Lexical Summary prassó: To practice, to do, to perform, to accomplish Original Word: πράσσω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance commit, do, performA primary verb; to "practise", i.e. Perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from poieo, which properly refers to a single act); by implication, to execute, accomplish, etc.; specially, to collect (dues), fare (personally) -- commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts. see GREEK poieo HELPS Word-studies 4238 prássō – properly, the active process in performing (accomplishing) a deed, and implying what is done as a regular practice – i.e. a routine or habit (cf. R. Trench). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to do, practice NASB Translation act (1), acted (1), attend (1), collect (1), collected (1), committed (3), deeds* (1), do (7), does (1), doing (2), done (6), performing (1), practice (9), practiced (2), practices (1), practicing (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4238: πράσσωπράσσω and (once viz. Acts 17:7 R G) πράττω; future πράξω; 1 aorist ἔπραξα; perfect πέπραχά; perfect passive participle πεπραγμενος; from Homer down; the Sept. several times for עָשָׂה and פָּעַל; to do, practise, effect, Latinagere (but ποιεῖν to make, Latinfacere; (see ποιέω, at the end)); i. e.: 1. to exercise, practise, be busy with, carry on: τά περίεργα, Acts 19:19; τά ἰδίᾳ, to mind one's own affairs, 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (τά ἑαυτοῦ (Sophocles Electr. 678); Xenophon, mem. 2, 9, 1; Plato, Phaedr., p. 247a.; Demosthenes, p. 150, 21; others); used of performing the duties of an office, 1 Corinthians 9:17. to undertake to do, μηδέν προπετές, Acts 19:36. 2. to accomplish, to perform: πεπραγμένον ἐστιν, has been accomplished, has taken place, Acts 26:26; εἴτε ἀγαθόν, εἴτε κακόν, 2 Corinthians 5:10; ἀγαθόν ἤ φαῦλον (κακόν), Romans 9:11 (δίκαια ἤ ἄδικα, Plato, Apology, p. 28 b.); ἄξια τῆς μετανοίας ἔργα, Acts 26:20; add, Romans 7:15, 19; Philippians 4:9; μόνον, to do, i. e. keep the law, Romans 2:25; of unworthy acts, to commit, perpetrate (less frequent so in Greek writings, as πολλά καί ἀνόσια, Xenophon, symp. 8, 22; with them ποιεῖν ((see Schmidt, Syn., chapter 23, 11, 3; Liddell and Scott, under the word, B.)) is more common in reference to bad conduct; hence, τούς ἐπισταμένους μέν ἅ δεῖ πράττειν, ποιοῦντας δέ ταναντια, Xenophon, mem. 3, 9, 4), Acts 26:9; 2 Corinthians 12:21; τό ἔργον τοῦτο, this (criminal) deed, 1 Corinthians 5:2 T WH Tr marginal reading; add, Luke 22:23; Acts 3:17; Acts 5:35; Romans 7:19; τά τοιαῦτα, such nameless iniquities, Romans 1:32 (where ποιεῖν and πράσσειν are used indiscriminately (but cf. Meyer)); Romans 2:1-3; Galatians 5:21; (φαῦλα, John 3:20; John 5:29; τί ἄξιον θανάτου, Luke 23:15; Acts 25:11, 25; Acts 26:31; τό κακόν, Romans 7:19; Romans 13:4; ἄτοπον, Luke 23:41; τί τίνι κακόν, to bring evil upon one, Acts 16:28. 3. to manage public affairs, transact public business (Xenophon, Demosthenes, Plutarch); from this use has come a sense met with from Pindar, Aeschylus, Herodotus down, viz. to exact tribute, revenue, debts: Luke 3:13 (here R. V. extort); τό ἀργύριον, Luke 19:23 (soagere in Latin, cf. the commentators on Suetonius, Vesp. 1; (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 42, 1 a.)). 4. intransitive, to act (see εὖ, p. 256a): ἀπέναντι τίνος, contrary to a thing, Acts 17:7. 5. from Aeschylus and Herodotus down reflexively, me habere: τί πράσσω, how I do, the state of my affairs, Ephesians 6:21; εὖ πράξετε (see εὖ), Acts 15:29 (cf. Buttmann, 300 (258)). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Nuance Prassō conveys deliberate, ongoing practice. While the cognate ποιέω often stresses a single deed, prassō highlights habitual activity—either good or evil—so that what one “does” becomes characteristic of one’s life. This nuance underlies every New Testament occurrence. Range of New Testament Usage 1. Moral practice (John 3:20; Romans 1:32; Galatians 5:21) Human Sinfulness Exposed Romans 1–2 uses prassō seven times to unmask the universality of sin. Pagans “practice such things” (Romans 1:32), yet self-righteous Jews “practice the same” (Romans 2:1). God’s impartial judgment is “against those who practice such things” (Romans 2:2). The present-tense participles underscore entrenched rebellion; sinners do not merely stumble—they cultivate sin. Galatians 5:21 warns that “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God,” linking habitual vice with exclusion from covenant blessing. Righteous Conduct Commended Conversely, prassō also marks steadfast obedience. Paul urges the Philippians, “Practice these