Greek word · G4285

προηγέομαι

proēgeomai

to prefer

In Greek generally: 'go first, lead the way, go ahead of', and so 'take the initiative'. This sense is well attested (e.g. Xenophon, the Septuagint, papyri). BDAG also lists 'outdo' or 'try to outdo' for this verse. Clear examples of that second meaning for the compound verb are hard to find.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

προ-ηγέσμαι

[in LXX: Deuteronomy 20:9 (בְּרוֹשׁ), Proverbs 17:14 (פָּנִים), 2Ma.4:40, al. ;]

1. to go before as leader (in cl., with genitive, dative): Romans 12:10 (Chrys., Vg., al.; see ICC, in l).

2. In a sense not elsewhere found, ἀλλήλους προηγούμενοι = ἀ. ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας: Ro, l.with (ICC, cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:13, Philippians 2:3 and EV "preferring").†

(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 12:10

Range of meaning

In Greek generally: 'go first, lead the way, go ahead of', and so 'take the initiative'. This sense is well attested (e.g. Xenophon, the Septuagint, papyri). BDAG also lists 'outdo' or 'try to outdo' for this verse. Some read 'consider better, prefer', because the simple verb hēgeomai can mean 'consider, regard' (as in Phil 2:3, 'regarding one another as better than yourselves'). Clear examples of that second meaning for the compound verb are hard to find.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'preferring' and NASB 'give preference' take the 'esteem more highly' line. ESV's 'outdo one another' and BSB's 'outdo yourselves' take the 'go ahead/compete' line. YLT's 'going before one another' and the Vulgate's praevenientes ('getting ahead of, anticipating') keep the literal picture. NIV's 'honor one another above yourselves' leans toward the Phil 2:3 reading.

How it drifted

In 1611 'prefer' could mean 'to put forward, promote, give precedence to'. Today it means 'like better', so KJV's 'preferring one another' can sound like having favourites.

Used elsewhere in the period

Its only New Testament use is here. The ordinary 'lead, go before' sense appears in classical prose and in the Septuagint. Cranfield (ICC) and other commentators note that the 'esteem higher' meaning lacks secure parallels for this compound verb.

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 12:10 προηγούμενοι, esteeming,

    Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

    Here: Used only here in the New Testament. It is a present participle used as a command, describing an ongoing habit. It most likely means 'take the lead, be first' in showing honor: get there before others do in honoring them. Some read it as 'regard one another as more worthy' (see Debates).

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