προάγω (G4254) — Greek Lexicon

προάγω

proágō

G4254 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To lead forward or lead on ahead; to cause to go before oneself or others. In extended senses: to be ahead of, to precede in order, rank, place, or time, often in relation to processions, messengers, events, or persons. Can also mean to bring out for appearance or judgment.

Semantic Range

to lead forward, to bring out (to public appearance), to bring before (for judgment), to go before (in order or rank), to precede (in time), to go ahead

Root / Etymology

From the preposition πρό ('before, in front of') and the verb ἄγω ('to lead, bring'). The compound has the basic meaning of 'leading ahead' or 'leading before.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, προάγω is used for leading someone or something forward physically, such as in processions, armies, or guiding individuals ahead of a group. By the Hellenistic period, the word is frequently found in administrative, judicial, or ritual contexts: 'to lead someone forth' for an official appearance (such as to a public assembly or to judgment), or to go before in ceremonial order. In the New Testament, it often functions both transitively ('bring out, lead in front of others') and intransitively ('to go before, be ahead of'), with uses describing physical leading (Mark 14:28; Acts 16:30), chronological precedence (Matthew 21:31), or leading forth to public exposure (Acts 12:6). English renderings such as 'go before,' 'precede,' or 'bring forward' capture some, but not all, of the nuances, especially in situations involving legal or ceremonial connotations. The term should not be confused with simple movement in advance; context often determines whether the sense is physical, temporal, or institutional. Compared to related words like προέρχομαι ('to go forward/advance oneself'), προάγω often emphasizes an agent who causes another to go ahead or appear, highlighting the leading role.

Translation Consistency

primary "lead" 9 occurrences

Proágō most often carries the sense of causing or guiding someone/something forward — going before, bringing out, or bringing before for judgment. "Lead" is a natural, versatile English verb that covers both transitive (lead out, bring before) and intransitive/precede senses better than more formal options like "precede" or the vaguer "go."

Alternatives (11 occurrences):

"go ahead" (3x) "going ahead" (2x) "preceding" (2x) "went before" (1x) "having brought forward" (1x) "led forward" (1x) "going before" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πρό and ἄγω; to lead forward (magisterially); intransitively, to precede (in place or time (participle, previous)):--bring (forth, out), go before.

Root Family

προάγω (proagō) — to lead before, to bring forward, to precede

Root προαγ- to lead before, to bring forward, to precede

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4254-06`	προάγοντες	proagontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	going ahead	those leading ahead	those leading ahead	3
`G4254-04`	προάγειν	proagein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to go ahead	to lead ahead	to go ahead	2
`G4254-05`	προάγων	proagon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	goes ahead	leading ahead	going ahead	2
`G4254-01`	προαγαγεῖν	proagagein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to bring	to lead forward	to lead forward	2
`G4254-11`	προάξω	proaxo	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will go ahead	I will lead ahead	I will lead ahead	2
`G4254-03`	προάγει	proagei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	he is going	he leads ahead	he leads ahead	2
`G4254-09`	προαγούσης	proagouses	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN F SG`	going before	of the one leading ahead	of the preceding	1
`G4254-02`	προαγαγὼν	proagagon	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having brought	having led ahead	having brought forward	1
`G4254-10`	προάγουσιν	proagousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	go before	they lead ahead	go ahead	1
`G4254-08`	προαγούσας	proagousas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC F PL`	previously made	leading ahead (feminine plural accusative)	preceding	1
`G4254-07`	προάγουσαι	proagousai	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F PL`	going before	leading ahead	going before	1
`G4254-13`	προῆγεν	proegen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	went before	was leading ahead	went before	1
`G4254-12`	προήγαγον	proegagon	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I brought	I led forward	I led forward	1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4254-13`	Matthew 2:9	προῆγεν	proegen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	went before	was leading ahead	went before
`G4254-04`	Matthew 14:22	προάγειν	proagein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to go ahead	to lead ahead	to go ahead
`G4254-06`	Matthew 21:9	προάγοντες	proagontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	going ahead	those leading ahead	those leading ahead
`G4254-10`	Matthew 21:31	προάγουσιν	proagousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	go before	they lead ahead	go ahead
`G4254-11`	Matthew 26:32	προάξω	proaxo	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will go ahead	I will lead ahead	I will lead ahead
`G4254-03`	Matthew 28:7	προάγει	proagei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	he is going	he leads ahead	he leads ahead
`G4254-04`	Mark 6:45	προάγειν	proagein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to go ahead	to lead ahead	to go ahead
`G4254-05`	Mark 10:32	προάγων	proagon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	going ahead	leading ahead	going ahead
`G4254-06`	Mark 11:9	προάγοντες	proagontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	going before	those leading ahead	those leading ahead
`G4254-11`	Mark 14:28	προάξω	proaxo	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will go before	I will lead ahead	I will lead ahead
`G4254-03`	Mark 16:7	προάγει	proagei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	he is going before	he leads ahead	he leads ahead
`G4254-06`	Luke 18:39	προάγοντες	proagontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	leading the way	those leading ahead	those leading ahead
`G4254-01`	Acts 12:6	προαγαγεῖν	proagagein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to bring	to lead forward	to lead forward
`G4254-02`	Acts 16:30	προαγαγὼν	proagagon	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having brought	having led ahead	having brought forward
`G4254-01`	Acts 17:5	προαγαγεῖν	proagagein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to bring	to lead forward	to lead forward
`G4254-12`	Acts 25:26	προήγαγον	proegagon	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I brought	I led forward	I led forward
`G4254-08`	1 Timothy 1:18	προαγούσας	proagousas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC F PL`	previously made	leading ahead (feminine plural accusative)	preceding
`G4254-07`	1 Timothy 5:24	προάγουσαι	proagousai	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F PL`	going before	leading ahead	going before
`G4254-09`	Hebrews 7:18	προαγούσης	proagouses	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN F SG`	going before	of the one leading ahead	of the preceding
`G4254-05`	2 John 1:9	προάγων	proagon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	goes ahead	leading ahead	going ahead

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