### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb προείδω (proeídō) `{{G4275}}` is a compound word formed from the preposition πρό (pro), meaning "before" or "in front of," and the verb εἴδω (eidō), which signifies "to see," "to perceive," or "to know." Consequently, the core meaning of προείδω is "to see beforehand," "to foresee," or "to know in advance." Its semantic range extends from a literal prior observation of events to a more profound understanding or pre-knowledge of future occurrences, often with a prophetic or divine implication. It conveys the idea of having a prior mental grasp or visual perception of something yet to transpire.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term προείδω appears three times in the New Testament, each instance offering distinct contextual nuances:
1. **[[Acts 2:31]]**: In Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost, he quotes Psalm 16 concerning David. Peter states that David, προείδω (foreseeing) the resurrection of the Christ, spoke of Him not being abandoned to Hades nor His flesh seeing corruption. Here, προείδω refers to David's prophetic foresight, divinely inspired, concerning the future event of Christ's resurrection. It underscores the certainty and pre-ordained nature of this pivotal event in salvation history.
2. **[[Acts 21:29]]**: This verse describes the false accusation against Paul in Jerusalem. His accusers claimed they προείδω (had previously seen) Trophimus, an Ephesian, with Paul in the city, leading them to assume Paul had brought him into the temple. In this context, προείδω refers to a past, literal observation. It signifies "to have seen before" in a non-prophetic, human sense, serving as the basis for a mistaken conclusion.
3. **[[Galatians 3:8]]**: Paul writes that "the Scripture, προείδω (foreseeing) that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham." Here, Scripture is personified as having foresight. This attributes to the divine revelation (Scripture) the capacity to know God's future plan. It highlights God's eternal purpose, revealed in the Old Testament, to extend salvation to the Gentiles through faith, demonstrating the consistent and unified nature of God's redemptive plan across the ages.
### Related Words & Concepts
προείδω shares semantic space with several related Greek terms and theological concepts:
* **πρό (pro)**: The prefix itself is crucial, indicating precedence in time or space.
* **εἴδω (eidō) / ὁράω (horaō)**: Both mean "to see" or "to perceive." While ὁράω often denotes physical sight, εἴδω frequently implies mental perception, understanding, or knowing, which aligns well with the "foreseeing" aspect of προείδω.
* **προγινώσκω (proginōskō) `{{G4267}}`**: "To know beforehand," "to foreknow." This term is a close parallel, particularly in theological discussions of God's foreknowledge (e.g., [[Romans 8:29]], [[1 Peter 1:2]]). While προείδω emphasizes "seeing" or "perceiving" beforehand, προγινώσκω emphasizes "knowing" beforehand. The two concepts are deeply intertwined when speaking of divine attributes.
* **προφητεύω (prophēteuō) `{{G4395}}`**: "To prophesy." Prophecy inherently involves speaking forth that which is known beforehand, often through divine revelation, making it a practical manifestation of foresight.
* **Divine Foreknowledge**: The theological concept that God knows all things before they happen. προείδω contributes to the biblical understanding of this attribute.
* **Divine Plan/Purpose**: The idea that God has an eternal, sovereign plan for creation and redemption. The "foreseeing" of προείδω often points to the unfolding of this pre-ordained plan.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of προείδω `{{G4275}}` primarily resides in its application to God's divine foreknowledge and the prophetic nature of His Word. In [[Acts 2:31]], it powerfully affirms the certainty of Christ's resurrection as an event not merely anticipated but divinely foreseen and spoken of through David. This demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over history and His meticulous orchestration of redemptive events, ensuring the fulfillment of His promises.
Similarly, in [[Galatians 3:8]], the "foreseeing" of Scripture underscores God's eternal and consistent purpose to justify not only Jews but also Gentiles by faith. This reveals the universal scope of the gospel, rooted in God's prior knowledge and revealed to Abraham, thereby establishing the continuity of God's saving plan from the earliest covenants to the New Testament era.
While προείδω can describe human prior observation (as in [[Acts 21:29]]), its most profound theological contribution lies in its depiction of divine foresight. It reinforces the biblical understanding of God as omniscient, actively guiding history toward His predetermined ends, rather than merely reacting to human events. This concept provides assurance of God's faithfulness and the ultimate triumph of His redemptive purposes.
### Summary
The Greek word προείδω (proeídō) `{{G4275}}`, meaning "to see beforehand" or "to foresee," is a significant term in the New Testament, particularly for its theological implications. Derived from πρό ("before") and εἴδω ("to see/know"), it denotes a prior perception or knowledge of future events. Its most notable uses in [[Acts 2:31]] and [[Galatians 3:8]] highlight divine foreknowledge, demonstrating that God, through His inspired Word and prophets, had a clear and certain understanding of pivotal events in salvation history, such as the resurrection of Christ and the justification of Gentiles by faith. While it can refer to human prior observation, its theological weight rests firmly on its assertion of God's sovereign omniscience and the pre-ordained nature of His redemptive plan. προείδω thus serves as a foundational concept affirming the coherence, intentionality, and ultimate fulfillment of God's purposes across the ages.
TRV