Greek word · G4260

προβαίνω

probainō

to advance

προβαίνω means to go forward or advance. With "in days" it is a Hebrew idiom carried into Greek, from Hebrew ba' bayyamim, "gone into the days," meaning old.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

προ-βαίνω

[in LXX chiefly for בּוֹא ;]

to go forwards, go on, advance: Matthew 4:21, Mark 1:19. Metaphorical, of age (Genesis 18:11, al., Lys., Diod., al.), ἐν τ. ἡμέραις, Luke 1:7, 18 2:36.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 1:18

Range of meaning: προβαίνω means to go forward or advance. With "in days" it is a Hebrew idiom carried into Greek, from Hebrew ba' bayyamim, "gone into the days," meaning old.
Against the English: KJV "well stricken in years" was idiomatic in 1611, but today "stricken" suggests illness or disaster. The Greek pictures a long walk forward through life. YLT "advanced in her days" is the most literal version.
How it drifted: In Early Modern English "stricken in years" meant "far gone in years." "Stricken" has since narrowed to "struck down, afflicted."
Used elsewhere in the period: In the LXX it is used of Abraham and Sarah (Gen 18:11, probebēkotes hēmerōn), of Joshua (Josh 13:1) and of David (1 Kgs 1:1). Luke used it already in 1:7 for both Zechariah and Elizabeth.

From the study of Luke 1:7

Range of meaning: Probainō means 'go forward, advance', literally of walking further on (Matt 4:21; Mark 1:19) and figuratively of age. The phrase 'advanced in days' renders the Hebrew idiom bāʾîm bayyāmîm, 'coming into the days', meaning 'old'.
Against the English: KJV 'well stricken in years', BSB 'well along in years', WEB/ESV/NASB 'advanced in years', YLT 'advanced in their days' (the most literal), NIV/NLT 'very old'. Every version except YLT changes 'days' to 'years', which is accurate in sense but drops the scriptural idiom.
How it drifted: In KJV English, 'stricken in years' used an old sense of 'strike', meaning to go or move on. It did not mean 'afflicted'. Modern readers usually hear 'struck down by age'.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Gen 18:11: Abraham and Sarah were 'old, advanced in days' (presbyteroi probebēkotes hēmerōn). The verse goes on to say that 'it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women'. Also Gen 24:1 (Abraham), Josh 13:1 and 23:1 (Joshua), 1 Kgs 1:1 (David). Luke uses the same phrase of the prophetess Anna (2:36).

From the study of Luke 2:36

Range of meaning: προβαίνω means "to go forward". In the idiom "advanced in days" it means "far along in life", that is, old.
Against the English: KJV has "of a great age", BSB "well along in years", and other modern versions use similar wording. These are accurate in sense, but they lose the scriptural phrasing: YLT's "much advanced in days" keeps it.
Used elsewhere in the period: It renders the Hebrew בָּאִים בַּיָּמִים ("come into the days"), used of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18:11; LXX προβεβηκότες ἡμερῶν), Abraham (Genesis 24:1), Joshua (Joshua 13:1) and David (1 Kings 1:1). Luke uses it of Zechariah and Elizabeth (1:7, 18).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

Matthew 4:21 προβὰς having gone on

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them,

Here: 'Having walked on a little further.' The action is finished before he sees them. It pictures Jesus walking along the shore, not a long journey; Mark 1:19 adds 'a little' (oligon).

Mark · 1

Mark 1:19 προβὰς having gone on

Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.

Luke · 3

Luke 1:7 προβεβηκότες having advanced

But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

Here: A perfect participle, describing a state that results from a completed process: they had gone a long way on in life and were now old. Together with 'in their days' it repeats the Greek Old Testament wording used of Abraham and Sarah.
Luke 1:18 προβεβηκυῖα having advanced

“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

Here: Perfect participle, meaning a state reached and still in force: she *has gone on* far into life. This is a fixed Old Testament phrase for old age, used of Sarah and Abraham.
Luke 2:36 προβεβηκυῖα having advanced

There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,

Here: A perfect participle, meaning "having gone far forward" and still being in that state. This is part of the biblical idiom for old age.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.