προτίθημι (protithēmi)
protithēmi
to plan/present
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb protithēmi carries the sense of setting something before a person, either in a physical or intentional way. In its active voice, it describes placing an object in public view, as when God presented Christ as a sacrifice for sin (Romans 3:25). This usage highlights the act of making something visible and accessible to all.
When used in the middle voice, the meaning shifts inward to mean proposing or determining a course of action. It appears in passages like Ephesians 1:9, where it describes God’s purposeful plan revealed through mystery. Here, the word emphasizes deliberate intent rather than mere display, showing how divine goals are established with clarity and forethought.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word protithēmi suggests setting a goal or plan before someone, much like placing a map on a table so you can see the route ahead. In Romans 1:13, Paul uses it to share his sincere intention to visit believers. This reminds us that our personal plans, when aligned with God’s will, are meaningful and worthy of sharing with others.
More profoundly, this word describes God’s eternal purpose. Ephesians 1:9 tells us that the mystery of His will was made known according to the plan He purposed in Christ. This is not a vague wish but a deliberate, loving design established before time began. It offers deep comfort, knowing our lives are part of a clear and intentional divine narrative.
Even in Romans 3:25, though the translation varies, the concept of presenting something for view remains central to understanding God’s justice and mercy. We can trust that God is not acting impulsively but is faithfully executing His good purposes. This steadiness allows us to rest in His sovereignty rather than worrying about the unknown.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- set forth as1×
- I purposed1×
- He purposed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προέθετο2×
- προεθέμην1×
Key Verses
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Romans 1:13
Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (and was hindered so far), that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.
Paul uses this term to clarify his sincere, repeated intention to visit the Romans, showing how human plans can reflect faithful commitment.
-
Ephesians 1:9
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
This verse highlights God’s deliberate and pre-established purpose, emphasizing that His plan is intentional rather than reactive.
-
Romans 3:25
whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
The context here involves God presenting Christ as a sacrifice, demonstrating how the word can mean making something visible for a specific redemptive purpose.