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