προοράω
prooráō
G4308 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To see or perceive beforehand; to anticipate by seeing in advance. In active voice, it refers to perceiving or noticing something ahead of time (either temporally or logically), while in the middle voice, it can express keeping something before one's mind or considering previously. In some contexts, it denotes foreseeing an event, having prior awareness of a matter, or even arranging in advance by understanding ahead of time.
Semantic Range
to see beforehand, to perceive in advance, to foresee, to notice previously, to anticipate cognitively, to keep in mind in advance
Root / Etymology
From the preposition πρό ('before, in advance') and ὁράω ('to see, perceive'). The compound literally means 'to see before' or 'to perceive in advance.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek and Hellenistic usage, προοράω is rare but occurs in philosophical and historiographical contexts to refer to foreseeing or anticipating events, or having prior insight. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it is used to indicate divine foreknowledge (e.g., Acts 2:31, where it is applied to prophetic foresight). The word can sometimes imply not merely visual perception, but intellectual anticipation or understanding, depending on context. Standard English translations like 'foresee' or 'see beforehand' capture most of its semantic range, though some contexts emphasize mental anticipation over literal seeing. The nuance between spotting ahead and thoughtfully considering in advance is controlled by context and voice (active or middle). Closely related to προγινώσκω ('to know beforehand'), but with primary emphasis on sight or perception rather than knowledge per se.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πρό and ὁράω; to behold in advance, i.e. (actively) to notice (another) previously, or (middle voice) to keep in (one's own) view:--foresee, see before.
Root Family
προοράω (prooraō) — to see beforehand, to perceive in advance, to foresee, to anticipate
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4308-01 |
προεωρακότες | proeorakotes | V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having previously seen | having foreseen | having previously seen | 1 |
G4308-02 |
προϊδὼν | proidon | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
foreseeing | having foreseen | having foreseen | 1 |
G4308-03 |
προϊδοῦσα | proidousa | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG |
foreseeing | having foreseen | having foreseen | 1 |
G4308-04 |
προορώμην | prooromen | V IMPF MID IND 1P SG |
I foresaw | I was foreseeing for myself | I was foreseeing for myself | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4308-04 |
Acts 2:25 | προορώμην | prooromen | V IMPF MID IND 1P SG |
I foresaw | I was foreseeing for myself | I was foreseeing for myself |
G4308-02 |
Acts 2:31 | προϊδὼν | proidon | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
foreseeing | having foreseen | having foreseen |
G4308-01 |
Acts 21:29 | προεωρακότες | proeorakotes | V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having previously seen | having foreseen | having previously seen |
G4308-03 |
Galatians 3:8 | προϊδοῦσα | proidousa | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG |
foreseeing | having foreseen | having foreseen |