"to take before another, 1 Cor. 11:21; trop. to anticipate, do beforehand, Mk. 14:8; to take by surprise; pass. be taken unexpectedly, be overtaken, be taken by surprise, Gal. 6:1*"
Definition and meaning
to take before another, 1 Cor. 11:21; trop. to anticipate, do beforehand, Mk. 14:8; to take by surprise; pass. be taken unexpectedly, be overtaken, be taken by surprise, Gal. 6:1*
In the original Greek the word is written: προλαμβάνω
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
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 prolambano (G4301) across the King James Bible.
She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
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Common questions
Strong's G4301 (prolambano) is a Greek word that means: to take before another, 1 Cor. 11:21; trop. to anticipate, do beforehand, Mk. 14:8; to take by surprise; pass. be taken unexpectedly, be overtaken, be taken by surprise, Gal. 6:1* It appears 3 times in the King James Bible.
The word prolambano (G4301) appears 3 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4301 is prolambano, a Greek word defined as: to take before another, 1 Cor. 11:21; trop. to anticipate, do beforehand, Mk. 14:8; to take by surprise; pass. be taken unexpectedly, be overtaken, be. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
prolambano is a Greek word found in the New Testament.