Brief Overview of προσαναλίσκω (Strong’s G4321: prosanalisko)

Strong’s G4321: A compound verb combining pros (toward, in addition) with analisko (to expend, consume), meaning “to spend in addition, to expend further.” Used specifically in medical contexts to describe the complete expenditure of resources in pursuit of healing, emphasizing both duration and totality.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προσαναλίσκω represents a powerful compound verb that captures the idea of completely expending or consuming resources, often with the connotation of additional or continued spending. In its New Testament context, it appears in Luke’s account of the woman with the issue of blood, highlighting the desperate lengths to which she went seeking healing. The word paints a vivid picture of completely depleting one’s resources in pursuit of a solution. Early church writers often used this term to discuss spiritual investment and the cost of discipleship, drawing parallels between physical expenditure and spiritual commitment. Today, it serves as a reminder of both the cost of seeking wholeness and the surpassing value of finding healing in Christ.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προσαναλίσκω, prosanalisko, pros-an-al-IS-ko
• Pronunciation: Emphasis on ‘IS’, with ‘pros’ and ‘an’ quickly spoken, ‘ko’ unstressed
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• πρός (pros) – prefix meaning “toward, in addition”
• ἀνα (ana) – prefix intensifying the action
• ἁλίσκω (halisko) – root verb meaning “to consume, spend”
  The combination creates an intensified sense of expenditure or consumption.

D – Defining Meanings

• To spend additionally or completely
• To expend all resources
• To consume entirely

For compound words:
The prefix πρός indicates additional action, ἀνα intensifies the basic meaning, and ἁλίσκω provides the core concept of consumption or expenditure. Together, they create a vivid picture of complete and additional spending.

Translation Options:

• “to spend entirely” – emphasizes the completeness of the expenditure
• “to expend additionally” – highlights the ongoing nature of the spending
• “to use up completely” – captures both the totality and finality of the action

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἀναλίσκω (analisko, an-al-IS-ko) – to consume or spend, without the additional aspect
  See G355
• δαπανάω (dapanao, dap-an-AH-o) – to spend, especially of money
  See G1159
• ἐξοδιάζω (exodiazo, ex-od-ee-AD-zo) – to expend, pay out
  See G1856

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, προσαναλίσκω exhibits these morphological features:

• Tense: Aorist, Perfect
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Participle, Indicative
• Person: 3rd
• Number: Singular
• Aspect: Complete (Perfect), Simple (Aorist)

The perfect tense is particularly significant in its New Testament usage, indicating completed action with ongoing results. The active voice emphasizes the subject’s own expenditure of resources.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its use in medical contexts and financial depletion. Thayer’s notes the intensifying force of the double prefix. LSJ provides evidence of its use in business transactions and medical expenses. Vine’s connects it to complete expenditure. Strong’s highlights the comprehensive nature of the spending. LEH notes its use in the Septuagint for complete consumption. Moulton and Milligan cite papyri evidence of its use in financial records.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had [προσαναλώσασα] spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. Luke 8:43

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προσαναλίσκω powerfully illustrates the complete expenditure of resources in pursuit of healing. In the context of the bleeding woman’s story, it highlights both human desperation and the ultimate sufficiency of Christ. The good news is that while human resources may be exhausted, Jesus’s power to heal and restore is limitless, freely given to those who come to Him in faith.

D – Did You Know?

1. The word appears frequently in ancient medical documents, especially in contexts of chronic illness
2. It was commonly used in financial records to indicate bankruptcy or complete resource depletion
3. Luke, as a physician, chose this specific medical-financial term to emphasize the woman’s desperate situation

Strong’s G4321: A compound verb combining pros (toward, in addition) with analisko (to expend, consume), meaning “to spend in addition, to expend further.” Used specifically in medical contexts to describe the complete expenditure of resources in pursuit of healing, emphasizing both duration and totality.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: spending, consumption, depletion, healing, resources, medical-terminology, Luke’s-Gospel, bleeding-woman, financial-terms, complete-expenditure, desperate-circumstances, physicians, healing-accounts, faith-narratives, compound-verb​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​