English · KJV
G4364

προσποιέομαι

prospoiéomai /pros-poy-eh'-om-ahee/ Ask about this word
Meaningmiddle voice from πρός and ποιέω; to do forward for oneself, i.e. pretend (as if about to do a thing)
KJV usagemake as though.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of prospoiéomai — 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 prospoiéomai, represented by G4364, means to pretend or make as though one is about to do something. It is derived from words meaning "to do forward for oneself." This term appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible, but its usage occurs in significant moments in the Gospels.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two appearances of G4364 illustrate different applications of feigning an action. In Luke's account of the road to Emmaus, the resurrected Jesus, walking with two disciples, "made as though he would have gone further" as they neared their village Luke 24:28. In a more tense scene, when the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus to test him, he responded by stooping to write on the ground, "as though he heard them not" John 8:6, strategically ignoring their provocative question.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which G4364 is used, particularly in the account from John's Gospel:

  • G3985 peirázō (to test, tempt): This word establishes the motive of Jesus's challengers, who spoke to him specifically for the purpose of "tempting him" John 8:6.
  • G2723 katēgoréō (to accuse): The ultimate goal of the test was to find a reason "to accuse him" John 8:6, making Jesus's disengagement a direct response to a malicious intent.
  • G2955 kýptō (to stoop down): This describes the physical posture Jesus assumed as he pretended not to hear, as he "stooped down" to write on the ground John 8:6.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4364 is found in its strategic use within the narrative.

  • Strategic Disengagement: Jesus's action in John's Gospel is a method of defusing a hostile trap. By pretending not to hear, he refuses to engage with his accusers on their terms, which were designed to "tempt" and "accuse" him John 8:6.
  • Invitation to Faith: In Luke's Gospel, Jesus's feigned intention to continue his journey is not a deception but an action that prompts a response from his disciples. It draws out their desire for him to remain, leading them to urge him to stay with them Luke 24:28.
  • Revealing True Motives: In both instances, the use of G4364 serves to expose the hearts of those interacting with Jesus. It reveals the malice of those seeking to accuse him and the burgeoning faith of those who desire his fellowship.

Summary

In summary, while G4364 is a rarely used term, its appearances are pivotal. It is not about deceit but about purposeful action. Whether used to disarm an accuser John 8:6 or to invite a deeper commitment from a follower Luke 24:28, prospoiéomai demonstrates a sophisticated and intentional form of interaction that bypasses verbal conflict to address the heart of a matter.

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 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • Aorist Middle Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
  • Present Middle Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Nominative
The subject of the verb.
Singular
One.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present
Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist
Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Middle
The subject acts on or for itself.
Indicative
A plain statement of fact.
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G3985 πειράζω from πεῖρα; to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:--assay, examine, go about, prove, temp G2723 κατηγορέω from κατήγορος; to be a plaintiff, i.e. to charge with some offence:--accuse, object. G2955 κύπτω probably from the base of κῦμα; to bend forward:--stoop (down).

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 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke and John (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

1
Luke
1
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.