προπορ-εύω G4313
to go before, proceed ahead as a forerunner or advance party
A verb of spatial and figurative leading. In Luke 1:76, Zechariah prophesies that his son John will go before the Lord to prepare his ways—the classic forerunner role. In Acts 7:40, Israel asks Aaron to make gods to go before them (while Moses is on Sinai), inverting the proper order of divine guidance. The term emphasizes precedence in movement, whether in faithful preparation or rebellious substitution.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The glosses ('will go before,' 'irás delante,' 'précéder') emphasize spatial precedence. Luke 1:76 applies it to John the Baptist's prophetic mission—going before Messiah as herald. Acts 7:40 uses it ironically: Israel demands substitute gods to lead them, rejecting the God who brought them from Egypt. Both passages hinge on the question of who truly goes ahead to guide God's people. 2×
AR["تَسِيرُ-أَمَامَ", "سَتَسْبِقُ"]·ben["আগে-চলবে", "এগিয়ে-যাবে"]·DE["geht-voraus"]·EN["will-go-before", "you-will-go-before"]·FR["aller-devant", "précéder"]·heb["יֵלְכוּ", "תֵּלֵךְ-לִפְנֵי"]·HI["आगे-चलेंगे", "आगे-चलेगा"]·ID["akan-mendahului", "engkau-akan-pergi-mendahului"]·IT["andare-avanti", "proporeuse"]·jav["badhé-tindak-rumiyin", "mlampah-rumiyin"]·KO["앞서-갈-것이다", "인도할-것이다"]·PT["irás-adiante", "irão-adiante"]·RU["пойдут-перед", "пойдёшь-перед"]·ES["irán-delante", "irás-delante"]·SW["utatangulia", "watatutangulia"]·TR["hangi", "önden-gideceksin"]·urd["آگے-چلے-گا-تو", "چلیں-گے"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
προπορ-εύω, cause to go before, Refs 2nd c.AD+:—passive, with aorist middle, go before, NT+4th c.BC+; οἱ προπορευόμενοι the van, Refs; ἡ προπορευομένη, ={πρόπολος}, Refs 2nd c.AD+; of a river, flow onward, LXX __2 come forward, Refs 2nd c.BC+ __3 to be promoted, advance, πρὸς τὴν στρατηγίαν Refs