Original Word: προΐστημι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: proistemi
Phonetic Spelling: (pro-is'-tay-mee)
Short Definition: I rule
Definition: I preside, rule over, give attention to, direct, maintain, practice diligently.

4291 proístēmi (from 4253 /pró, "before" and 2476 /hístēmi, "to stand") – properly, "pre-standing," referring to a pre-set (well-established) character which provides the needed model to direct others, i.e. to positively impact them by example.

4291 /proístēmi ("diligent to take the lead") underlines the effectiveness of influencing people by having a respected reputation, i.e. one built on a solid "track-record." This happens by setting the example of excellence by living in faith (cf. Ro 12:3,8).

[See also the derivative, 4368 /prostátis, which is used of a woman who has an impressive Christian reputation (Phoebe, Ro 16:2).]

STRONGS NT 4291: προΐστημι

προΐστημι: 2 aorist infinitive προστῆναι; perfect participle προεστώς; present middle προισταμαι; from Homer, Iliad 4, 156 down;

1. in the transitive tenses to set or place before; to set over.

2. in the perfect pluperfect and 2 aorist active and in the present and imperfect middle a. to be over, to superintend, preside over (A. V. rule) (so from Herodotus down): 1 Timothy 5:17; with a genitive of the person or thing over which one presides, 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 3:4f, 12.

b. to be a protector or guardian; to give aid (Euripides, Demosthenes, Aeschines, Polybius): Romans 12:8 ((others with A. V. to rule; cf. Fritzsche at the passage; Stuart, commentary, excurs. xii.)).

c. to care for, give attention to: with a genitive of the thing, καλῶν ἔργων, Titus 3:8, 14; for examples from secular writings see Kypke and Lösner; (some (cf. R. V. marginal reading) would render these two examples profess honest occupations (see ἔργον, 1); but cf. ἔργον, 3, p. 248b middle and Field, Otium Norv. pars iii, at the passage cited).

maintain, be over, rule.

From pro and histemi; to stand before, i.e. (in rank) to preside, or (by implication) to practise -- maintain, be over, rule.

see GREEK pro

see GREEK histemi

προεστηκόσι προεστηκότα προεστηκότος προεστώς προεστωτες προεστώτες προεστῶτες προισταμενοι προϊστάμενοι προισταμενον προϊστάμενον προισταμενος προϊστάμενος προισταμενους προϊσταμενους προϊσταμένους προιστασθαι προϊστασθαι προΐστασθαι προστηναι προστήναι προστῆναι proestotes proestôtes proestōtes proestō̂tes proistamenoi proïstámenoi proistamenon proïstámenon proistamenos proïstámenos proistamenous proïstaménous proistasthai proḯstasthai prostenai prostênai prostēnai prostē̂naiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts