προσηλόω (prosēloō)
prosēloō
to nail
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb proseleō carries the literal meaning of nailing something to a surface. It is a rare word in the New Testament, appearing only once in Colossians 2:14. In this specific instance, Paul uses it figuratively rather than literally. He describes how God canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.
This single usage connects the abstract concept of forgiveness to a physical act of removal. The image suggests that the charges written against humanity were not merely erased but physically fastened and then removed through Christ’s work on the cross. By using this concrete term, the text emphasizes the finality and completeness of that cancellation.
Its etymology combines a prefix indicating direction or addition with a root related to nails. This construction reinforces the idea of securing something firmly in place, which Paul then reverses by describing its removal. The word’s scarcity highlights the unique weight Paul places on this specific metaphor for spiritual liberation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word prosēloō appears only once in the New Testament, found in Colossians 2:14. Paul uses this rare verb to describe how God handled the record of debt that stood against us. He did not simply erase it; He nailed it to the cross. This concrete image reminds us that our sins were not ignored or swept under the rug. They were fully dealt with and removed through Christ’s sacrifice.
For your faith, this offers deep assurance. The charges written against you have been permanently cancelled. You are not living under a cloud of past failures or legal demands. Instead, you stand free because the very thing that condemned you has been taken away. This is a complete and final act of grace, securing your freedom in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having nailed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσηλώσας1×
Key Verses
-
Colossians 2:14
wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
This is the only occurrence of the word, where Paul uses it to describe the physical removal of the legal record of debt by nailing it to the cross.