compound words:
πρό- adds emphasis to δῆλος’s meaning of clarity, suggesting both temporal priority and degree of obviousness.

Translation Options:

1. Evident beforehand – Emphasizes temporal aspect
2. Manifestly clear – Emphasizes degree of clarity
3. Obviously visible – More contemporary equivalent

E – Exploring Similar Words

• φανερός (phaneros) [fan-er-OS] – manifest, more general visibility
• ἐμφανής (emphanēs) [em-fan-ACE] – clearly visible, with emphasis on appearance
• See G4271

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As an adjective:

• Case: All cases
• Nominative: πρόδηλος
• Genitive: προδήλου
• Dative: προδήλῳ
• Accusative: πρόδηλον
• Number: Singular and Plural
• Gender: All genders
• Declension: Second declension

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its use in moral contexts. Thayer’s notes its connection to judgment. LSJ documents its use in legal settings. Vine’s highlights its emphasis on clear visibility. Moulton and Milligan show its use in official declarations.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“The sins of some people are [πρόδηλος] conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.” 1 Timothy 5:24

Additional References:
Hebrews 7:14

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

πρόδηλος reminds us that nothing is hidden from God’s sight. It proclaims the good news that while some sins may be hidden now, King Jesus will bring all things to light with perfect justice. This word encourages transparency in Christian living while assuring us of God’s righteous judgment.

D – Did You Know?

1. Ancient courts used this term for self-evident cases.
2. Early Christian confessionals referenced this word regarding open confession.
3. It influenced development of church discipline terminology.

Strong’s G4271: A compound adjective meaning “evident beforehand” or “clearly manifest,” combining πρό (before) with δῆλος (clear/evident). Used in ecclesiastical and judicial contexts to describe what is obvious or manifestly clear, particularly regarding the visibility of sins and spiritual truths.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: evident, clear, manifest, judgment, transparency, accountability, moral discernment, divine judgment, sin, justice, biblical keywords​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​