"a setting forth or before; οἱ ἄρτοι τῆς προθέσεως, and ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων, the shewbread, the twelve loaves of bread, corresponding to the twelve tribes, which were set out in two rows upon the golden table in the sanctuary, Mt. 12:4; Mk. 2:26; Lk. 6:4; Heb. 9:2; predeterminati..."
Definition and meaning
a setting forth or before; οἱ ἄρτοι τῆς προθέσεως, and ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων, the shewbread, the twelve loaves of bread, corresponding to the twelve tribes, which were set out in two rows upon the golden table in the sanctuary, Mt. 12:4; Mk. 2:26; Lk. 6:4; Heb. 9:2; predetermination, purpose, Acts 11:23; 27:13; Rom. 8:28; 2 Tim. 3:10
In the original Greek the word is written: πρόθεσις
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 prothesis (G4286) across the King James Bible.
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
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Common questions
Strong's G4286 (prothesis) is a Greek word that means: a setting forth or before; οἱ ἄρτοι τῆς προθέσεως, and ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων, the shewbread, the twelve loaves of bread, corresponding to the twelve tribes, which were set out in two rows upon the gold... It appears 9 times in the King James Bible.
The word prothesis (G4286) appears 9 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4286 is prothesis, a Greek word defined as: a setting forth or before; οἱ ἄρτοι τῆς προθέσεως, and ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων, the shewbread, the twelve loaves of bread, corresponding to the twelve tr. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
prothesis is a Greek word found in the New Testament.