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πρόθεσις

próthesis

G4286 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The act of setting forth, placing before, or presenting. In extension, denotes a plan, purpose, or intention as something mentally set before oneself. In specific contexts, refers to the act of presenting offerings, especially the bread placed in the sanctuary (the showbread) as a ritual display before God.

Semantic Range

act of placing something before, presentation, proposal, intention, plan, purpose, setting forth of offerings (esp. showbread), showbread itself

Root / Etymology

From the root προτιθέναι (to set before, to place in view), which itself is from πρό (before) + τίθημι (to place, to put). The term is thus formed from the action 'to place before' or 'to set forth.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, πρόθεσις sometimes refers generally to setting something forth or making a proposal. In the Septuagint, πρόθεσις becomes a technical term for the showbread (the bread of the 'Presence') placed on a table in the sanctuary before God (see Exodus 25:30; Leviticus 24:5-9), translating the Hebrew לֶחֶם פָּנִים (lechem panim). In the New Testament, the term retains these uses: (1) abstractly, as one's purpose or intention (especially in Paul, e.g. Romans 8:28: 'called according to his purpose'); (2) concretely, as the showbread of the Jerusalem temple. English translations often gloss the word as 'purpose' or 'showbread' depending on context. The technical sense 'showbread' belongs specifically to ritual or cultic settings, while the broader sense of 'purpose, intention' appears in philosophical, rhetorical, and personal usage. The English 'showbread' reflects a later traditional translation and may obscure the more general underlying sense of deliberate placement or presentation.

Translation Consistency

primary "purpose" 8 occurrences

Most natural and common rendering for πρόθεσις across contexts — conveys plan, intention, and set purpose (the primary SILEX senses). It is the most frequent P2 choice and provides a consistent, natural English word that can cover both mental intention and the presentation sense in many contexts; rarer ritual senses (showbread/offering) can be handled by context-specific notes.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"presentation" (3x) "setting-forth" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from προτίθεμαι; a setting forth, i.e. (figuratively) proposal (intention); specially, the show-bread (in the Temple) as exposed before God:--purpose, shew(-bread).

Root Family

πρόθεσις (prothesis) — setting forth, placing before, presentation, intention, purpose

Root προθέσ- to set forth, to place before, to present

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4286-03 πρόθεσιν prothesin N ACC F SG purpose a setting-forth purpose 4
G4286-02 Προθέσεως protheseos N GEN F SG Presence of setting forth of presentation 4
G4286-04 πρόθεσις prothesis N NOM F SG purpose setting-forth purpose 2
G4286-01 προθέσει prothesei N DAT F SG purpose to the setting-forth purpose 2

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4286-02 Matthew 12:4 Προθέσεως protheseos N GEN F SG Presence of setting forth of presentation
G4286-02 Mark 2:26 Προθέσεως protheseos N GEN F SG Presence of setting forth of the Presentation
G4286-02 Luke 6:4 Προθέσεως protheseos N GEN F SG presentation of setting forth of presentation
G4286-01 Acts 11:23 προθέσει prothesei N DAT F SG purpose to the setting-forth to the purpose
G4286-02 Acts 27:13 προθέσεως protheseos N GEN F SG purpose of setting forth of purpose
G4286-03 Romans 8:28 πρόθεσιν prothesin N ACC F SG purpose a setting-forth purpose
G4286-04 Romans 9:11 πρόθεσις prothesis N NOM F SG purpose setting-forth purpose
G4286-03 Ephesians 1:11 πρόθεσιν prothesin N ACC F SG purpose a setting-forth purpose
G4286-03 Ephesians 3:11 πρόθεσιν prothesin N ACC F SG purpose a setting-forth purpose
G4286-03 2 Timothy 1:9 πρόθεσιν prothesin N ACC F SG purpose a setting-forth purpose
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