Greek word · G4370

προστρέχω

prostrechō

to hasten

To run toward or up to someone (BDAG). It is used of eager approach: the crowd running to Jesus in Mark 9:15, the man running to Jesus in Mark 10:17.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

προσ-τρέχω

[in LXX for רוּץ ;]

to run to: Mark 9:15 10:17, Acts 8:30.†

(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 8:30

Range of meaning

To run toward or up to someone (BDAG). It is used of eager approach: the crowd running to Jesus in Mark 9:15, the man running to Jesus in Mark 10:17.

Against the English

'Ran up' (BSB) or 'ran thither' (KJV) is accurate. 'Ran to him' (WEB) is fine too.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint it is used for eager approach, e.g. Tobit 11:9 (LXX), where Anna runs to meet her son.

Where it appears

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 9:15 προστρέχοντες running to [Him]

    As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with awe and ran to greet Him.

  2. Mark 10:17 προσδραμὼν having run up

    As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

    Here: He ran. A grown man of means running in public was undignified in that culture, so the detail shows eagerness and urgency. Only Mark records it.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 8:30 προσδραμὼν Having run up

    So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

    Here: An aorist participle: the running is done before the hearing. Philip does not stroll over. He runs alongside a moving vehicle, which shows he is quick to obey the Spirit's order in v. 29 to 'join this chariot.'

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