Greek word · G4279

προεπαγγέλλω

proepangellō

to promise

'To promise beforehand, to announce in advance as a commitment.' It is built from pro- ('before') and epangellomai, which in Koine Greek means 'to announce publicly' and, much more often, 'to promise, to pledge'. The related noun epangelia ('promise') is a key word for Paul.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

προ-επ-αγγέλλω

to announce before. Mid., to promise before: with accusative of thing(s), Romans 1:2, 2 Corinthians 9:5 (Dio. Cass.).†

(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 Romans 1:2

Range of meaning: 'To promise beforehand, to announce in advance as a commitment.' It is built from pro- ('before') and epangellomai, which in Koine Greek means 'to announce publicly' and, much more often, 'to promise, to pledge'. The related noun epangelia ('promise') is a key word for Paul.
Against the English: Most English versions say 'promised beforehand' or 'promised afore', which is accurate. YLT's 'announced before' keeps the older 'proclaim' sense of the root, but in Paul the word family means 'promise' nearly every time (Rom 4:13–21; 9:4; 15:8). A bare announcement misses the point that God bound himself to something.
Used elsewhere in the period: The word is rare. In the New Testament it occurs only here and in 2 Corinthians 9:5 (the collection the Corinthians had 'promised beforehand'). Outside the New Testament it turns up in a few later Greek writers (BDAG cites Dio Cassius). Paul uses the simple noun 'promise' for God's pledges to Abraham and the patriarchs: Romans 4:13–21; 9:4, 8; 15:8 ('to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs').

From the study of 2 Corinthians 9:5

Range of meaning: To promise or announce ahead of time. In the middle or passive form it means to make or have made an advance commitment.
Against the English: BSB 'you had promised', WEB 'that you promised before', YLT 'formerly announced', KJV 'whereof ye had notice before' (which reflects a different Greek reading; see textual notes). BSB and WEB decide that the Corinthians made the promise. The Greek participle is passive and does not name who promised.
Used elsewhere in the period: Elsewhere in the New Testament only in Romans 1:2, of the gospel God 'promised beforehand through his prophets'. The simple verb epangellomai was common for public pledges, including pledges by benefactors to fund civic projects.

Where it appears

Romans · 1

Romans 1:2 προεπηγγείλατο He promised beforehand

the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

Here: 'He promised in advance.' God is the subject. The aorist tense looks at the promising as one completed act in the past. The prefix pro- ('before') says the good news was committed to long before Paul preached it: it is not something new.

2 Corinthians · 1

2 Corinthians 9:5 προεπηγγελμένην having pre-promised

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

Here: 'Promised in advance'. The tense means the promise was made in the past and still stands. It most likely refers to the Corinthians' own pledge a year earlier (8:10; 9:2), which Paul then repeated to the Macedonians.

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