Lexical Summary prosechó: To pay attention, to give heed, to be cautious, to devote oneself Original Word: προσέχω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to attend to, give heed toFrom pros and echo; (figuratively) to hold the mind (nous implied) towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to -- (give) attend(-ance, -ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to unto); have regard. see GREEK pros see GREEK echo HELPS Word-studies 4337 prosé NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and echó Definition to hold to, turn to, attend to NASB Translation addicted (1), beware (8), give attention (1), giving...attention (1), giving attention (2), guard (3), officiated (1), pay attention (2), pay...attention (1), paying attention (2), respond (1), take care (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4337: προσέχωπροσέχω; imperfect προσεῖχον; perfect προσέσχηκα; (present middle 3 person singular προσέχεται (1 Timothy 6:3 Tdf.)); to turn to (cf. πρός, IV. 1), that is, 1. to bring to, bring near; thus very frequent in Greek writings from Herodotus down with ναῦν (quite as often omitting the ναῦν) and a dative of place, or followed by πρός with an accusative of place, to bring a ship to land, and simply to touch at, put in. 2. a. τόν νοῦν, to turn the mind to, attend to, be attentive: τίνι, to a person or thing, Aristophanes eqq. 503; Plato, Demosthenes, Polybius, Josephus, Lucian, Plutarch, others; once so in the Bible, viz. Job 7:17. The simple προσέχειν τίνι (the Sept. for הִקְשִׁיב, also for הֶאֱזִין), with τόν νοῦν omitted, is often used in the same sense from Xenophon down; so in the N. T. (cf. Winers Grammar, 593 (552); Buttmann, 144 (126)): Acts 8:6; Acts 16:14; Hebrews 2:1; 2 Peter 1:19 (1 Macc. 7:11; 4 Macc. 1:1; Wis. 8:12); in the sense of caring for, providing for, Acts 20:28. b. προσέχω ἐμαυτῷ, to attend to oneself, i. e. to give heed to oneself (the Sept. for נִשְׁמָר, to guard oneself, i. e. to beware, Genesis 24:6; Exodus 10:28; Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 6:12, etc.): Luke 17:3; Acts 5:35 (cf. Buttmann, 337 (290); Winers Grammar, 567 (518); yet see ἐπί, B. 2 f. α.); with the addition of ἀπό τίνος, to be on one's guard against, beware of, a thing (cf. Buttmann, § 147, 3 (ἀπό, I. 3 b.)): Luke 12:1 (Tobit 4:12; (Test xii. Patr., test. Dan 6)); also without the dative προσέχειν ἀπό τίνος: Matthew 7:15; Matthew 10:17; Matthew 16:6, 11; Luke 20:46, (Sir. 6:13 Sir. 11:33 Sir. 17:14 Sir. 18:27; ('Teaching' etc. 6, 3 [ET]; 12, 5 [ET])); followed by μή with an infinitive, to take heed lest one do a thing, Matthew 6:1; ἐμαυτῷ, μήποτε with the subjunctive Luke 21:34; absolutely to give attention, take heed: Sir. 13:13; the Epistle of Barnabas 4, 9 [ET]; 7, 4 [ET], 6. (9); followed by πῶς, the Epistle of Barnabas 7, 7 [ET]; by the interrogative τί, ibid. 15, 4 [ET]; ἵνα, ibid. 16, 8 [ET]; ἵνα μήποτε, the Epistle of Barnabas 4, 13 [ET] (variant; ἵνα μή, 2 Chronicles 25:16); (μήποτε, the Epistle of Barnabas 4, 14). 3. namely, ἐμαυτόν, to apply oneself to, attach oneself to, hold or cleave to a person or a thing (R. V. mostly give heed): with the dative of a person to one, Acts 8:10; 1 Timothy 4:1; τῷ ἐπισκόπω προσεχ. καί τῷ πρεσβυτεριω καί διακόνοις, Ignatius ad Philad. 7, 1 [ET]; ad Polycarp, 6, 1 [ET]; with the dative of a thing, μύθοις, 1 Timothy 1:4; Titus 1:14; (middle ὑγιαίνουσι λόγοις, 1 Timothy 6:3 Tdf. (others προσέρχεται, which see b. β.)); to be given or addicted to: οἴνῳ, 1 Timothy 3:8 (τρυφή, Julian Caesar 22 (p. 326, Spanh. edition); τρυφή καί μέθηl, Polyaen. strateg. 