Greek word · G4261

προβάλλω

proballō

to put forth

'To throw or put before.' It is used for trees 'putting forth' leaves (Luke 21:30), for putting someone forward as a candidate or spokesman, and for putting forward an argument.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

προ-βάλλω

[in LXX for חוּד, מָרַק, etc. ;]

1. to throw before.

2. to put forward: with accusative, Acts 19:33; of trees, to put forth, produce (sc. φύλλα), Luke 21:30.†

(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 Acts 19:33

Range of meaning

'To throw or put before.' It is used for trees 'putting forth' leaves (Luke 21:30), for putting someone forward as a candidate or spokesman, and for putting forward an argument.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'putting him forward' and YLT 'thrusting him forward' are accurate. YLT best catches the physical shove in the word.

Used elsewhere in the period

In classical and Hellenistic Greek it is used for nominating or proposing a person for an office or task, and for holding something out in front as a shield. Both ideas fit here: Alexander is the community's nominee and also its human shield.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 21:30 προβάλωσιν they may sprout

    When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 19:33 προβαλόντων when were thrusting forward

    The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.

    Here: 'While the Jews were thrusting him forward.' It is a vivid physical word: they pushed him to the front as their spokesman. The phrase sits to one side of the main sentence and explains how he came to the front.

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