προτίθεμαι (G4388) — Greek Lexicon

προτίθεμαι

protíthemai

G4388 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To set before oneself, to purpose or plan in advance, to display or present publicly. In the middle voice (as used in Koine Greek), the primary sense is of placing something before oneself or others, either in a literal or figurative sense, most often referring to planning, intending, or publicly displaying something. Used of (1) presenting or setting forth something visibly to others and (2) inwardly determining or intending an action or purpose.

Semantic Range

to set before oneself, to purpose or plan, to display publicly, to present for consideration, to intend

Root / Etymology

Compound of προ- ('before, in front of') and τίθημι ('to place, set'). The form is a middle voice verb, indicating an action performed with relation to or benefit for oneself.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, προτίθημι (active voice) most often describes placing something physically before someone, such as food or documents. In the Koine period, particularly in the New Testament and Septuagint, the middle voice προτίθεμαι is more common and tends to mean 'to purpose' or 'to plan for oneself,' often with reference to a divine or personal intention (e.g., Romans 1:13, 3:25; Ephesians 1:9). It can also mean 'to display' in a public or evidentiary sense, as with the public exhibition of something (cf. Romans 3:25, where it refers to the public presentation of a sacrifice). English translations traditionally use phrases like 'to purpose,' 'to set forth,' or 'to display,' but 'to purpose' or 'to determine' are often limited in bringing out both the intentional and public aspects conveyed by the verbal nuance. The contrast with προαιρέομαι ('to choose beforehand, to resolve') helps delineate that προτίθεμαι more directly references the act of laying out a plan or intention rather than the act of choosing between alternatives. In the Septuagint, a related use is found in Exodus 40:4, where it refers to setting or arranging items in the tabernacle. Thus, the concept encompasses both literal and figurative acts of placing, planning, and exhibiting.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from πρό and τίθημι; to place before, i.e. (for oneself) to exhibit; (to oneself) to propose (determine):--purpose, set forth.

Root Family

προτίθεμαι (protithemai) — to place, to set, to set before oneself, to purpose, to present publicly

Root τιθ- to place, to set

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4388-02`	προέθετο	proetheto	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	he purposed	he set before himself	he set before himself	2
`G4388-01`	προεθέμην	proethemen	`V AOR MID IND 1P SG`	I planned	I set before myself	I purposed	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4388-01`	Romans 1:13	προεθέμην	proethemen	`V AOR MID IND 1P SG`	I planned	I set before myself	I purposed
`G4388-02`	Romans 3:25	προέθετο	proetheto	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	set forth	he set before himself	he set before himself
`G4388-02`	Ephesians 1:9	προέθετο	proetheto	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	he purposed	he set before himself	he set before himself

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