προαμαρτάνω (proamartanō)
proamartanō
to sin beforehand
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb proamartanō means to commit a sin in advance, or to have sinned previously before a specific point in time. It combines a prefix indicating "before" with the root for "sin," creating a precise term for past transgressions that precede a current situation.
This word appears only twice in the New Testament, both within Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church (2 Corinthians 12:21 and 13:2). In these contexts, Paul uses it to describe the sexual immorality and impurity practiced by some believers before they received baptism or fully embraced their new faith. The term highlights a history of Gentile vices that now stands in contrast to their Christian calling.
Its rarity makes its usage significant. By specifying sins committed "before," Paul distinguishes between past failures and the ongoing moral standards expected of the community. Translators typically render it as "sinned previously" or "committed sin before," preserving the temporal distinction that is central to the word’s meaning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word proamartanō describes sins committed in the past, specifically before a turning point like baptism or a fresh commitment to faith. It is a rare term found only twice in the New Testament, used by Paul to address the Corinthian church. He points out that some believers had engaged in sexual immorality and impurity before their conversion. This distinction helps clarify that while past actions were serious, they are not the final definition of who these people have become in Christ.
For your own life, this word offers a gentle reminder that God sees the whole story of your journey. He knows the mistakes you made before you found Him, but He also sees the change happening now. You do not need to carry the weight of those old failures as if they define your current standing with God. Instead, you can look forward with hope, knowing that grace covers what has passed and empowers what is yet to come.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having sinned before2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προημαρτηκότων1×
- προημαρτηκόσιν1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 12:21
that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.
Paul uses this term here to specify that the unrepentant sexual immorality was a past habit, distinguishing their former Gentile lifestyle from their current call to holiness.
-
II Corinthians 13:2
I have warned previously, and I warn again, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now and to all the rest that if I come again, I will not spare,
The word appears again in this warning to show that those who sinned previously are still the primary concern for repentance, even as Paul addresses the rest of the church.