### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **problépō**, represented by `{{G4265}}`, means to look out beforehand or to furnish in advance, and is translated as **provide**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. This singular usage highlights the concept of God's divine foresight and purposeful preparation for His people.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{G4265}}` is in the climactic summary of the great hall of faith. In [[Hebrews 11:40]], the text states that **God** has **provided** some better thing for believers of the new covenant. This act of providing is presented as a crucial part of God's plan, ensuring that the faithful saints of the Old Testament would not be made perfect apart from those who came after them.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{G4265}}` is illuminated by the words used alongside it in its single biblical appearance:
* `{{G2316}}` **theós** (a deity, especially the supreme Divinity; God): The one who performs the action of providing is **God** himself [[Hebrews 11:40]]. This identifies the source of the provision as divine, linking to God's ultimate authority and purpose as seen in other contexts [[Romans 8:28]].
* `{{G2909}}` **kreíttōn** (stronger, i.e. better, i.e. nobler): This word qualifies what God has provided as something **better**. The idea of a "better" thing is central to the book of Hebrews, which speaks of a **better** covenant based on **better** promises [[Hebrews 8:6]] and a **better** resurrection [[Hebrews 11:35]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G4265}}` is centered on God's sovereign and forward-looking plan for His people.
* **Divine Foresight:** The definition "to look out beforehand" intrinsically points to God's omniscience and careful planning. The provision was not an afterthought but a pre-ordained element of His redemptive work.
* **A Unifying Provision:** In its biblical context, God's act of "providing" serves to unite all saints, past and present, into one body. The "better thing" for new covenant believers is what allows for the ultimate perfection of the old covenant faithful [[Hebrews 11:40]].
* **The Superiority of God's Plan:** By linking the provision to something **better** `{{G2909}}`, the verse emphasizes the superiority of what God has accomplished. This connects to the overarching theme in Hebrews of a **better** hope and a **better** covenant [[Hebrews 8:6]].
### Summary
In summary, though `{{G4265}}` is used only once, it carries immense theological significance. The word **problépō** perfectly encapsulates God's deliberate and forward-looking provision for all believers. Its use in [[Hebrews 11:40]] reveals that God's plan of salvation is a single, unified narrative, orchestrated from eternity to bring all of His people to perfection together through a "better" reality He furnished in advance.
TRV