προελπίζω
proelpízō
G4276 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To hope or trust in advance, to place hope or confidence before there is confirmation or evidence; more specifically, to be the first to place one's reliance upon something or someone. In the broader sense, προελπίζω refers to taking initiative in hope or trust, anticipating fulfillment or realization ahead of actual proof.
Semantic Range
to hope in advance, to anticipate with hope, to take the initiative in hoping, to be the first to trust, to place confidence before confirmation
Root / Etymology
From the prepositional prefix προ- (before, ahead) and ἐλπίζω ('to hope, to expect'); literally, 'to hope before' or 'to hope in advance.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the limited extant sources (primarily Ephesians 1:12 in the New Testament), προελπίζω indicates an anticipatory hope or trust, distinguishing those who have already placed their hope in something from others who may do so later. The prefix προ- adds a temporal or sequential nuance, marking an initiative or precedence in expectation. The term is rare in Koine Greek and appears primarily in Christian writings. In Ephesians 1:12, it differentiates those who have 'previously hoped' from others, possibly marking Judeans who first placed hope in the Messiah before others (such as non-Judeans), but the term itself is not inherently ethnic, geographic, or theological—such interpretation depends on broader context. English translations rendering it as 'first trusted' or 'first hoped' broadly capture this nuance, but may not convey the sense of both precedence and initiative inherent in the prefixed verb.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πρό and ἐλπίζω; to hope in advance of other confirmation:--first trust.
Root Family
ἐλπ- (elpízō) — to hope, to expect, to anticipate
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4276-01 |
προηλπικότας | proelpikotas | V PRF ACT PTCP ACC M PL |
were the first to hope | those having hoped in advance | those having hoped in advance | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4276-01 |
Ephesians 1:12 | προηλπικότας | proelpikotas | V PRF ACT PTCP ACC M PL |
were the first to hope | those having hoped in advance | those having hoped in advance |