Brief Overview of προκηρύσσω (Strong’s G4296: prokēryssō)

Strong’s G4296: A compound verb combining “pro” (before) and “kēryssō” (to herald/proclaim), meaning to announce or proclaim beforehand. In biblical context, it specifically relates to the proclamation of Christ’s coming, emphasizing the divine foreannouncement of God’s redemptive plan.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προκηρύσσω embodies the concept of authoritative proclamation with an emphasis on timing. As a compound word, it combines the anticipatory aspect of “pro” with the official proclamation inherent in “kēryssō.” In the New Testament, particularly in Acts 3:20, it appears in connection with the proclamation of Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah. The early church recognized this term as highlighting the continuity between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment. Today, it reminds us that God’s plan of salvation wasn’t improvised but proclaimed in advance through His prophets and messengers.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προκηρύσσω, prokēryssō, pro-kay-ROOS-so
• Pronunciation Guide: pro (as in “pro-fessional”) + kay (as in “kay”) + ROOS (as in “rooster”) + so (as in “so”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• πρό (pro-) – prefix meaning “before, ahead of time”
• κηρύσσω (kēryssō) – root verb meaning “to proclaim, herald”
• -ω (-ō) – verbal suffix indicating first person singular present active

D – Defining Meanings

• To proclaim beforehand
• To announce in advance
• To herald ahead of time

For compound words:
The prefix πρό (pro-) adds the temporal aspect of “beforehand,” while κηρύσσω (kēryssō) provides the sense of official proclamation or heralding.

Translation Options:

• “to proclaim beforehand” – emphasizes the official nature
• “to herald in advance” – highlights the public announcement aspect
• “to pre-announce” – stresses the temporal sequence

E – Exploring Similar Words

• κηρύσσω (kēryssō, kay-ROOS-so) – See G2784: lacks the “beforehand” aspect
• προευαγγελίζομαι (proeuaggelizomai, pro-eu-an-ge-LID-zo-mai) – See G4283: specifically refers to preaching good news beforehand
• προαγγέλλω (proaggellō, pro-an-GEL-lo) – See G4291: emphasizes announcing future events

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, προκηρύσσω exhibits:

• Tense: Perfect
• Voice: Passive/Middle
• Mood: Participle
• Person: Third
• Number: Singular
• Aspect: Perfective

In English, the morphology demonstrates:

• Present: “I proclaim beforehand”
• Perfect: “I have proclaimed beforehand”
• Aorist: “I proclaimed beforehand”

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes the word’s use in official proclamations. Thayer’s highlights its connection to messianic prophecy. LSJ notes its frequent use in public announcements. Vine’s connects it to the preparation for Christ’s coming. Strong’s emphasizes the compound nature suggesting authoritative pre-announcement. Moulton and Milligan cite examples from papyri where it indicates official proclamations.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Acts 3:20: “That he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago [προκεκηρυγμένον].”

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

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προκηρύσσω beautifully captures God’s intentional revelation of His salvation plan. This word proclaims the good news by showing that Jesus’s coming wasn’t unexpected but was heralded throughout history. It testifies to God’s faithful preparation of His people through prophecy and proclamation, culminating in the arrival of Christ, the promised Messiah.

D – Did You Know?

• Προκηρύσσω was commonly used for official state proclamations in ancient Greece
• The word appears in Acts in reference to all the prophetic announcements about Christ
• Its usage emphasizes the continuity between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment

Strong’s G4296: A compound verb combining “before” and “to herald,” signifying authoritative proclamation made in advance. Used specifically in Acts to emphasize how God announced His redemptive plan through the prophets before Christ’s coming.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: proclamation, prophecy, announcement, herald, messiah, forerunner, acts, prophets, preparation, divine-plan, fulfillment, salvation-history​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​