προκόπτω G4298
prokopto -- to advance, make progress, move forward (always metaphorical in the NT)
Originally meaning 'to cut forward' (as pioneers cutting a path), prokopto is used exclusively in metaphorical senses in the New Testament. It describes progress or advancement in various domains: the boy Jesus growing in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52), Paul's former zeal advancing in Judaism (Gal 1:14), the night 'advancing' toward dawn (Rom 13:12), and false teachers progressing deeper into ungodliness (2 Tim 2:16; 3:9, 13). The word thus carries a neutral valence -- progress can be positive or negative depending on what is advancing. Spanish avanzar and French progresser capture this versatile forward-motion metaphor cleanly.
Senses
1. advance, progress forward — To advance, make progress, or move forward metaphorically. The literal 'cutting a path forward' has given way entirely to figurative use in the NT: Jesus advances in wisdom (Luke 2:52), the eschatological night advances toward dawn (Rom 13:12), Paul formerly advanced in Judaism (Gal 1:14), and ungodly speech advances like gangrene (2 Tim 2:16). Spanish avanzar and German voranschreiten confirm the consistent metaphorical 'forward progress' sense. Notably, the direction of progress can be positive (wisdom) or negative (ungodliness), making context essential. 6×
AR["تَقَدَّمَ", "سَيَتَقَدَّمونَ", "كَانَ-يَتَقَدَّمُ", "كُنتُ-أتَقَدَّمُ"]·ben["অগ্রসর-হয়েছে,", "আমি-উন্নতি-করতাম", "এগিয়ে-যাবে", "বৃদ্ধি-পাচ্ছিলেন"]·DE["voranschreiten", "προέκοπτεν"]·EN["I-was-advancing", "has-advanced", "they-will-advance", "was-advancing", "will-advance"]·FR["progresser"]·heb["הִתְקַדֵּם", "הִתְקַדַּמְתִּי", "יִתְקַדְּמוּ", "קָדְמָה"]·HI["बढ़ता-रहा", "बधहेनगे", "बीत-गई-है", "मैन-अअगे-बधत-थ"]·ID["akan-berkembang", "aku-maju", "bertambah", "mereka-akan-berkembang", "telah-jauh,"]·IT["proekopten", "proekopton", "progredire", "prokopsousin"]·jav["badhé-majeng", "kula-majeng", "sampun-majeng,", "saya-majeng"]·KO["나아가리라", "나아가지-못할-것이다", "나아갈-것이다", "앞서갔노라", "자라갔다", "지났고"]·PT["avançarão", "avançou,", "progredia"]·RU["-день", "будут-преуспевать", "преуспевал", "преуспеют"]·ES["avanzaba", "avanzarán", "avanzó", "progresaba"]·SW["akaendelea", "endelea", "nilifanya-maendeleo", "umepita,", "wataendelea"]·TR["ilerledi", "ilerleyecek", "ilerleyecekler", "ilerliyordu", "ilerliyordum"]·urd["بڑھتا-رہا", "بڑھیں-گے", "ترقی-کرتا-تھا", "گزر-گئی-ہے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
προκόπτω, cut one's way forward, only metaphorically, π. διὰ τῆς λεωφόρου advance by the high-road, Refs 4th c.BC+:—passive in Refs 5th c.BC+, advance, prosper, ἀνωτέρω ὀδὲν τῶν πρηγμάτων προκοπτομένων Refs __II with neuter adjectives, προκόψομεν οὐδέν shall make no progress, advance not at all. Refs 7th c.BC+; τὰ πολλὰ προκόψασ᾽ having prepared most of the way, Refs 5th c.BC+; τί ἂν προκόπτοι;…