Greek word · G4377

προσφωνέω

prosphōneō

to call to/summon

προσφωνέω: to call out to or address someone, sometimes to summon them (Luke 6:13). ἕτερος: 'other', and with the article 'the other (group)'.

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

What it means

προσ-φωνέω, -ῶ

[in LXX: 1Es.2:21 Esther 6:6 Est.6:22, 2Ma.15:15 * ;]

1. to address, call to; in cl., with accusative of person(s), with dupl. accusative (cf. 2Mac, l.with); absol. (Hom., Od., v, 159, al.): Acts 21:40 In late writers, with dative of person(s): Matthew 11:16, Luke 7:32 13:12 23:20, Acts 22:2.

2. to call by name, summon: with accusative (as in cl.), Luke 6:13.†

(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 Matthew 11:16

Range of meaning

προσφωνέω: to call out to or address someone, sometimes to summon them (Luke 6:13). ἕτερος: 'other', and with the article 'the other (group)'.

Against the English

KJV 'calling unto their fellows' follows a different Greek reading, 'their companions'. ESV 'playmates' is close in spirit to that. BSB/NIV 'to others' and WEB 'their companions' differ in the same way.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke's parallel (7:32) has the children 'calling to one another' (ἀλλήλοις). That suggests two groups shouting back and forth. Matthew's 'the others' also implies two sides.

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 11:16 προσφωνοῦντα calling out

    To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

    Here: 'Calling out to.' The present participle gives a picture of ongoing, repeated shouting at others across the square. It leads into the complaint quoted in v. 17.

Luke · 4

  1. Luke 6:13 προσεφώνησεν He called to [Him]

    When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:

    Here: He called out to them, summoning them to himself. The prefix pros- ("toward") holds the idea of "to him," which is why KJV puts "unto him" in italics as an English supply.

  2. Luke 7:32 προσφωνοῦσιν calling

    They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

  3. Luke 13:12 προσεφώνησεν called [her] near

    When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your disability.”

  4. Luke 23:20 προσεφώνησεν called

    Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 21:40 προσεφώνησεν he addressed [them]

    Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:

    Here: "He addressed [them]." The word means raising the voice toward an audience. Luke uses it for public addresses to crowds (compare Pilate in Luke 23:20).

  2. Acts 22:2 προσεφώνει he was addressing

    When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul declared,

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