Lexical Summary prospeinos: Hungry, famished Original Word: προσπεῖνος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance very hungry. From pros and the same as peinao; hungering further, i.e. Intensely hungry -- very hungry. see GREEK pros see GREEK peinao NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and the same as peinaó Definition hungry NASB Translation hungry (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4361: πρόσπεινοςπρόσπεινος, προσπεινον (πεινᾷ hunger (cf. πεινάω)), very (literally, besides, in accession (cf. πρός, IV. 2; others (cf. R. V.) do not recognize any intensive force in πρός here)) hungry: Acts 10:10. Not found elsewhere. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 4361 denotes the state of acute hunger that precedes a meal. Though occurring only once in the New Testament, the term serves as a narrative hinge that unites physical need with divine revelation. Biblical Context Acts 10:10 places the word at the heart of Peter’s midday prayer on a rooftop in Joppa. “He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance” (Berean Standard Bible). Peter’s bodily hunger provides the immediate backdrop for the vision of the sheet filled with animals, which in turn leads to the gospel’s expansion to the household of Cornelius. Luke’s careful placement of the term highlights that the ordinary rhythm of daily life—waiting for lunch—can become the stage for a pivotal advance in salvation history. Historical Background First-century Jews typically observed three set hours of prayer, with the sixth hour (about noon) often coinciding with preparation for the main meal of the day. Rooftops, flat and private, made practical locations for prayer in crowded coastal towns like Joppa. Peter’s hunger at this traditional mealtime would have been entirely expected within contemporary patterns of work, prayer, and hospitality. Theological Significance 1. Physical to Spiritual: Luke repeatedly connects bodily states with spiritual insight (Luke 4:2; Acts 9:9). Here, hunger underscores dependence, preparing Peter to receive a revelation that overturns dietary boundaries he had always observed (Leviticus 11). Ministry Application • Expectation in Ordinary Moments: Routine hunger at midday did not hinder but rather hosted supernatural encounter. Believers can anticipate God’s voice in mundane settings—work breaks, family meals, travel layovers. Related Scriptures Matthew 5:6; John 4:31-34; Luke 24:41-43; Acts 2:46; James 2:15-16. Conclusion Though Strong’s 4361 surfaces only once, its strategic placement in Acts 10:10 reminds readers that God often intertwines physical appetite with spiritual advance. Peter’s hunger became the threshold for a revelation that forever shaped the Church’s mission to every nation. Forms and Transliterations προσπεινος πρόσπεινος prospeinos próspeinosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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