8, 56); to devote thought and effort to: τῇ ἀναγνώσει κτλ., 1 Timothy 4:13; τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ (A. V. give attendance), Hebrews 7:13 (ναυτικοις, Thucydides 1, 15; for other examples from Greek writings see Passow, under the word, 3 c.; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, 4 b.)). προσέχω centers on deliberate, continuing attentiveness. Whether translated “pay attention,” “beware,” “devote,” or “take heed,” it always demands an active, focused response rather than casual notice. The verb addresses the mind (understanding truth), the heart (cherishing truth), and the will (acting on truth). Call to vigilance against doctrinal error Jesus employs προσέχω repeatedly in His warnings about leaven—symbolic of corrupt teaching. Protecting personal integrity and motives Jesus widens the verb’s range to self-examination. Matthew 6:1: “Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them.” Here προσέχω exposes hypocrisy that seeks human approval rather than the Father’s reward. Luke 17:3 admonishes disciples to watch themselves lest bitterness flourish; Luke 21:34 warns against dissipation, drunkenness, and the cares of life that dull spiritual perception. The verb therefore guards both doctrine and devotion. Shepherding oversight of God’s flock Paul charges the Ephesian elders: “Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). Pastoral care demands the same vigilance Jesus required of His disciples. Leaders must first watch themselves, then the sheep entrusted to them. Paul applies the principle to deacons, who must be “holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” (1 Timothy 3:8). Right oversight springs from personal attentiveness to truth. Devoted listening that births faith In Philippi “the Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message” and Lydia “paid heed to what Paul said” (Acts 16:14). In Samaria the crowds “paid close attention to what was being said by Philip” (Acts 8:6, 10, 11). Such receptive attentiveness is the fertile soil in which the gospel germinates. Hebrews 2:1 reinforces the point for believers: “We must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” The opposite of προσέχω is spiritual drifting—gradual, often unnoticed, departure from anchoring truth. Scripture as prophetic lamp Peter declares, “We have the prophetic word confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19). The verb frames Scripture as a light requiring continuous, concentrated regard until the dawning of Christ’s return. The early church’s high view of the written Word flows naturally from this charge; canonical writings were preserved, copied, and taught because the saints were commanded to προσέχω to them. Historical and liturgical outworking Early Christian gatherings featured public reading of Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13) to which believers applied προσέχω. Justin Martyr’s second-century description of worship—reading, exhortation, and prayer—mirrors the apostolic pattern. The verb undergirds the historic lectionary tradition, mid-week catechesis, and expository preaching: all are corporate mechanisms designed to help the church “pay attention.” Spiritual warfare and eschatological urgency Because the world system seeks to dull watchfulness, προσέχω stands as a bulwark against last-days deception and despair. Luke 21:34 ties vigilance to readiness for the Son of Man’s appearing. Hebrews 7:13 (a rare perfect tense, προσέσχηκεν) notes that priests “devoted themselves to the altar” under the Law—yet that undivided attention finds ultimate fulfillment in Christ, our eternal High Priest. New-covenant believers are likewise summoned to undivided attention to Him. Pastoral application 1. Cultivate habit. Regular intake of Scripture, prayerful reflection, and accountability foster the attentiveness Hebrews 2:1 demands. Summary προσέχω calls every believer—disciple, leader, congregation—to an alert, sustained, and responsive gaze upon God’s Word, God’s people, and one’s own heart. The verb frames Christian living as intentional watchfulness until faith becomes sight. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:1 V-PMA-2PGRK: Προσέχετε δὲ τὴν NAS: Beware of practicing KJV: Take heed that ye do not INT: Beware moreover the Matthew 7:15 V-PMA-2P Matthew 10:17 V-PMA-2P Matthew 16:6 V-PMA-2P Matthew 16:11 V-PMA-2P Matthew 16:12 V-PNA Luke 12:1 V-PMA-2P Luke 17:3 V-PMA-2P Luke 20:46 V-PMA-2P Luke 21:34 V-PMA-2P Acts 5:35 V-PMA-2P Acts 8:6 V-IIA-3P Acts 8:10 V-IIA-3P Acts 8:11 V-IIA-3P Acts 16:14 V-PNA Acts 20:28 V-PMA-2P 1 Timothy 1:4 V-PNA 1 Timothy 3:8 V-PPA-AMP 1 Timothy 4:1 V-PPA-NMP 1 Timothy 4:13 V-PMA-2S Titus 1:14 V-PPA-NMP Hebrews 2:1 V-PNA Hebrews 7:13 V-RIA-3S 2 Peter 1:19 V-PPA-NMP Strong's Greek 4337 |
    |