προσέχω (G4337) — Greek Lexicon

προσέχω

proséchō

G4337 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To direct one's attention toward something or someone; to be attentive, to focus on, to heed. In broader contexts, to take care, be on guard, or maintain an alert or cautious attitude regarding something specific. The verb can also mean to apply oneself to a person, idea, or action, or to be occupied with, especially in the sense of remaining attentive or vigilant.

Semantic Range

to turn or direct attention to, to pay attention to, to beware of, to be concerned about, to take care with, to devote oneself to, to apply oneself, to occupy oneself with, to heed, to guard against

Root / Etymology

Compound verb from πρός (toward, at) + ἔχω (to have, to hold). The meaning emerges from the idea of 'holding toward' or 'turning one’s hold or consideration toward' something. Cognate nouns include προσοχή ('attention, heed').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, προσέχω was used both concretely (to bring a ship near, to moor) and metaphorically (to devote one's mind or attention to). In Koine Greek, particularly in the New Testament and Septuagint, the term is widely used for mental or spiritual attentiveness—paying heed to words, warnings, or teachings (e.g., Acts 8:6, 1 Tim 4:13). The verb may range from simple attentiveness to carefulness or even moral vigilance. English translations such as 'pay attention,' 'beware,' or 'take heed' sometimes narrow the sense to warning, but προσέχω can also suggest positive engagement or deliberate mental focus. The verb is distinct from related terms such as ἐπιγινώσκω ('to recognize') or ἀκούω ('to hear'), which may or may not imply the same intentional focus. In Hellenistic and NT usage, 'give heed to' often connotes sustained or active concern, not mere passive notice.

Translation Consistency

primary "heed" 4 occurrences

Heed best captures the typical force of προσέχω—pay attention, give careful notice, and beware/take care—while remaining a single natural verb that can render both attentive and cautious senses. Alternatives like “pay” (as in “pay attention”) or “attend” are common, but either requires a companion noun or feels more formal; “heed” covers the semantic range (attend to, take care with, be on guard, apply oneself) most directly and consistently for all forms.

Alternatives (20 occurrences):

"heed, all of" (11x) "paying attention" (4x) "attending to" (3x) "keep paying attention" (1x) "paid attention" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πρός and ἔχω; (figuratively) to hold the mind (3563 implied) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to:--(give) attend(-ance, -ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to unto); have regard.

Root Family

προσεχ- (proséchō) — to hold toward, to pay attention, to heed, to be cautious

Root προσεχ- to hold toward, to pay attention, to heed, to be cautious

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4337-03`	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	Take heed	Be attentive	Heed, all of you	11
`G4337-02`	προσέχειν	prosechein	`V PRS ACT INF`	attention	to hold toward attentively	to be heeding	4
`G4337-05`	προσέχοντες	prosechontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	paying attention	attending to	attending to	3
`G4337-06`	προσεῖχον	proseichon	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they gave heed	they were paying attention	they were paying attention	3
`G4337-01`	πρόσεχε	proseche	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG`	give attention	Keep paying attention	Keep paying attention	1
`G4337-04`	προσέχοντας	prosechontas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL`	given	paying attention	paying attention	1
`G4337-07`	προσέσχηκεν	prosescheken	`V PRF ACT IND 3P SG`	has officiated	he has paid attention	has paid attention	1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4337-03`	Matthew 6:1	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	Take heed	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-03`	Matthew 7:15	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	Beware	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-03`	Matthew 10:17	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	beware	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-03`	Matthew 16:6	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	beware	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-03`	Matthew 16:11	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	beware	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-02`	Matthew 16:12	προσέχειν	prosechein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to beware	to hold toward attentively	to be heeding
`G4337-03`	Luke 12:1	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	Beware	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-03`	Luke 17:3	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	Take heed	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-03`	Luke 20:46	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	Beware	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-03`	Luke 21:34	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	Take heed	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-03`	Acts 5:35	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	take heed	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-06`	Acts 8:6	προσεῖχον	proseichon	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	were giving attention	they were paying attention	they were paying attention
`G4337-06`	Acts 8:10	προσεῖχον	proseichon	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they gave heed	they were paying attention	they were paying attention
`G4337-06`	Acts 8:11	προσεῖχον	proseichon	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they gave heed	they were paying attention	they were paying attention
`G4337-02`	Acts 16:14	προσέχειν	prosechein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to pay attention	to hold toward attentively	to be heeding
`G4337-03`	Acts 20:28	προσέχετε	prosechete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	Take heed	Be attentive	Heed, all of you
`G4337-02`	1 Timothy 1:4	προσέχειν	prosechein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to give heed	to hold toward attentively	to be heeding
`G4337-04`	1 Timothy 3:8	προσέχοντας	prosechontas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL`	given	paying attention	paying attention
`G4337-05`	1 Timothy 4:1	προσέχοντες	prosechontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	paying attention	attending to	attending to
`G4337-01`	1 Timothy 4:13	πρόσεχε	proseche	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG`	give attention	Keep paying attention	Keep paying attention
`G4337-05`	Titus 1:14	προσέχοντες	prosechontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	paying attention	attending to	attending to
`G4337-02`	Hebrews 2:1	προσέχειν	prosechein	`V PRS ACT INF`	attention	to hold toward attentively	to be heeding
`G4337-07`	Hebrews 7:13	προσέσχηκεν	prosescheken	`V PRF ACT IND 3P SG`	has officiated	he has paid attention	has paid attention
`G4337-05`	2 Peter 1:19	προσέχοντες	prosechontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	paying attention	attending to	attending to

← G4336 Greek Lexicon G4338 →