Greek word · G4302

προλέγω

prolegō

to foretell

To say beforehand, tell in advance, forewarn. In wider Greek it can also mean to proclaim publicly (pro- = before others). In the New Testament it is consistently temporal: saying something before it happens, or repeating an earlier warning.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

προ-λέγω

[in LXX: Isaiah 41:26 (נָגַד hi.) * ;]

1. to tell or say before­hand: 2 Corinthians 13:2, Galatians 5:21, 1 Thessalonians 3:4 (R, txt.; cf. προεῖπον, but see infr.).

2. to declare, tell plainly: 2Co, Ga, 1Th, ll. with (R, mg.; see MM, xxi, and cf. Isa, l.with).†

(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 1 Thessalonians 3:4

Range of meaning

To say beforehand, tell in advance, forewarn. In wider Greek it can also mean to proclaim publicly (pro- = before others). In the New Testament it is consistently temporal: saying something before it happens, or repeating an earlier warning.

Against the English

KJV and WEB have "told you before/beforehand". BSB, NIV, ESV and NASB rightly have "kept warning/kept telling", capturing the repeated action. NLT's "warned" keeps the sense of warning but not the repetition.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul: 2 Cor 13:2 ("I warned before and I warn now"); Gal 5:21 ("I tell you in advance, as I told you before"). A close cousin appears in 1 Thess 4:6 (proeipamen, "as we told you before"). Compare Jesus in John 16:4: "I have told you these things so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you."

From the study of 2 Corinthians 13:2

Range of meaning

To say beforehand. The word covers (1) telling something ahead of its happening, sometimes prediction, and (2) more often in Paul, warning in advance: stating the consequences of a course of action before they arrive (BDAG s.v. προλέγω).

Against the English

KJV "I told you before, and foretell you" lets a modern reader hear prophecy, as in foretelling the future. Modern versions rightly use "warn." Paul is not predicting what will happen. He is giving formal notice of what he will do.

How it drifted

In 1611 English "foretell" could still mean simply "tell beforehand." Today it almost always means "predict."

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses the same formula of warning ahead of time in Gal 5:21 ("I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God") and 1 Thess 3:4 and 4:6. In each case it is a warning that has been given, so that when consequences come no one can claim ignorance. In legal and administrative Greek, saying something in advance establishes that notice was given.

From the study of Galatians 5:21

Range of meaning

To say beforehand, either predicting or warning in advance. The pair here is: 'I am telling you in advance' (present) and 'I told you in advance' (past).

Against the English

KJV and YLT say 'I tell you before... as I have also told you in time past'. BSB and NIV say 'I warn you, as I did before'. WEB and NASB say 'forewarn'. All capture it. 'Warn' brings out the tone well.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses the same 'as we told you before' formula for his founding ethical teaching in 1 Thessalonians 3:4 and 4:6. 2 Corinthians 13:2 also has prolegō/proeirēka.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 1:16 προεῖπεν foretold

    “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.

    Here: "Spoke in advance". Luke presents the psalm as words spoken long before, which pointed ahead to this event.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:2 προλέγω, I warn,

    I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,

    Here: "And I am saying it ahead of time now." Present tense: this letter is itself the second formal warning, given before Paul arrives.

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 5:21 προλέγω I forewarn

    and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

    Here: Present tense: 'I am telling you in advance'. The 'before' here means before the coming judgment. The letter is giving the warning ahead of time.

1 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 1 Thessalonians 3:4 προελέγομεν we were telling beforehand

    Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.

    Here: The tense describes ongoing action in the past: "we kept telling you in advance." This was a regular theme of their teaching, not a single remark. The prefix pro- means "before": before the trouble arrived.

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