from πρός and τίθημι; to place additionally, i.e. lay beside, annex, repeat:--add, again, give more, increase, lay unto, proceed further, speak to any more.
Transliteration:prostíthēmi
Pronunciation:pros-tith'-ay-mee
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb G4369 *prostíthēmi* is a compound word formed from the preposition `{{G4314}}` *pros* (meaning "to," "toward," "in addition to") and the verb `{{G5087}}` *títhēmi* (meaning "to place," "to put," "to set"). This etymological foundation clearly establishes its core meaning: "to place in addition to," "to put beside," or "to add."
The semantic range of *prostíthēmi* is quite versatile, encompassing both literal and metaphorical applications:
* **Literal Addition/Increase:** To physically add something to an existing quantity or collection, leading to an increase. This can apply to numbers, measurements, or physical objects.
* **Repetition/Continuation:** To do something "again" or "further," implying a continuation or repetition of an action or statement.
* **Provision/Supply:** To "give more" or "supply additionally," often in the context of needs or requests.
* **Annexation/Joining:** To join or annex one thing to another, such as adding people to a group.
* **Verbal Addition:** To add to a statement, a command, or a body of teaching.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
*Prostíthēmi* appears numerous times in the New Testament, illustrating its diverse applications:
* **Literal Increase/Addition:** In [[Matthew 6:27]], Jesus asks, "And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his stature?" Here, *prostíthēmi* refers to a physical, measurable increase, emphasizing human inability to alter divine design. Similarly, [[Acts 2:41]] records, "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls." This highlights the supernatural growth of the early church through God's work. [[Acts 5:14]] further states, "And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women."
* **Repetition/Doing Again:** In the parable of the wicked tenants, [[Luke 20:12]] states, "And he sent yet a third servant. And they wounded him also and cast him out." The phrase "sent yet a third" uses *prostíthēmi* to convey the landlord's repeated, persistent sending of messengers.
* **Giving More/Increasing:** The apostles' plea in [[Luke 17:5]] to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" (literally, "Add faith to us!") uses *prostíthēmi* to express a desire for augmentation or a greater measure of a spiritual quality. This demonstrates reliance on Christ for spiritual growth.
* **Adding to Divine Revelation/Commandments:** A profoundly significant use appears in [[Revelation 22:18]], where John warns, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book." This is a severe admonition against altering or supplementing God's revealed truth, underscoring the completeness and finality of His Word.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of *prostíthēmi* is enriched by examining its linguistic relatives and conceptual parallels:
* **Root Verb:** `{{G5087}}` *títhēmi* (to place, put) is the foundational verb, emphasizing the act of setting or laying down. The prefix `{{G4314}}` *pros* (to, toward) specifies the direction or nature of the placement as an addition.
* **Noun Form:** `{{G4368}}` *prosthēkē* (addition, increase) is the related noun, found in the Septuagint and occasionally in the New Testament to denote the result of adding.
* **Synonyms/Antonyms:** While direct synonyms are few given its precise compound nature, conceptually it relates to verbs of growth (e.g., `{{G837}}` *auxanō*, to grow, increase) and multiplication. Its antonyms would include verbs of subtraction, decrease, or removal.
* **Theological Concepts:** The word is intrinsically linked to concepts of divine sovereignty (God's ability to add to the church), human limitation (inability to add to one's life), the sufficiency of Scripture (the warning against adding to God's word), and the process of spiritual growth (the request for added faith).
### Theological Significance
The theological import of *prostíthēmi* is multifaceted:
1. **Divine Agency in Salvation and Church Growth:** The repeated use of *prostíthēmi* in Acts to describe the daily addition of believers ([[Acts 2:41]], [[Acts 5:14]]) powerfully illustrates God's active role in building His church. It is not human effort alone, but divine power that "adds" souls to the kingdom, signifying God's sovereign work of salvation and evangelism.
2. **Human Limitations and Dependence:** Jesus' rhetorical question in [[Matthew 6:27]] about adding a cubit to one's stature highlights human inability to control fundamental aspects of life. This serves as a call to trust in God's providence and to recognize our inherent limitations, fostering humility and dependence on Him.
3. **The Sufficiency and Authority of Scripture:** The stark warning in [[Revelation 22:18]] against adding to the words of prophecy is a cornerstone of biblical theology regarding the completeness and authority of God's revelation. It underscores the belief that God's Word is perfect, sufficient, and not to be altered by human intervention. This principle guards against human tradition or new revelations being elevated to the status of divine truth.
4. **The Nature of Prayer and Spiritual Growth:** The disciples' prayer, "Increase our faith!" ([[Luke 17:5]]), reveals a vital aspect of spiritual life: the recognition that faith itself is a gift and that its growth is dependent on God. It is a humble acknowledgment of spiritual need and a plea for divine enablement.
5. **Divine Patience and Warning:** In the parable of the wicked tenants, God's repeated sending of messengers ([[Luke 20:12]]) illustrates His enduring patience and persistent call to repentance, even in the face of rejection.
### Summary
*Prostíthēmi* (G4369) is a Greek verb meaning "to add," "to place additionally," or "to put beside." Its core meaning, derived from `{{G4314}}` *pros* and `{{G5087}}` *títhēmi*, encompasses literal increase, repetition, provision, and annexation. In the New Testament, its usage is remarkably diverse, ranging from the physical inability to add to one's height ([[Matthew 6:27]]) to the spiritual reality of God adding believers to His church ([[Acts 2:41]]). The word carries significant theological weight, particularly in its emphasis on God's sovereign work in salvation, the human dependence on divine grace for spiritual growth ([[Luke 17:5]]), and the absolute authority and completeness of God's revealed Word, as powerfully warned against any human addition in [[Revelation 22:18]]. Thus, *prostíthēmi* serves as a key term for understanding divine action, human limitation, and the integrity of sacred Scripture.
TRV