προσκαλέω (proskaleō)
proskaleō
to call to/summon
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 28 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb proskaleō describes the act of calling someone to oneself, carrying a sense of personal summons or invitation. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts where authority is exercised through direct address. Jesus uses this term when he calls his disciples to follow him (Mark 3:13) and when he gathers the crowds to teach them (Matthew 15:10). The word implies a movement from distance to proximity, as those summoned come near to the speaker.
Its meaning extends beyond physical presence into spiritual calling. The sources note that God is described as calling people to fellowship with himself, particularly through the preaching of the gospel. In Acts 2:39, this divine call is offered to all who are far off, while in Acts 16:10, Paul and his companions feel themselves called by the Holy Spirit to specific missionary tasks. The term captures both the initiative of the caller and the response of those invited.
Etymologically, proskaleō combines the prefix pros, meaning "toward," with kaleō, meaning "to call." This structure emphasizes directionality—the movement toward the one who speaks. Translators often render it as "call" or "summon," though the Greek carries a nuance of personal engagement that simple translation may not fully convey. The word reflects a relational dynamic where the caller’s authority and the invitee’s response intersect.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word proskaleō describes a personal summons, inviting someone to move from a distance into close proximity with the speaker. In the New Testament, this term captures both Jesus calling his disciples to follow him and God extending an invitation to all people through the gospel. It is not merely a loud announcement but a relational call that draws individuals toward the one who speaks.
When you encounter this word in Scripture, it reminds you that faith often begins with someone else’s initiative. Jesus called children to himself to teach about the Kingdom, and he called strangers to share in his mission. This divine invitation is offered freely, asking for a response of trust and obedience rather than demanding perfection.
Whether you are feeling drawn to a new season of service or simply seeking to understand your place in God’s family, this word encourages you that you are known and invited by name. The call to follow Christ is an invitation to walk closer with him, finding rest and purpose in his presence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 28 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having called to [Him]7×
- having called to [him]6×
- having called to2×
- having called near2×
- may call to Himself1×
- he should call near1×
- he has called1×
- having summoned1×
- having called in1×
- calls near1×
- called1×
- I have called1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσκαλεσάμενος18×
- προσκαλεῖται2×
- προσκαλεσάμενοι2×
- προσκέκληται1×
- προσκέκλημαι1×
- προσκαλέσηται1×
- προσκαλεσάσθω1×
- προσκαλεσάμενός1×
- προσεκαλέσατο1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 3:13
He went up into the mountain and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.
This verse shows Jesus exercising personal authority by calling specific individuals to himself, establishing the model for discipleship.
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Acts 2:39
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
Here the term expands beyond physical presence to describe God’s spiritual call to all who are far off through the promise of the Spirit.
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Mark 8:34
He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Jesus uses this summons to issue a direct invitation for followers to deny themselves and take up their cross, highlighting the cost of discipleship.
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Acts 16:10
When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.
Paul interprets his vision as a divine call to preach in Macedonia, showing how this word guides missionary direction and purpose.
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Matthew 18:2
Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them
Jesus calls a child to himself to use as an example, demonstrating that the Kingdom values humility and the presence of the vulnerable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does proskaleō mean in the Bible?
How is proskaleō different from kaleō?
Where does this word appear in the New Testament?
Does this word imply a forced command?
Every Occurrence (28 verses across 5 books)
Matthew 6 verses
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal…
Matthew 15:10He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand.
Matthew 15:32Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now…
Matthew 18:2Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them
Matthew 18:32Then his lord called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
Matthew 20:25But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones…