"before, of place, in front of, in advance of, Mt. 11:10; Lk. 1:76; Acts 5:23; before, of time, Mt. 5:12; Lk. 11:38; before an infin. with the gen. of the article, before, before that, Mt. 6:8; Lk. 2:21; before, above, in preference, Jas. 5:12; 1 Pet. 4:8"
Definition and meaning
before, of place, in front of, in advance of, Mt. 11:10; Lk. 1:76; Acts 5:23; before, of time, Mt. 5:12; Lk. 11:38; before an infin. with the gen. of the article, before, before that, Mt. 6:8; Lk. 2:21; before, above, in preference, Jas. 5:12; 1 Pet. 4:8
In the original Greek the word is written: πρό
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of pro (G4253) across the King James Bible.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
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Common questions
Strong's G4253 (pro) is a Greek word that means: before, of place, in front of, in advance of, Mt. 11:10; Lk. 1:76; Acts 5:23; before, of time, Mt. 5:12; Lk. 11:38; before an infin. with the gen. of the article, before, before that, Mt. 6:8; Lk. 2:2... It appears 48 times in the King James Bible.
The word pro (G4253) appears 48 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4253 is pro, a Greek word defined as: before, of place, in front of, in advance of, Mt. 11:10; Lk. 1:76; Acts 5:23; before, of time, Mt. 5:12; Lk. 11:38; before an infin. with the gen. of . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
pro is a Greek word found in the New Testament.