προσαιτέω (prosaiteō)
prosaiteō
to beg
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb prosaiteō describes the act of begging or asking for alms, carrying a sense of persistent supplication. It is formed from the prefix pro-, meaning "before" or "in addition," and aiteō, which means "to ask." This combination suggests an approach that goes beyond a simple request, implying someone who comes forward to plead for needs, often with urgency.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in John 9:8. The context involves the man healed of blindness by Jesus, who returns to the spot where he sat and begins to beg again. This single usage highlights the word’s concrete reality: it is not a polite inquiry but a desperate plea for sustenance from those passing by.
Translators typically render prosaiteō as "beg" or "ask alms," capturing the humility and necessity of the situation. The term underscores the social position of the recipient, who relies on the generosity of others. By using this specific word, the Gospel writer emphasizes the man’s vulnerability and his dependence on the community around him.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word prosaiteō describes a person who sits in a public place to ask for help, relying entirely on the kindness of strangers. In John 9:8, we see the man healed by Jesus returning to that exact spot where he once begged. This detail is not just background noise; it highlights how deeply his identity was tied to his need before Christ touched him.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God sees those who are overlooked. He does not ignore the humble plea of the needy. When you feel helpless or dependent on others, remember that Jesus noticed this man in his lowest moment. Your vulnerability is never a barrier to His grace; it is often the very place where His power is most clearly shown.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- begging?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσαιτῶν;1×
Key Verses
-
John 9:8
Therefore the neighbors and those who saw that he was blind before said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?”
This verse identifies the healed man by his former life of begging, showing how Jesus restores dignity to those defined by their lack.