Lexical Summary prostithémi: To add, to increase, to continue, to proceed Original Word: προστίθημι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance add, give more, increaseFrom pros and tithemi; to place additionally, i.e. Lay beside, annex, repeat -- add, again, give more, increase, lay unto, proceed further, speak to any more. see GREEK pros see GREEK tithemi HELPS Word-studies 4369 prostíthēmi (from 4314 /prós, "towards, with" and 5087 /títhēmi, "to set, lay down") – properly, put together for a purpose; to gather ("add up"), stressing the objective of the increasing (reaching the goal for doing it). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and tithémi Definition to put to, add NASB Translation add (2), added (6), adding (1), brought (1), further be spoken (1), increase (1), laid (1), more will be given...besides (1), proceeded (3), went (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4369: προστίθημιπροστίθημι: imperfect 3 person singular προσετίθει (Acts 2:47); 1 aorist προσέθηκα; 2 aorist προσεθην, imperative πρόσθες (Luke 17:5), infinitive προσθεῖναι, participle προσθείς; passive, imperfect 3 person plural προσετίθεντο; 1 aorist προσετέθην; 1 future προστεθήσομαι; 2 aorist middle προσεθεμην; from Homer, Odyssey 9, 305 down; the Sept. very often for יָסַף, also for אָסַף, etc.; 1. properly, to put to. 2. to add, i. e. join to, gather with any company, the number of one's followers or companions: τινα τῇ ἐκκλησία, Acts 2:47 (R G); τῷ κυρίῳ, Acts 5:14; Acts 11:24; namely, τῷ κυρίῳ, or τοῖς πιστεύουσιν, Acts 2:41; Hebraistically, προσετέθη πρός τούς πατέρας αὐτοῦ (Judges 2:10; 1 Macc. 2:69), he was gathered to his fathers assembled in Sheol (which is לְכָל־חָי מועֵד בֵּית, the house of assembly for all the living, Job 30:23), Acts 13:36 (others explain it, he was added to the bodies cf his ancestors, buried with them in a common tomb; but cf. Knobel on Genesis 25:8; (Böttcher, De inferis, p. 54ff)); equivalent to to add viz. to what one already possesses: τί, Luke 17:5 (A. V. here increase); passive, Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31; Mark 4:24; Hebrews 12:19 ((μή προστεθῆναι αὐτοῖς λόγον, R. V. that no word more should be spoken to them)); — to what already exists: (ὁ νόμος) προσετέθη, was added to (supervened upon) namely, the ἐπαγγελία, Galatians 3:19 R L T Tr WH; τί ἐπί τίνι, some thing to (upon) a thing (which has preceded (cf. ἐπί, B. 2 d.)), Luke 3:20; τί ἐπί τί, to a thing that it may thereby be increased, Matthew 6:27; Luke 12:25. In imitation of the Hebrew (יָסַף) the middle (in the Sept. the active also) followed by an infinitive signifies (to add, i. e.) to go on to do a thing, for to do further, do again (as Genesis 4:2; Genesis 8:12; Genesis 18:29): προσέθετο πέμψαι (לִשְׁלֹחַ וַיֹסֶף), he continued to send (as be had already sent), Luke 20:11, 12 (equivalent to πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν, Mark 12:4); προσέθετο συλλαβεῖν καί Πέτρον, be besides apprehended Peter also (A. V. he proceeded etc.), Acts 12:3; in the same way also the participle is used with a finite verb: προσθείς εἶπεν, i. e. he further spake (A. V. he added and spake), Luke 19:11 (προσθεῖσα ἔτεκεν, Genesis 38:5; προσθέμενος ἔλαβε γυναῖκα, Genesis 25:1); cf. Winers Grammar, § 54, 5; Buttmann, § 144, 14. The verb translated “add,” “join,” “increase,” or “put to” moves in two principal directions within the New Testament: (1) God mercifully adding something or someone, and (2) human inability or refusal to add apart from Him. The tension underscores divine sovereignty and human dependence. God as the One Who Adds Scripture consistently attributes true increase to the Lord. “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). The early believers never credit clever strategies for growth; the text assigns every addition to God’s initiative. This