Word Study for G4311 (προπέμπω)

propémpō /prop-em'-po/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom πρό and πέμπω

Meaningto send forward, i.e. escort or aid in travel

KJV usageaccompany, bring (forward) on journey (way), conduct forth.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of propémpō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word propémpō, represented by G4311, means to send forward or to escort or aid in travel. It appears 13 times across 9 unique verses in the New Testament. The term signifies more than a simple departure; it implies a supportive act of accompanying, equipping, and launching someone on their journey.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G4311 is consistently used to describe the church's active support for those traveling on mission. When Paul and Barnabas were sent out, they were "brought on their way by the church" Acts 15:3, an act that caused "great joy" for the brethren. The apostle John commends Gaius, stating that to "bring forward on their journey" fellow Christians is to "do well" 3 John 1:6. The act could also be deeply personal and emotional, as when the Ephesian elders "accompanied" Paul to his ship, sorrowing that they would see his face no more Acts 20:38. Paul frequently requested this support, asking the Corinthians to "bring me on my journey" 1 Corinthians 16:6 and instructing Titus to "Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently" Titus 3:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context of journeying and support:

G1330 diérchomai (to traverse (literally)): This word describes the actual travel that G4311 enables. After being sent forward by the church, Paul and Barnabas "passed through" Phenice and Samaria Acts 15:3.
G4198 poreúomai (to traverse, i.e. travel): This verb often indicates the journey that requires support. Paul hoped the Corinthian church would bring him on his journey "whithersoever I go" 1 Corinthians 16:6.
G2573 kalōs (well (usually morally)): This adverb describes the proper manner of conducting this support. John instructs that sending missionaries forward should be done "well" and in a manner worthy of God 3 John 1:6.
G3600 odynáō (to grieve): This word reveals the emotional weight that could accompany the act of sending someone forth, highlighting the deep fellowship being temporarily broken by travel Acts 20:38.

Theological Significance

The practical application of G4311 illustrates a core principle of the early church.

A Tangible Expression of Fellowship: To "bring someone on their journey" was a communal act of care. It involved escorting them, as with the Ephesian elders Acts 20:38, and ensuring they lacked nothing for their travels Titus 3:13. The entire community, including "wives and children," could participate Acts 21:5.
Support for Gospel Ministry: The term is almost exclusively used in the context of supporting missionaries and ministers like Paul, Apollos, and Zenas. The expectation was that local churches would provide for and send off those traveling for the sake of the gospel Romans 15:24.
An Act of Godly Character: Properly sending forth Christian workers is presented as a virtuous deed. John links the action to bearing witness of charity before the church and doing "well" 3 John 1:6.

Summary

In summary, G4311 is not merely about saying goodbye. It represents a vital, active practice in the early church of providing practical, financial, and emotional support to those embarking on a journey. It embodies the principle of shared responsibility for the work of the ministry, demonstrating that the sending of a missionary was an act of fellowship performed by the entire community.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 9 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Passive Infinitive 2×
Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Singular 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Passive Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 9 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (3 verses); never once in the other 21.

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Titus

3 John

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.