Meaning
Preposition. Occurs 703 times in the New Testament.
πρός is a common preposition in Koine Greek that carries different meanings. It most frequently takes the accusative case, but at times it takes the genitive or dative cases, giving it a different meaning again. At its core, it usually describes movement or relationship toward someone or something, whether physical, spatial, relational, or even theological.
| Use | Meaning / Sense | Example | Reference |
| Spatial (Direction) | Toward, to, in the direction of | καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν — I am ascending to my Father | John 20:17plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigJohn 20:17 Greek λέγει αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς· μή μου ἅπτου· οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν πατέρα· πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς· ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν καὶ θεόν μου καὶ θεὸν ὑμῶν. ESV Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'… |
| Relational / Personal | With, in the presence of | καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρός τὸν θεόν — “and the Word was with God.” | John 1:1plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigJohn 1:1 Greek Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. ESV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. NLT In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
| Purpose / Goal | For, for the purpose of | εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς — “he said to them” (direction of speech) | Luke 5:22plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigLuke 5:22 Greek ἐπιγνοὺς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς διαλογισμοὺς αὐτῶν ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· τί διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; ESV When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? NIV Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? NLT |
| Reference / Relation | Concerning, with regard to | πρὸς μὲν τοὺς ἀγγέλους λέγει — “of the angels he says” | Hebrews 1:7plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigHebrews 1:7 Greek καὶ πρὸς μὲν τοὺς ἀγγέλους λέγει, ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα, καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα· ESV Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” NIV In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” NLT |