προσαγορεύω (prosagoreuō)
prosagoreuō
to designate
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb prosagoreuō means to address someone by a specific title or name, effectively designating them with an honorific style. It goes beyond simple greeting; it involves publicly assigning a status or identity through speech. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Hebrews 5:10.
Here, the author describes Jesus being "designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek." The usage highlights a formal bestowal of rank rather than a casual nickname. The term combines a prefix meaning "to" with a root related to speaking or calling out, emphasizing the public nature of the declaration.
This single occurrence underscores the theological weight of Jesus' appointment. By using this word, the text signals that Christ’s priesthood is not self-assumed but officially conferred by divine authority. The focus remains on the legitimacy and public recognition of his role as mediator.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we think about titles and roles in our own lives, we often worry about whether we are qualified or recognized. This Greek word, prosagoreuō, offers a different perspective. It means to formally designate someone by name, assigning them a specific status through public declaration. In Hebrews 5:10, the author uses it to describe how God appointed Jesus as a high priest. This was not a self-appointed role or a casual nickname, but an official designation from God Himself.
This matters for your faith because it reminds us that true authority and identity come from God, not from our own efforts to prove ourselves. Jesus did not seize this position; He received it through obedience and suffering. For you, this means that your standing before God is secure because it is based on His designating work in Christ. You do not need to earn your place or worry about public opinion. Your identity is fixed by the One who calls you by name.
So when you feel uncertain about your role or worth, remember that Jesus was formally designated by God for His great task. That same divine authority backs the relationship He has established with you. Rest in the fact that you are known and called by Him, not by the shifting standards of the world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having been designated1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσαγορευθεὶς1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 5:10
named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
This verse uses the word to show that Jesus' priesthood was officially conferred by God, establishing His legitimate authority as mediator.