προσψαύω
prospsaúō
G4379 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To touch or make contact with (someone or something), generally with intent and often for a specific purpose such as investigation, healing, or verification. The act usually implies a deliberate extension of the hand to test or ascertain physical reality. In medical or ritual contexts, it can also mean to examine by touch.
Semantic Range
to touch (deliberately or for investigation), to handle or lay a finger on, to verify by physical contact, to approach and make contact with (especially as a test or proof)
Root / Etymology
Formed from the preposition πρός ('to, toward') and ψαύω ('to touch, to handle'). The composite structure intensifies the notion of reaching toward and making contact.
Historical & Contextual Notes
προσψαύω is a later and relatively rare compound verb, most often found in Koine Greek contexts including the New Testament (e.g., Luke 24:39, where the disciples are invited to touch Jesus as proof of his physical reality after resurrection). The verb ψαύω, its base, generally means to touch lightly, often for investigation or verification, and προσψαύω carries this sense with greater emphasis on the approach or intentionality of the act. Unlike the simple verb ἅπτομαι, which can mean to touch, hold, or attach oneself, προσψαύω stresses purposeful examination—'to get near and touch.' In the LXX and later Greek, usage is consistent with this active, investigative sense. Standard English translations render the term as 'touch,' but this can obscure the intended sense of deliberate verification, particularly in post-resurrection contexts where physical contact serves as evidence. The word does not carry a strictly religious or ritual sense, but is neutral, and its contextual force is best seen when compared with more general or less deliberate terms for touching.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πρός and (to touch); to impinge, i.e. lay a finger on (in order to relieve):--touch.
Root Family
προσψαύω (prospsaúō) — to touch, to feel, to examine by touch
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4379-01 |
προσψαύετε | prospsauete | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you touch | you are deliberately touching | you are deliberately touching | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4379-01 |
Luke 11:46 | προσψαύετε | prospsauete | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you touch | you are deliberately touching | you are deliberately touching |