4411. prótoklisia

Lexicon

prótoklisia: Place of honor, chief seat

Original Word: πρωτοκλισία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: prótoklisia
Pronunciation: pro-to-klee-SEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (pro-tok-lis-ee'-ah)
Definition: Place of honor, chief seat
Meaning: the chief place at a banquet or table.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

chief place, seat of honor

From protos and klisia; a reclining first (in the place of honor) at the dinner-bed, i.e. Preeminence at meals -- chief (highest, uppermost) room.

see GREEK protos

see GREEK klisia

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from prótos and klisia
Definition
the chief place (at the table)
NASB Translation
place of honor (2), places of honor (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4411: πρωτοκλισία

πρωτοκλισία, πρωτοκλισίας, ἡ (πρῶτος and κλισία), the first reclining-place, the chief place, at table (cf. Rich, Dict. of Rom. and Greek Antiq. under the phrase,lectus tricliniaris; the relative rank of the several places at table varied among Persians, Greeks, and Romans; and what arrangement was currently followed by the Jews in Christ's day can hardly, perhaps, be determined; (yet see Edersheim. Jesus the Messiah, ii., pp. 207f 494)): Matthew 23:6; Mark 12:39; Luke 11:43 Lachmann in brackets; . (Ecclesiastical writings).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek words πρῶτος (prōtos), meaning "first," and κλισία (klisia), meaning "reclining" or "place of reclining." The term is a compound word that literally translates to "first reclining" or "chief seat."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for πρωτοκλισία, the concept of seeking honor and status can be related to Hebrew terms such as כָּבוֹד (kabod, Strong's H3519), meaning "glory" or "honor," and רָאשִׁית (reshith, Strong's H7225), meaning "first" or "chief." These terms reflect similar themes of prominence and recognition within the Hebrew Scriptures.

Usage: The word πρωτοκλισία is used in the New Testament to describe the desire for prominent positions at social gatherings, particularly in the context of religious leaders seeking honor and recognition. It appears in the following passages:
• Matthew 23:6: "They love the place of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues."
• Mark 12:39: "and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets."
• Luke 11:43: "Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces."
• Luke 14:7: "When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable."

Context: The concept of πρωτοκλισία is deeply rooted in the cultural and social practices of the ancient Near East, where seating arrangements at banquets and gatherings were indicative of one's social status and honor. In the New Testament, Jesus frequently addresses the issue of seeking πρωτοκλισία as a critique of the religious leaders of His time, who were often more concerned with outward appearances and social prestige than with genuine humility and service.

In Matthew 23:6 and Mark 12:39, Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for their love of the chief seats, highlighting their hypocrisy and desire for public recognition. Similarly, in Luke 11:43, Jesus pronounces a woe upon the Pharisees for their love of the chief seats in synagogues, emphasizing the emptiness of their pursuit of honor.

In Luke 14:7, Jesus uses the setting of a banquet to teach a parable about humility, advising guests to take the lowest place rather than seeking the πρωτοκλισία. This teaching underscores the kingdom principle that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

The pursuit of πρωτοκλισία serves as a cautionary example of the dangers of pride and the importance of humility in the life of a believer. It challenges individuals to examine their motives and to seek honor from God rather than from men.

Forms and Transliterations

πρωτοκλισιαν πρωτοκλισίαν πρωτοκλισιας πρωτοκλισίας πρωτολογία protoklisian protoklisían prōtoklisian prōtoklisían protoklisias protoklisías prōtoklisias prōtoklisías

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 23:6 N-AFS
GRK: δὲ τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν ἐν τοῖς
NAS: They love the place of honor at banquets
KJV: love the uppermost rooms at
INT: moreover the chief place at the

Mark 12:39 N-AFP
GRK: συναγωγαῖς καὶ πρωτοκλισίας ἐν τοῖς
NAS: in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets,
KJV: and the uppermost rooms at
INT: synagogues and first places at the

Luke 14:7 N-AFP
GRK: πῶς τὰς πρωτοκλισίας ἐξελέγοντο λέγων
NAS: they had been picking out the places of honor [at the table], saying
KJV: they chose out the chief rooms; saying
INT: how the first places they were choosing out saying

Luke 14:8 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν μή ποτε
NAS: do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished
KJV: in the highest room; lest
INT: in the first place not ever

Luke 20:46 N-AFP
GRK: συναγωγαῖς καὶ πρωτοκλισίας ἐν τοῖς
NAS: in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets,
KJV: and the chief rooms at
INT: synagogues and first places in the

Strong's Greek 4411
5 Occurrences

πρωτοκλισίαν — 2 Occ.
πρωτοκλισίας — 3 Occ.