Brief Overview of προσήλυτος (Strong’s G4339: prosēlutos)

Strong’s G4339: A noun derived from proserchomai (to come to), meaning “one who has come over, a convert.” Used specifically for Gentile converts to Judaism who fully embraced Jewish law and customs. Distinguished from “God-fearers” by their full commitment to Jewish religious practice.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προσήλυτος represents those who have completely converted to Judaism, taking on all obligations of Jewish law and life. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts discussing both the zeal of Jewish proselytizing and the integration of converts into the Jewish community. The term carried significant social and religious weight, indicating full acceptance into the covenant community. Early church fathers often used this term to discuss the relationship between Jewish conversion and Christian faith. Today, it informs our understanding of conversion, religious identity, and inclusion in God’s people.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προσήλυτος, prosēlutos, pros-AY-loo-tos
• Pronunciation: Emphasis on ‘AY’, with ‘pros’ quickly spoken, ‘tos’ unstressed
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• προσέρχομαι (proserchomai) – verb meaning “to come to”
• -τος (-tos) – verbal adjective suffix indicating completed action
  The combination forms a noun describing one who has come over to Judaism.

D – Defining Meanings

• Convert to Judaism
• Full adherent to Jewish faith
• Religious newcomer

For compound words:
While derived from a compound verb, προσήλυτος functions as a simple noun. Its formation emphasizes the completed nature of the conversion process.

Translation Options:

• “proselyte” – technical term for Jewish convert
• “convert” – emphasizes the change of religious allegiance
• “full adherent” – reflects complete commitment to Judaism

E – Exploring Similar Words

• σεβόμενος (sebomenos, seb-OM-en-os) – God-fearer, partial adherent
  See G4576
• βάρβαρος (barbaros, BAR-bar-os) – foreigner, non-Greek
  See G915
• ἀλλογενής (allogenēs, al-log-en-AYS) – person of another race
  See G241

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, προσήλυτος shows these features:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second

The word follows standard second declension patterns:

• Nominative: προσήλυτος
• Genitive: προσηλύτου
• Dative: προσηλύτῳ
• Accusative: προσήλυτον

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its technical nature in Jewish conversion. Thayer’s notes the full commitment required. LSJ provides evidence of its use in Jewish communities. Vine’s connects it to complete religious conversion. Strong’s highlights its origin from “coming over.” LEH notes its frequent use in the Septuagint. Moulton and Milligan cite papyri evidence of its use in Jewish communities.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single [προσήλυτον] proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Matthew 23:15

Additional References:
Acts 2:11
Acts 6:5
Acts 13:43

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προσήλυτος reminds us that God’s kingdom has always welcomed those who come in genuine faith. While the term originally described converts to Judaism, it points to the greater reality that in Christ, God welcomes people from all nations into His family, not through religious ritual but through faith in Jesus.

D – Did You Know?

1. Converting to Judaism involved circumcision, baptism, and sacrifice
2. Proselytes had the same legal status as native Jews in Jewish law
3. Some famous proselytes mentioned in Acts became key figures in early Christianity

Strong’s G4339: A noun derived from proserchomai (to come to), meaning “one who has come over, a convert.” Used specifically for Gentile converts to Judaism who fully embraced Jewish law and customs. Distinguished from “God-fearers” by their full commitment to Jewish religious practice.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: conversion, Jewish-converts, religious-identity, proselytes, Judaism, Gentiles, religious-commitment, Jewish-law, Acts, Matthew, inclusion, religious-practice, covenant-community, religious-conversion, Jewish-customs​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​