προακούω
proakoúō
G4257 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To hear beforehand; to receive information, news, or a report in advance of others or prior to a given event. The primary sense is 'to hear ahead of time,' but can encompass being previously informed or forewarned.
Semantic Range
to hear beforehand, to be informed in advance, to be forewarned, to receive advance notice
Root / Etymology
From πρό (before, earlier) + ἀκούω (to hear). Formed as a compound verb common in Koine Greek, with the prefix πρό indicating prior action or sequence.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Used rarely and primarily in later Greek writers and some Hellenistic texts. In the New Testament, appears in Acts 21:26, meaning to have previously heard or been informed about an event beforehand. The construction mirrors other compound verbs formed with πρό-, reflecting emphasis on temporal sequence. The semantic nuance is not about simply hearing again or more than others, but specifically about the temporal priority of hearing or being informed. English translations like 'hear before' or 'hear in advance' capture the meaning, though the latter better represents the Greek emphasis on anticipation or prior knowledge. The verb does not have a distinctive technical or religious meaning in the Septuagint or New Testament but functions as a descriptive verb for communication and information transmission.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πρό and ἀκούω; to hear already,i.e. anticipate:--hear before.
Root Family
προακούω (proakoúō) — to hear, to listen; to hear beforehand, to be informed in advance
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4257-01 |
προηκούσατε | proekousate | V AOR ACT IND 2P PL |
you heard before | you heard beforehand | you heard beforehand | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4257-01 |
Colossians 1:5 | προηκούσατε | proekousate | V AOR ACT IND 2P PL |
you heard before | you heard beforehand | you heard beforehand |