Lexical Summary prostrechó: To run to, to run towards, to hasten to Original Word: προστρέχω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance run to. From pros and trecho (including its alternate); to run towards, i.e. Hasten to meet or join -- run (thither to, to). see GREEK pros see GREEK trecho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and trechó Definition to run to NASB Translation ran (2), running (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4370: προσδρέμωπροσδρέμω, see προστρέχω. STRONGS NT 4370: προστρέχωπροστρέχω; 2 aorist active participle προσδραμών; to run to: Mark 9:15; Mark 10:17; Acts 8:30. (From Aristophanes and Xenophon down; for רוּץ in Genesis 18:2, etc.) Strong’s Greek 4370 depicts an urgent, forward-moving action: “to run toward” someone or something. Every New Testament occurrence pictures a person whose feet mirror the quickened pulse of the heart—whether in awe of the Lord, in yearning for eternal life, or in eagerness to share the gospel. Scriptural Occurrences 1. Mark 9:15 “As soon as all the people saw Him, they were amazed and ran to greet Him.” Fresh from the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus descends to a scene of dispute. The crowd’s instinctive sprint underscores the magnetic authority of Christ; astonishment breaks into motion. 2. Mark 10:17 “As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and fell on his knees before Him. ‘Good Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” The rich young ruler’s dash reveals sincere moral aspiration, yet his eventual sorrow exposes the cost of discipleship when wealth rivals devotion. 3. Acts 8:30 “So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.” Summoned by the Spirit (Acts 8:29), Philip’s agile obedience positions him for a providential encounter that carries the gospel to Ethiopia. The Urgency of Approach • Awe-filled attraction (Mark 9) – The crowd’s swift movement arises from wonder, not coercion. True worship ignites spontaneous nearness. Historical and Cultural Background In the ancient Mediterranean world, dignified adults rarely ran in public; the act implied unusual urgency or deep emotion (cf. Luke 15:20). Each instance of 4370 therefore signals an extraordinary moment: • The crowd disregards social decorum to welcome Jesus. Such behavior highlights the surpassing worth of the objective—Christ Himself or His saving message. Doctrinal Insights 1. Christ’s manifest glory elicits immediate response; human hearts are created to run toward their Creator (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Practical Application • Cultivate spiritual reflexes that move quickly toward Christ in prayer, Scripture, and obedience. Related Motifs Running figures prominently in Scripture to portray zeal (Psalm 119:32), urgency (1 Corinthians 9:24), and joyous reception (Luke 15:20). Strong’s 4370 forms part of this broader tapestry, illustrating hearts and feet aligned in decisive motion. Summary Wherever 4370 appears, it signals a decisive moment: human beings propelled toward divine purpose. Whether it is the awestruck crowd, an earnest yet conflicted seeker, or a ready evangelist, the verb portrays the fitting human response to the living God—swift, wholehearted, and unreserved. Englishman's Concordance Mark 9:15 V-PPA-NMPGRK: ἐξεθαμβήθησαν καὶ προστρέχοντες ἠσπάζοντο αὐτόν NAS: Him, they were amazed and [began] running up to greet KJV: and running to [him] saluted INT: were greatly amazed and running to [him] greeted him Mark 10:17 V-APA-NMS Acts 8:30 V-APA-NMS Strong's Greek 4370 |
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