from πρό and δίδωμι; to give before the other party has given:--first give.
Transliteration:prodídōmi
Pronunciation:prod-id'-o-mee
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb προδίδωμι (prodídōmi, `{{G4272}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition πρό (pro, `{{G4253}}`), meaning "before" or "in front of," and the verb δίδωμι (didōmi, `{{G1325}}`), meaning "to give." Etymologically, therefore, προδίδωμι signifies "to give beforehand," "to give first," or "to give in advance." The core semantic range emphasizes the temporal priority of the giving act; one party gives before the other has given anything in return, or indeed, before any claim or obligation has been established. It implies an initiatory act of generosity or provision, without any prior debt or expectation of reciprocation from the recipient. Its usage is exceedingly rare in the New Testament, appearing only once.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole occurrence of προδίδωμι in the New Testament is found in [[Romans 11:35]], within the apostle Paul's profound doxology concluding his discourse on God's sovereign plan for Israel and the Gentiles. The verse reads: "Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him?" (ESV).
In this context, Paul employs προδίδωμι as part of a rhetorical question, designed to underscore God's absolute independence and self-sufficiency. The question implies a resounding "No one!" No human being, no creature, has ever "given first" to God in such a way as to place Him in their debt or obligate Him to respond. This statement serves as a powerful capstone to Paul's argument in [[Romans 9-11]], where he has meticulously laid out God's unmerited election, His mysterious ways with Israel, and the salvation of the Gentiles. The use of προδίδωμι here emphatically denies any notion of human merit or prior contribution that could compel God's action or blessing. God is always the initiator, the bestower, never the debtor.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the root verb δίδωμι (didōmi, `{{G1325}}`), meaning "to give." The prefix πρό (pro, `{{G4253}}`) adds the crucial element of priority, distinguishing προδίδωμι from the general act of giving. While δίδωμι can describe any form of giving, προδίδωμι specifically highlights the *prevenient* or *initiatory* aspect of the giving.
Theologically, προδίδωμι is intimately connected to concepts such as:
* **Divine Initiative:** God is consistently portrayed as the one who acts first, whether in creation, covenant, or redemption.
* **Sovereignty of God:** The word reinforces God's supreme authority and independence, demonstrating that His actions are never coerced or obligated by external factors.
* **Unmerited Grace (χάρις, charis, `{{G5485}}`):** The idea that no one has "given first" to God directly supports the doctrine of grace, emphasizing that God's blessings, particularly salvation, are freely given, not earned or deserved.
* **Human Inability and Dependence:** By asserting that humanity cannot place God in its debt, the word implicitly highlights humanity's complete dependence on God's unprovoked generosity.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of προδίδωμι in [[Romans 11:35]] carries immense theological weight. It is a foundational statement about the nature of God and the basis of His relationship with humanity.
Firstly, it affirms God's absolute **aseity** and **independence**. God is not beholden to anyone; He does not react out of obligation, nor can His actions be predicated upon human performance or prior contribution. He is the ultimate Giver, the source of all things, who requires nothing from His creation to be what He is or to do what He wills.
Secondly, this word profoundly undergirds the doctrine of **grace**. If no one has "given first" to God, then all that humanity receives from Him is by His unmerited favor. This is particularly crucial in the context of salvation, where the idea of human works or merit earning God's favor is utterly refuted. God's love, mercy, and redemptive plan are not responses to human initiative but flow from His own benevolent character.
Finally, προδίδωμι sets the stage for the glorious doxology in [[Romans 11:36]]: "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen." The truth that no one has first given to God logically leads to the conclusion that all things originate from Him, are sustained through Him, and ultimately exist for His glory. This word, therefore, serves as a powerful bulwark against any anthropocentric theology that would diminish God's sovereignty or elevate human ability to obligate the divine.
### Summary
The Greek word προδίδωμι (prodídōmi, `{{G4272}}`) precisely means "to give first" or "to give beforehand." Despite its solitary occurrence in the New Testament, specifically in [[Romans 11:35]], its theological significance is profound. In Paul's rhetorical question, "Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him?", the word powerfully asserts God's absolute sovereignty, independence, and the purely gratuitous nature of His grace. It emphatically denies any human capacity to place God in debt or to earn His favor, thereby underscoring that all blessings, especially salvation, originate solely from God's unprovoked initiative and boundless generosity. This single word serves as a cornerstone for understanding the unmerited favor of God and His supreme position as the ultimate Giver.
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