προσαναβαίνω (prosanabainō)
prosanabainō
to go up
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb prosanabainō describes the physical act of going up higher or ascending further. It combines the prefix pros-, indicating direction or addition, with anabainō, meaning to go up. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Luke 14:10, where Jesus uses it to illustrate a principle of humility.
In that specific instance, the host invites a guest to take a lower place so that he may later be invited to "go up higher" (prosanabainō). The term emphasizes the movement toward a position of greater honor or elevation. While similar to other words for ascending, its unique force lies in this additive sense of moving upward from an existing point.
This single occurrence highlights how Jesus employed everyday language about social gatherings and physical movement to teach spiritual truths. The word itself does not carry deep theological mystery but serves as a clear, concrete image for the reversal of status that characterizes the kingdom of God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word prosanabainō captures the simple act of moving upward to a place of honor. In Luke 14:10, Jesus uses this everyday image from social gatherings to teach a profound spiritual truth about humility. He invites us to choose the lowest place, trusting that God will lift us up in His own time and way.
This teaching challenges our natural instinct to seek recognition and status. Instead of striving for prominence, we are called to serve quietly and wait patiently. When we do this, we find that true honor comes not from self-promotion but from the gracious invitation of God Himself.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do come up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσανάβηθι1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 14:10
But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.
This verse provides the only New Testament occurrence of the word, where Jesus uses it to illustrate that humility leads to divine elevation rather than self-exaltation.