"pr. a newcomer, a stranger; in NT a proselyte, convert from paganism to Judaism, Mt. 23:15; Acts 2:11; 6:5; 13:43*"
Definition and meaning
pr. a newcomer, a stranger; in NT a proselyte, convert from paganism to Judaism, Mt. 23:15; Acts 2:11; 6:5; 13:43*
In the original Greek the word is written: προσήλυτος
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 proselytos (G4339) across the King James Bible.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
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Common questions
Strong's G4339 (proselytos) is a Greek word that means: pr. a newcomer, a stranger; in NT a proselyte, convert from paganism to Judaism, Mt. 23:15; Acts 2:11; 6:5; 13:43* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word proselytos (G4339) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4339 is proselytos, a Greek word defined as: pr. a newcomer, a stranger; in NT a proselyte, convert from paganism to Judaism, Mt. 23:15; Acts 2:11; 6:5; 13:43*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
proselytos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.