pattern echoes the Old Testament promise that Yahweh alone “gives the increase” and prefigures Paul’s later testimony in 1 Corinthians 3:6. Growth of the Early Church Four occurrences center on numerical expansion: Acts 2:41, Acts 2:47, Acts 5:14, and Acts 11:24. Each time, prostithēmi describes conversions following clear gospel proclamation. Peter’s Pentecost sermon (Acts 2), the apostles’ healing ministry (Acts 5), and Barnabas’s grace-filled exhortation at Antioch (Acts 11) illustrate that bold witness and holy lives become the human means God uses to “add.” Luke’s preferred imperfect tense (e.g., Acts 2:47; 5:14) conveys an ongoing, almost habitual divine action. Increase in Faith and Spiritual Resources When the disciples plead, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5), they recognize the Lord alone can “add” the needed capacity to forgive and persevere. Likewise Jesus teaches, “For whoever has will be given more; even more will be added to him” (Mark 4:24). Faithful hearing opens the door to further spiritual provision, whereas dull hearing arrests growth. Law Added Because of Sin Galatians 3:19 presents the verb in a distinct theological setting: “Why then was the Law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed should come.” The Mosaic code did not replace earlier promise; it was temporarily “put alongside” to expose sin and drive sinners to Christ. Paul’s language safeguards continuity: the Law is neither a divine afterthought nor a contradiction but a purposeful addition within redemptive history. Human Limitations in Self-Addition Jesus’ rhetorical questions unmask human impotence: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?” (Matthew 6:27) and “If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:25). Anxiety cannot prolong life, a lesson reinforced by His command to “seek first the kingdom…and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Additions belong to God; anxiety produces subtraction of peace. Requests Ceased at Sinai Hebrews 12:19 recalls Israel’s terrifying encounter at Sinai where they “begged that no further word be spoken to them.” The people pleaded for no more divine speech to be “added,” highlighting both God’s overwhelming holiness and the insufficiency of an unmediated covenant. The episode prepares readers for the better Mediator, Jesus. Prophetic Narrative Expansion Luke depicts the landowner in parabolic form, who “added” sending a second and third servant after previous rejections (Luke 20:11-12). The motif portrays divine patience: God keeps “adding” opportunities for repentance, even when His messengers suffer hostility. At the same time, Luke 19:11 introduces an explanatory addition—Jesus, “adding” a parable because many expected an immediate kingdom. Such narrative expansions clarify divine purposes amid human misunderstanding. Pastoral Application 1. Dependence: Churches and individual believers must align with the apostolic conviction that only the Lord “adds” authentic converts or genuine spiritual progress. Thus Strong’s Greek 4369 threads together church growth, covenant development, spiritual blessing, and human limitation, consistently elevating the Lord as the gracious Giver who alone can truly add. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:27 V-ANAGRK: μεριμνῶν δύναται προσθεῖναι ἐπὶ τὴν NAS: can add a [single] hour KJV: by taking thought can add one cubit INT: by being anxious is able to add to the Matthew 6:33 V-FIP-3S Mark 4:24 V-FIP-3S Luke 3:20 V-AIA-3S Luke 12:25 V-ANA Luke 12:31 V-FIP-3S Luke 17:5 V-AMA-2S Luke 19:11 V-APA-NMS Luke 20:11 V-AIM-3S Luke 20:12 V-AIM-3S Acts 2:41 V-AIP-3P Acts 2:47 V-IIA-3S Acts 5:14 V-IIM/P-3P Acts 11:24 V-AIP-3S Acts 12:3 V-AIM-3S Acts 13:36 V-AIP-3S Galatians 3:19 V-AIP-3S Hebrews 12:19 V-ANP Strong's Greek 4369 |
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