πρόκειμαι (prokeimai)
prokeimai
to set before
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb prokeimai describes something that is placed or set directly in front of someone, often within clear view. It appears five times in the New Testament, with significant usage in Hebrews and Jude. The word conveys a sense of immediacy and visibility, suggesting that what is "set before" is not hidden but readily accessible to the observer.
In Hebrews 6:18 and 12:1-2, this term highlights hopes or examples that are fixed in sight, providing a stable reference point for faith. Similarly, Jude uses it to describe realities that stand ready before judgment. The root combines a prefix meaning "before" with a verb meaning "to lie" or "be placed," emphasizing position and presence rather than action.
Translators often render this as "set before" or "presented," capturing the static yet vivid nature of the image. Unlike verbs implying movement toward a goal, prokeimai focuses on what is already positioned for recognition. This usage underscores the certainty of divine promises or warnings that are laid out plainly for believers to see and respond to.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word prokeimai paints a picture of something placed directly in your line of sight. It is not hidden away or distant; it is right there, clear and accessible. When Scripture speaks of hope or a race set before us, it means these realities are fixed and visible, offering a steady anchor for your daily life.
In Hebrews 12:2, we see Jesus enduring the cross because of the joy that was set before Him. This reminds us that our current struggles are seen against the backdrop of a greater purpose. The path ahead is not a mystery but a clear course laid out by God, inviting you to look forward with confidence rather than fear.
This visibility provides stability. You do not need to guess what comes next or search for hidden meanings in your circumstances. The promises and examples provided in Scripture are already positioned for you to see. Let this clarity bring peace, knowing that the way forward is open and established by His faithfulness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lying before1×
- is present,1×
- is lying before1×
- is being set before [us]1×
- are set forth as1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προκειμένης2×
- πρόκειται,1×
- πρόκεινται1×
- προκείμενον1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 6:18
that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.
This verse uses the term to describe hope as a fixed reality that believers can grasp for security, emphasizing its stability rather than uncertainty.
-
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
Here the word defines the 'race' as a specific course laid out before the believer, framing Christian endurance as a run along a visible path.
-
Hebrews 12:2
looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The phrase highlights the joy that motivated Jesus’ sacrifice, showing that future reward was a present reality sustaining Him through suffering.