Greek word · G4391

προϋπάρχω

prouparchō

be formerly

To be already present, to exist before. It is used of a prior state of affairs.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

προ-ϋπ-άρχω

[in LXX: Job 42:18* ;]

1. to be beforehand in.

2. to be before or previously: with ptcp., Luke 23:12, Acts 8:9.†

(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 8:9

Range of meaning

To be already present, to exist before. It is used of a prior state of affairs.

Against the English

BSB "Prior to that time"; KJV "beforetime"; NASB "formerly"; NLT "for many years" ("many years" interprets the "long time" of verse 11 rather than this verb).

Used elsewhere in the period

The only other NT use is Luke 23:12, where Herod and Pilate "had previously been" at enmity. Classical and Koine Greek use it for a pre-existing situation.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 23:12 προϋπῆρχον they were formerly

    That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 8:9 προϋπῆρχεν was formerly

    Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,

    Here: "Had already been there." The tense describes an ongoing past state: Simon was established in the city before Philip arrived. Philip walks into territory a local wonder-worker already holds.

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