"to set before; met. to set over, appoint with authority; intrans. 2 aor. προὔστην, perf. προέστηκα, part. προεστώς, and mid. προίσταμαι, to preside, govern, superintend, Rom. 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 3:4, 5, 12; 5:17; mid. to undertake resolutely, to practise diligently, to ma..."
Definition and meaning
to set before; met. to set over, appoint with authority; intrans. 2 aor. προὔστην, perf. προέστηκα, part. προεστώς, and mid. προίσταμαι, to preside, govern, superintend, Rom. 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 3:4, 5, 12; 5:17; mid. to undertake resolutely, to practise diligently, to maintain the practice of, Tit. 3:8, 14*
In the original Greek the word is written: προίστημι
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
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 proistemi (G4291) across the King James Bible.
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
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Common questions
Strong's G4291 (proistemi) is a Greek word that means: to set before; met. to set over, appoint with authority; intrans. 2 aor. προὔστην, perf. προέστηκα, part. προεστώς, and mid. προίσταμαι, to preside, govern, superintend, Rom. 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Ti... It appears 8 times in the King James Bible.
The word proistemi (G4291) appears 8 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4291 is proistemi, a Greek word defined as: to set before; met. to set over, appoint with authority; intrans. 2 aor. προὔστην, perf. προέστηκα, part. προεστώς, and mid. προίσταμαι, to preside, g. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
proistemi is a Greek word found in the New Testament.