things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me” (Philippians 4:9). Thessalonian believers are told “to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may behave properly” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). In both cases, ongoing discipline embodies gospel truth before a watching world. Legal and Judicial Overtones Luke and Acts repeatedly place prassō in courtroom scenes. Pilate declares of Jesus, “Look, nothing deserving death has been done by Him” (Luke 23:15). One thief confesses, “We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done” (Luke 23:41). Paul, defending his ministry, states, “If I am guilty and have done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die” (Acts 25:11). These passages ground the concept of retributive justice: deeds invite verdicts. Eschatological Significance John 5:29 foretells “those who have done good will rise to a resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to a resurrection of judgment.” Paul echoes this at the judgment seat of Christ: “so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Eternal destinies correspond to practiced character, confirming Scripture’s unity on final accountability. Christological Focus Although prassō exposes sin, it also magnifies the sinlessness of Christ. The combined testimony of Herod, Pilate, and the repentant thief declares that Jesus “has done nothing deserving death” (Luke 23:15, 22; 23:41). His faultless record qualifies Him as the spotless Lamb who bears the penalty for those whose practices condemn them. Pastoral Implications • Authentic faith produces consistent practice; doctrine divorced from daily life invites divine censure (Romans 2:21-24). Historical Context In Greco-Roman courts, regular behavior (praxis) established reputation. Luke’s historical narratives exploit this setting: Jesus and Paul both stand trial, their deeds scrutinized. The early church thus learned to value a public life above reproach amid hostile authorities (Acts 26:26; 1 Peter 2:12). Old Testament Continuity The Septuagint frequently employs prassō to translate Hebrew עָשָׂה (ʿasah, “do”) and פָּעַל (paʿal, “work”), preserving the covenant pattern: “If you diligently practice My commandments … I will bless you” (compare Deuteronomy 28). The New Testament upholds this linkage but reveals that only in Christ can the law’s righteous requirement be fulfilled (Romans 8:4). Summary Strong’s Greek 4238 portrays settled, intentional action. Scripture applies it to habitual sin warranting judgment, sustained obedience evidencing grace, and the flawless conduct of Christ. Believers are summoned to cultivate a life that continually “practices the truth” (John 3:21), confident that the Spirit empowers what the flesh cannot achieve. Forms and Transliterations επραξα έπραξα ἔπραξα επραξαμεν επράξαμεν ἐπράξαμεν επραξαν έπραξαν ἔπραξαν έπραξας επραξατε επράξατε ἐπράξατε έπραξε επραξεν έπραξεν ἔπραξεν πεπραγμενον πεπραγμένον πεπραχα πέπραχά πεπραχεναι πεπραχέναι πρα=νει πραξαι πράξαι πρᾶξαι πραξαντες πράξαντες πραξαντων πραξάντων πραξας πράξας πράξεις πραξετε πράξετε πράξη πραξης πράξης πράξῃς πρασσει πράσσει πρασσειν πράσσειν πρασσεις πράσσεις πρασσετε πράσσετε πρασσης πράσσης πράσσῃς πρασσοντας πράσσοντας πρασσοντες πράσσοντες πρασσοντι πράσσοντι πρασσόντων πρασσουσι πράσσουσι πρασσουσιν πράσσουσιν πρασσω πράσσω πρασσων πράσσων πράττουσι πραύθυμος πραύναι epraxa épraxa epraxamen epráxamen epraxan épraxan epraxate epráxate epraxen épraxen pepracha péprachá peprachenai peprachénai pepragmenon pepragménon prassei prássei prassein prássein prasseis prásseis prássēis prasses prassēs prassete prássete prasso prassō prásso prássō prasson prassōn prásson prássōn prassontas prássontas prassontes prássontes prassonti prássonti prassousi prássousi prassousin prássousin praxai prâxai praxantes práxantes praxanton praxantōn praxánton praxántōn praxas práxas práxeis práxēis praxes praxēs praxete práxeteLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 3:13 V-PIA-2PGRK: διατεταγμένον ὑμῖν πράσσετε NAS: And he said to them, Collect no more KJV: unto them, Exact no more INT: is appointed to you collect Luke 19:23 V-AIA-1S Luke 22:23 V-PNA Luke 23:15 V-RPM/P-NNS Luke 23:41 V-AIA-1P Luke 23:41 V-AIA-3S John 3:20 V-PPA-NMS John 5:29 V-APA-NMP Acts 3:17 V-AIA-2P Acts 5:35 V-PNA Acts 15:29 V-FIA-2P Acts 16:28 V-ASA-2S Acts 17:7 V-PIA-3P Acts 19:19 V-APA-GMP Acts 19:36 V-PNA Acts 25:11 V-RIA-1S Acts 25:25 V-RNA Acts 26:9 V-ANA Acts 26:20 V-PPA-AMP Acts 26:26 V-RPM/P-NNS Acts 26:31 V-PIA-3S Romans 1:32 V-PPA-NMP Romans 1:32 V-PPA-DMP Romans 2:1 V-PIA-2S Romans 2:2 V-PPA-AMP Strong's Greek 4238 |
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