πρόσπεινος (prospeinos)
prospeinos
very hungry
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective prospeinos describes a state of being extremely or intensely hungry. It is formed from the prefix pros, indicating intensity, and peinos, meaning hunger. This word does not merely suggest a light appetite but conveys a deep, pressing physical need for food.
In the New Testament, this term appears only once, in Acts 10:10. The scene describes Peter rising to go up onto the housetop about the sixth hour, which is around noon. He becomes very hungry and wishes to eat while he waits, a mundane human detail that grounds the subsequent vision in his physical reality.
Translators typically render this word as "very hungry" or simply "hungry," depending on the flow of the sentence. The specificity of the term highlights Peter’s genuine physical state before receiving divine instruction, showing how ordinary bodily needs can intersect with spiritual moments.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word prospeinos captures a deep, pressing physical hunger. In Acts 10:10, Peter is described as being very hungry while waiting on a rooftop. This detail grounds his spiritual experience in real human need. It reminds us that God meets us in our ordinary moments, not just in grand religious acts.
When you feel weak or exhausted, know that your physical state does not separate you from God. He uses these honest moments of need to open new understanding. Peter’s hunger preceded a vision that changed how the early church viewed inclusion. Your current struggles may also be preparing you for something significant.
This word shows that faith is lived out in the body. You do not have to hide your tiredness or appetite from God. He sees your genuine needs and works through them. Let this bring comfort as you trust Him in both small and large things.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hungry1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πρόσπεινος,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 10:10
He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Peter's intense physical hunger precedes a pivotal vision about Gentile inclusion.