Word Study for G4316 (προσαγορεύω)

prosagoreúō /pros-ag-or-yoo'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom πρός and a derivative of ἀγορά (mean to harangue)

Meaningto address, i.e. salute by name

KJV usagecall.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of prosagoreúō — 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 prosagoreúō, represented by G4316, means to address, i.e. salute by name:--call. This specific term appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible. Its rarity highlights its significance, as it is used to describe a singular, formal designation made by God.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole biblical use of G4316 is found in the book of Hebrews. It is used to describe how Jesus was formally designated by God as the High Priest. The verse states He was "called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec" Hebrews 5:10. This context shows the word signifies not just a simple naming, but a formal and authoritative appointment to a specific role.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words in its only context illuminate the meaning of G4316:

G2316 theós (a deity, especially (with ὁ) the supreme Divinity): This word identifies the source of the calling. It is God who performs the action of addressing Jesus, as seen in the phrase "Called of God" Hebrews 5:10.
G749 archiereús (the high-priest): This is the title being conferred upon Jesus. The term is central to the book of Hebrews, which presents Jesus as the great high priest who is able to sympathize with human weakness Hebrews 4:15.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4316 is concentrated in its single, powerful use.

Divine Salutation: The term implies a formal address or salute. God is not merely assigning a task but is bestowing a title and office upon Christ, publicly identifying Him as the high priest Hebrews 5:10.
Source of Authority: The use of this word emphasizes that Christ's priesthood is not self-appointed but is conferred directly by theós, God. This establishes the legitimacy and supremacy of His role.
Unique Designation: As the word is used only once, it underscores the unique nature of Christ's appointment. He is "called" to a priesthood "after the order of Melchisedec," a distinct and eternal position.

Summary

In summary, G4316 is a precise and potent term. While appearing only once, its function in scripture is pivotal. It formally establishes the divine origin of Christ's high priesthood, showing that He was authoritatively called to this office by God himself. The word carries a weight of official designation, making it a cornerstone for understanding the nature of Christ's ministry as described in Hebrews.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists one rendering for this word. It is counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the number is how many of them use it. Select it to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

προσαγορευθεὶς

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

1 verse, all in Hebrews — and none of the other 26 New Testament books.

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, by grammatical form, 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.