Lexical Summary proserchomai: To come to, to approach, to draw near Original Word: προσέρχομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance approach, come toFrom pros and erchomai (including its alternate); to approach, i.e. (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to -- (as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near, to, unto). see GREEK pros see GREEK erchomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and erchomai Definition to approach, to draw near NASB Translation agree (1), approached (2), approaching (1), came (64), came forward (2), come (2), comes (1), coming (3), draw near (4), go (1), visit (1), went (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4334: προσέρχομαιπροσέρχομαι; imperfect 3 person plural προσήρχοντο (Acts 28:9); (future 3 person singular προσελεύσεται, Luke 1:17 WH marginal reading); 2 aorist 3 person plural προσῆλθον and (so L Tr WH in Matthew 9:28; Matthew 13:36; Matthew 14:15; T Tr WH in Matthew 5:1; Luke 13:31; WH in Matthew 19:3; Matthew 21:23; John 12:21) in the Alex. form προσῆλθαν (see ἀπέρχομαι, and ἔρχομαι); perfect προσελήλυθα (Hebrews 12:18, 22); from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; the Sept. for קָרַב and נָגַשׁ; to come to, to approach (πρός, IV. 1); a. properly, absolutely, Matthew 4:11; Luke ( b. tropically, α. προσέρχεσθαι τῷ Θεῷ, to draw near to God in order to seek his grace and favor, Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 11:6; τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, Hebrews 4:16; without τῷ Θεῷ, Hebrews 10:1, 22 (in the O. T. προσέρχεσθαι, simply, is used of the priests about to offer sacrifices, Leviticus 21:17, 21; Deuteronomy 21:5; with the addition of πρός Θεόν, of one about to ask counsel of God, 1 Samuel 14:36; with τοῖς θεοῖς, of suppliants about to implore the gods, Dio Cassius, 56, 9); πρός Χριστόν, to attach oneself to Christ, to come to a participation in the benefits procured by him, 1 Peter 2:4 (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 52, 3). β. equivalent to to assent to (cf. German beitreten (Latinaccedere; English come (over) to, used figuratively)): ὑγιαίνουσι λόγοις, 1 Timothy 6:3 (Tdf. προσέχεται, which see 3). Strong’s 4334 portrays the action of drawing near—physically, relationally, and spiritually—occurring eighty-six times across narrative, doctrinal, and liturgical settings. The verb frames encounters with Christ in the Gospels, missionary advance in Acts, and the believer’s access to God in Hebrews and the Epistles. Approach to Jesus in the Gospels People from every walk of life “came to” Jesus: • Faith-filled petitioners: a leper (Matthew 8:2), the centurion (Matthew 8:5), Jairus (Mark 5:22), a distraught father (Matthew 17:14), the mother of James and John (Matthew 20:20). Thus the verb embraces both worshipful and hostile nearness, pressing every heart to decide how it will stand before Christ. Approach in Need and Compassion Repeatedly the verb introduces pleas for mercy. The hemorrhaging woman “came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak” (Matthew 9:20). Storm-tossed disciples came and woke Jesus (Matthew 8:25; Luke 8:24). The movement signals faith that rescue lies within reach. Post-Resurrection Encounters After Easter the dynamic reverses as the risen Lord approaches His followers: “Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me’” (Matthew 28:18). Yet worshipers still draw near: “They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him” (Matthew 28:9), portraying intimacy restored. Approach in Acts The expanding church is knit together by personal approach: • Saul seeks letters against believers (Acts 9:1), but Ananias later approaches him with healing and commission. Gospel progress unfolds through deliberate steps toward others. Theology of Hebrews: Access to God Hebrews develops the verb from geography to theology: • Past exclusion: “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched” (Hebrews 12:18). Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice transforms fearful approach at Sinai into confident nearness in Zion. Pastoral Exhortation and Warning 1 Peter 2:4 pictures believers “coming to Him, a living stone,” being built into God’s house. Conversely, 1 Timothy 6:3 cautions against anyone who “draws near” to false teaching, reminding that nearness carries responsibility. Hebrews 11:6 affirms that “he who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Ministry Implications 1. Open Access: Every believer may come freely to God through Christ, abolishing former barriers. Eschatological Dimension Approach language anticipates the consummation when all nations stream to the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21). Present access is the foretaste of final gathering. Summary From lepers in Galilee to worshipers in heavenly Zion, Strong’s 4334 traces the gospel’s geography of grace: sinners draw near, the Savior welcomes, and redeemed saints continually approach God’s throne, then rise to go near their neighbor in His name. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 4:3 V-APA-NMSGRK: Καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ πειράζων NAS: And the tempter came and said KJV: when the tempter came to him, INT: And having come the tempter Matthew 4:11 V-AIA-3P Matthew 5:1 V-AIA-3P Matthew 8:2 V-APA-NMS Matthew 8:5 V-AIA-3S Matthew 8:19 V-APA-NMS Matthew 8:25 V-APA-NMP Matthew 9:14 V-PIM/P-3P Matthew 9:20 V-APA-NFS Matthew 9:28 V-AIA-3P Matthew 13:10 V-APA-NMP Matthew 13:27 V-APA-NMP Matthew 13:36 V-AIA-3P Matthew 14:12 V-APA-NMP Matthew 14:15 V-AIA-3P Matthew 15:1 V-PIM/P-3P Matthew 15:12 V-APA-NMP Matthew 15:23 V-APA-NMP Matthew 15:30 V-AIA-3P Matthew 16:1 V-APA-NMP Matthew 17:7 V-AIA-3S Matthew 17:14 V-AIA-3S Matthew 17:19 V-APA-NMP Matthew 17:24 V-AIA-3P Matthew 18:1 V-AIA-3P Strong's Greek 4334 |
    |