Lexical Summary proskollaó: To join closely, to cleave to, to adhere to Original Word: προσκολλάω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cleave, join self. From pros and kollao; to glue to, i.e. (figuratively) to adhere -- cleave, join (self). see GREEK pros see GREEK kollao HELPS Word-studies 4347 proskolláō (from 4314 /prós, "towards" and 2853 /kolláō, "to glue") – properly, "to glue in" (from extending towards), i.e. to cleave (join with) someone in a personal ("interfacing") relationship. 4347 /proskolláō (literally, "glue to another") suggests "a more permanent association, focusing upon reciprocal relations" (L & N, 1, 448, fn 5; so also in Plato). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and kollaó Definition to glue to, fig. to cleave to NASB Translation joined (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4347: προσκολλάωπροσκολλάω, προσκόλλω: 1 aorist passive προσεκολλήθην; 1 future passive προσκολληθήσομαι; the Sept. for דָּבַק; to glue upon, glue to (cf. πρός, IV. 4); properly, Josephus, Antiquities 7, 12, 4; tropical in the passive with a reflexive force, to join oneself to closely, cleave to, stick to (Plato): with the dative of a person (Sir. 6:34 Sir. 13:16), Acts 5:36 Rec. (see προσκλίνω, 2); τῇ γυναικί, Matthew 19:5 Rec. (others, κολληθήσεται, which see): Mark 10:7 Lachmann; Ephesians 5:31 L T Tr WH marginal reading; πρός τήν γυναῖκα (from Genesis 2:24), Mark 10:7, R G Tr text; Ephesians 5:31 R G WH text (Cf. Winer's Grammar, § 52,4,14.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Background Strong’s Greek 4347, προσκολλάω, pictures the action of being “glued” or “fastened” to someone or something so firmly that separation would damage the whole. Classical Greek employed the verb for woodworking, metal-joining, and even political alliances, but in the Septuagint—and then the New Testament—it acquires covenant overtones. The Septuagint translators chose the term for Genesis 2:24 to describe the man who “shall be joined to his wife,” and that single lexical choice shaped the later biblical theology of marriage, devotion, and covenant loyalty. Biblical Usage The New Testament records the verb only twice, both times quoting Genesis 2:24: • Mark 10:7 – Jesus reaffirms the creation ordinance of marriage as He defends the permanence of the bond: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.” Because both occurrences are citations, προσκολλάω stands in deliberate continuity with Genesis, underscoring that the marriage “glue” predates the Fall, transcends cultures, and remains authoritative under the new covenant. Marriage as Covenant Glue 1. Permanence. The image of adhesion rules out casual dissolution. Jesus in Mark 10 uses προσκολλάω to ground His prohibition of divorce “from the beginning.” Christ and the Church Ephesians 5 elevates προσκολλάω beyond human marriage. Paul calls the Genesis ordinance a “profound mystery,” fulfilled ultimately when Christ “loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Just as the husband cleaves to his wife, so the Savior binds Himself to His redeemed people: Thus προσκολλάω feeds directly into ecclesiology and soteriology: believers are not mere associates of Christ but members of His body, organically united. Pastoral and Ministerial Applications • Premarital Counseling – Teaching the προσκολλάω principle helps couples grasp the gravity of the vows. Historical and Theological Notes Early Jewish writings (Sirach 2:6; 4 Maccabees 13:14) use the cognate verbs for clinging to wisdom or righteousness. Rabbinic tradition likewise stressed “cleaving” to Torah. The New Testament intensifies the theme by rooting it in Christ’s completed work. Post-apostolic fathers (e.g., Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians 5) echo Paul’s language to warn against divisions and to exalt marital fidelity as a living parable of redemption. In summary, Strong’s 4347 offers far more than a lexical footnote. It is a theological hinge that connects creation to consummation, earthly marriage to heavenly union, and daily discipleship to eternal security. Forms and Transliterations προσεκολλήθη προσεκολλήθησαν προσκολλάσθαι προσκολληθείς προσκολληθήσεσθε προσκολληθησεται προσκολληθήσεται προσκολληθήσονται προσκολλήθητι προσκολλήσαι προσκολλήσω προσκολλώμενοι proskollethesetai proskollethḗsetai proskollēthēsetai proskollēthḗsetaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 10:7 V-FIP-3SGRK: μητέρα καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν INT: mother and cleave to the Ephesians 5:31 V-FIP-3S |
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