"to call to one’s self, summon, Mt. 10:1; 15:10, 32; 18:2; to invite, Acts 2:39; to call to the performance of a thing, appoint, Acts 13:2; 16:10"
Definition and meaning
to call to one’s self, summon, Mt. 10:1; 15:10, 32; 18:2; to invite, Acts 2:39; to call to the performance of a thing, appoint, Acts 13:2; 16:10
In the original Greek the word is written: προσκαλέω
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 proskaleo (G4341) across the King James Bible.
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
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Common questions
Strong's G4341 (proskaleo) is a Greek word that means: to call to one’s self, summon, Mt. 10:1; 15:10, 32; 18:2; to invite, Acts 2:39; to call to the performance of a thing, appoint, Acts 13:2; 16:10 It appears 29 times in the King James Bible.
The word proskaleo (G4341) appears 29 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4341 is proskaleo, a Greek word defined as: to call to one’s self, summon, Mt. 10:1; 15:10, 32; 18:2; to invite, Acts 2:39; to call to the performance of a thing, appoint, Acts 13:2; 16:10. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
proskaleo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.