Greek word · G4367

προστάσσω

prostassō

to order

To order, command, instruct, or assign. It is used of a superior's orders (military, royal, or a master's), and in the Greek Old Testament often of God's commands (e.g., Gen 50:2; Exod 36:1; Lev 10:1).

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

προσ-τάσσω

[in LXX chiefly for צָוָה pi. ;]

1. with accusative of person(s), to place at, to attach to.

2. to give a command, enjoin, appoint: Luke 5:14; with dative of person(s), Matthew 1:24; with accusative of thing(s), Matthew 8:4, Mark 1:44; with accusative and inf., Acts 10:48; pass., Acts 10:33 17:26.†

(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 10:33

Range of meaning

To order, command, instruct, or assign. It is used of a superior's orders (military, royal, or a master's), and in the Greek Old Testament often of God's commands (e.g., Gen 50:2; Exod 36:1; Lev 10:1).

Against the English

'Commanded' (KJV, WEB) keeps the force of an order. The BSB's 'instructed you to tell us' softens it a little and adds 'to tell us', which the context implies but the Greek does not state.

Used elsewhere in the period

Elsewhere in the New Testament: Matt 1:24 (Joseph did 'as the angel commanded'), Luke 5:14, Acts 10:48 (Peter 'ordered' them to be baptised). Common in papyri for official instructions.

From the study of Acts 10:48

Range of meaning

To give an order or instruction; to command, prescribe, appoint. Used of kings, officials, masters, and in the LXX of God's commands and of the Mosaic law's requirements (e.g. Matt 8:4, "the gift that Moses commanded").

Against the English

"Ordered" (BSB, NASB) and "commanded" (KJV, WEB, ESV) both carry the force well. Neither shows that the command may have been addressed to Peter's Jewish companions as the ones who performed the baptism.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in papyri for official instructions and in the LXX for God's and Moses' commands (e.g. Lev 10:1; Deut 17:3 LXX). Luke uses it of Moses' instruction (Luke 5:14) and of God's appointed times (Acts 17:26).

From the study of Matthew 1:24

Range of meaning

To command, order or prescribe, said of a superior giving instructions: kings, officials, God. In the Septuagint it is used for divine commands and appointments.

Against the English

'Commanded' (BSB, WEB, ESV), 'bidden' (KJV) and 'directed' (YLT) are all accurate. 'Directed' is slightly softer.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matthew uses it again at 8:4 ('offer the gift that Moses commanded') and 21:6 in some manuscripts. The phrase 'did as … commanded' echoes Old Testament compliance formulas such as Genesis 6:22 (Noah 'did all that the Lord God commanded him') and the refrain in Exodus 39–40 ('as the Lord commanded Moses').

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 1:24 προσέταξεν he commanded

    When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and embraced Mary as his wife.

    Here: 'He ordered'. This is the language of an authority giving a directive. The angel's 'do not be afraid to take Mary' (v. 20) is treated as a command to obey, not friendly advice.

  2. Matthew 8:4 προσέταξεν commanded

    Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”

    Here: An official order or regulation. The offering is not optional or improvised; it is laid down in the Law.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 1:44 προσέταξεν commanded

    “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

    Here: A word for an authoritative order. Moses' instructions are binding and Jesus treats them that way.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 5:14 προσέταξεν commanded

    “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

    Here: 'Prescribed' or 'commanded.' The word is used for setting out a fixed arrangement or regulation. It treats the Leviticus procedure as standing law.

Acts · 3

  1. Acts 10:33 προστεταγμένα commanded

    So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”

    Here: A perfect passive participle: things that stand ordered. Cornelius pictures Peter as a messenger carrying instructions from a superior, which is natural language for a centurion.

  2. Acts 10:48 προσέταξεν He commanded

    So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

    Here: A firm word for giving an instruction, used of officials and masters. Peter does not suggest or allow the baptism; he directs it, settling with his authority the question he had just raised in v. 47 ("Can anyone withhold the water?"). The past tense reports a single decisive act.

  3. Acts 17:26 προστεταγμένους ordered

    From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

    Here: 'Ordered, appointed', a perfect participle describing times that stand fixed by God's command. (The Textus Receptus has protetagmenous, 'appointed beforehand'.)

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