πρώϊμος
prṓïmos
G4406 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Pertaining to being early in time or season; especially describing rain that comes at the beginning of the rainy season (autumnal rain), as opposed to later rains. In biblical and agricultural contexts, primarily referring to the first of the season’s rains vital for sowing and starting crop growth.
Semantic Range
early (in time), early-in-the-season, autumnal (of rain), pertaining to the first rain of the agricultural cycle, dawning (rare poetic sense)
Root / Etymology
From πρωΐ (early, at dawn) + -μος (adjectival suffix); directly related to the notion of 'early' or 'at dawn.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, πρώϊμος is attested in reference to things that come early in time, such as fruits or rains. In the context of the Septuagint and later Koine Greek, the term is generally used to describe the early, autumnal rains of the agricultural year in the eastern Mediterranean, which initiate the season of planting and growth (cf. Deut 11:14; Jer 5:24 LXX). The contrast is with ὄψιμος ('late,' or 'latter rain'), which refers to the rains that come at the end of the season. Standard English translations most often render πρώϊμος as "early (rain)," but do not always convey the agricultural significance of the term. The usage does not extend to general meanings of 'early' outside agricultural or seasonal contexts in biblical Greek.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πρωΐ; dawning, i.e. (by analogy) autumnal (showering, the first of the rainy season):--early.
Root Family
πρω- (prōḯ) — first, before, early
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4406-01 |
πρόϊμον | proimon | ADJ.S ACC M SG |
early | the early-season rain | early rain | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4406-01 |
James 5:7 | πρόϊμον | proimon | ADJ.S ACC M SG |
early | the early-season rain | early rain |