### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb G2784 κηρύσσω (kērýssō) derives from κῆρυξ (kēryx), meaning "herald" or "public crier." Its fundamental meaning is "to act as a herald," which entails making a public, authoritative, and often urgent proclamation. Unlike private conversation or mere teaching, kērýssō implies a formal declaration made openly for all to hear, often on behalf of a higher authority. The message delivered by a herald carries the weight and authority of the one who sent him. In a biblical context, this often refers to the proclamation of divine truth, particularly the good news of the Gospel. The semantic range extends to "preach," "proclaim," "publish," "announce," and "declare." It signifies a vocal, public, and compelling communication designed to elicit a response.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
G2784 κηρύσσω appears frequently in the New Testament, illustrating its centrality to the early Christian mission.
John the Baptist is consistently described as one who kērýssōed, proclaiming a message of repentance in preparation for the Messiah's coming ([[Matthew 3:1]], [[Mark 1:4]], [[Luke 3:3]]). His proclamation was public and urgent, calling people to a transformative response.
Jesus Himself is depicted as a proclaimer. He kērýssōed the good news of the Kingdom of God throughout Galilee ([[Matthew 4:17]], [[Mark 1:14]], [[Luke 4:43]], [[Luke 8:1]]). This was not merely an announcement but an authoritative declaration of God's reign breaking into human history.
The disciples and apostles are commissioned to kērýssō. Jesus sent the Twelve to kērýssō the Kingdom and call for repentance ([[Matthew 10:7]], [[Mark 6:12]], [[Luke 9:2]]). After His resurrection, the Great Commission implicitly involves this public proclamation ([[Mark 16:15]]).
In the book of Acts, kērýssō describes the apostolic activity: Philip kērýssōing Christ in Samaria ([[Acts 8:5]]), Paul kērýssōing Jesus as the Son of God in Damascus ([[Acts 9:20]]), and Peter kērýssōing Jesus as the one appointed by God to judge the living and the dead ([[Acts 10:42]]).
Paul frequently uses kērýssō to describe his own ministry, emphasizing the proclamation of Christ crucified ([[1 Corinthians 1:23]]), the power of God for salvation ([[1 Corinthians 1:18]]), and the mystery of the gospel ([[Colossians 1:23]]). He underscores the necessity of this proclamation for faith ([[Romans 10:14]]). Even Noah is retroactively described as a "preacher of righteousness" ([[2 Peter 2:5]]), indicating a long tradition of divine messengers. The word highlights the public, authoritative, and divinely mandated nature of the Christian message.
### Related Words & Concepts
G2784 κηρύσσω is distinct from, yet related to, several other significant Greek terms:
* διδάσκω (didaskō) `{{G1321}}`: "to teach, instruct." While kērýssō is the initial, authoritative proclamation of the message, didaskō involves explaining, expounding, and instructing in the details and implications of that message. One proclaims the "what," the other teaches the "how" and "why."
* εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizō) `{{G2097}}`: "to preach good news, to evangelize." This term is often used synonymously with kērýssō when the content of the proclamation is specifically the Gospel ([[Luke 4:18]], [[Romans 10:15]]). euangelizō specifies the *content* as good news, whereas kērýssō emphasizes the *act* of public proclamation.
* λαλέω (laleō) `{{G2980}}`: "to speak, talk." This is a broader term for vocal utterance. kērýssō is a specific, formal, and authoritative *kind* of speaking.
* μαρτυρέω (martyreō) `{{G3140}}`: "to bear witness, testify." While a herald bears witness to the message he proclaims, martyreō focuses on the personal experience or knowledge that forms the basis of the testimony. kērýssō is the public declaration of that testimony.
The concept of the "kerygma" (the proclaimed message itself) is directly derived from kērýssō, representing the core, non-negotiable content of the Christian faith.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of G2784 κηρύσσω is profound and multifaceted:
1. **Divine Mandate and Authority:** Preaching is not a human invention but a divine commission. The one who kērýssōes does so by divine appointment and with divine authority, acting as God's herald ([[1 Timothy 2:7]], [[Titus 1:3]]). This imbues the act of proclamation with immense spiritual weight.
2. **Means of Salvation:** The New Testament explicitly links kērýssō to the process of salvation. Paul famously asks, "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching (kērýssō)?" ([[Romans 10:14]]). The proclaimed word is the divinely appointed means by which faith is awakened and salvation offered.
3. **Power of God:** The act of kērýssō is not merely human rhetoric but carries the inherent power of God. Paul declares that the "word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" ([[1 Corinthians 1:18]]). The effectiveness of the proclamation resides not in the eloquence of the speaker but in the divine truth and power it conveys ([[1 Corinthians 2:4]]).
4. **Christ-Centered:** The primary content of New Testament kērýssō is Jesus Christ Himself – His life, death, resurrection, and Lordship ([[Acts 5:42]], [[1 Corinthians 2:2]], [[2 Corinthians 4:5]]). The proclamation is a public declaration of who Christ is and what He has accomplished.
5. **Public Witness and Confrontation:** kērýssō is inherently public, a declaration made to the world. It serves as a witness to God's redemptive work and often confronts prevailing cultural norms or false beliefs, calling all to repentance and faith in the proclaimed truth.
### Summary
G2784 κηρύσσω denotes the authoritative, public, and urgent proclamation of a message, akin to a herald's declaration. In the New Testament, it is the fundamental term for the preaching activity of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles. This act is divinely mandated, serving as the primary means by which the good news of the Kingdom of God and the person of Jesus Christ is announced to the world. The theological significance of kērýssō lies in its role as a powerful, God-ordained instrument for salvation, a public witness to divine truth, and a central expression of the church's mission to declare the unsearchable riches of Christ. It underscores that the Gospel is not a private philosophy but a public truth to be boldly proclaimed.
TRV