προγίνομαι (G4266) — Greek Lexicon

προγίνομαι

progínomai

G4266 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To come into being or occur before a reference point; to exist or happen previously. In context, denotes something that has already taken place relative to another event or time. May refer to events, states, or conditions that have transpired prior to a current moment or action.

Semantic Range

to have occurred before, to exist previously, to have transpired, to be past, to have taken place previously

Root / Etymology

From the preposition πρό ('before') and the verb γίνομαι ('to become, to happen, to come into being'); thus conveys the sense of becoming or occurring beforehand.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The compound verb προγίνομαι appears only rarely in extant Greek literature, including one attestation in the New Testament (Luke 13:2). Its structure is transparent, formed by the common prefix πρό (marking anteriority or priority in time) attached to γίνομαι. The term is generally used to demarcate a temporal sequence, highlighting that an event or condition occurred before another. In New Testament usage, standard translations often render it as 'were' or 'had happened previously,' but the Greek emphasizes the prior occurrence relative to the context. There is no significant shift in meaning between Hellenistic and later Koine usage, though the term is not especially common outside biblical Greek. It differs from similar compounds such as προϋπάρχω ('to exist before'), which more explicitly emphasizes prior existence, while προγίνομαι focuses on the process or event of becoming prior. English translations tend to flatten such distinctions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πρό and γίνομαι; to be already, i.e. have previousy transpired:--be past.

Root Family

προγίνομαι (proginomai) — to become before, to occur previously, to happen beforehand

Root γιν- to become, to occur, to happen

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4266-01`	προγεγονότων	progegonoton	`V PRF ACT PTCP GEN N PL`	previously committed	of the previously occurred things	of the previously occurred things	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4266-01`	Romans 3:25	προγεγονότων	progegonoton	`V PRF ACT PTCP GEN N PL`	previously committed	of the previously occurred things	of the previously occurred things

← G4265 Greek Lexicon G4267 →