Extended Strong's Greek Lexicon (Abbott-Smith based)
to come before
Usage: προ-φθάνω [in LXX chiefly for קָדַם pi. ;] with ptcp. (as in cl., but more frequently the simple φθάνω, which see), to anticipate: Mat.17:25.† (AS)
Strong's Number
G4399
Language
Greek
Linked Usages
21
Books
9
Strong's G4399 Quick Answer
Strong's G4399 προφθάνω (prophthano) is a Greek Strong's word-study entry. prophthano (prof-than'-o) v. 1. to get an earlier start of, i.e. anticipate [from G4253 and G5348] It has 21 linked Bible usages across 9 books. Visible English usage signals include prevented. Indexed coverage on this page includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.
- Meaning
- prophthano (prof-than'-o) v. 1. to get an earlier start of, i.e. anticipate [from G4253 and G5348]
- Usage
- 21 linked usages
- Books
- 9 indexed books
- Corpus
- New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
- Usage Words
- prevented
Meaning and Definition
prophthano (prof-than'-o) v. 1. to get an earlier start of, i.e. anticipate [from G4253 and G5348] KJV: prevent Root(s): G4253, G5348
Across Lexicons
How independent scholarly lexicons define Strong's G4399. Each definition is shown with its source so you can compare and cite the original reference works.
How Strong's G4399 Is Translated
The English word each shown verse actually uses to render prophthano, taken from the interlinear word alignment (the same word underlined in the excerpts below). Where a rendering is used more than once, the count is shown.
prevented
Matthew 17:25
How Strong's G4399 Usage Compares
Indexed coverage includes Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, and New Testament. Each section below keeps corpus counts and sample passages visible so readers can compare the word across contexts instead of reading one flat concordance list.
- The largest indexed corpus on this page is Septuagint / Greek Old Testament with 17 linked usages.
- This page lets readers compare New Testament usage with Septuagint / Greek Old Testament usage, which is a key THF advantage over narrower Strong's pages.
- Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha rows are counted separately so readers can decide how those texts relate to the main word study.
In the Septuagint (LXX)
Strong's G4399 (προφθάνω) appears 20 times in the Greek Septuagint — the Old Testament the New Testament authors quoted.
Sample Septuagint occurrences:
- 1 Maccabees 10:4 — προφθάσωμεν
- 1 Maccabees 10:23 — προέφθακεν
- 1 Kingdoms 20:25 — προέφθασεν
- 4 Kingdoms 19:32 — προφθάσει
- 2 Kingdoms 22:6 — προέφθασάν
Strong's G4399 by Corpus
Indexed usage grouped by testament and extended corpus so readers can compare this word across the Bible, Septuagint, deuterocanonical books, and 1 Enoch where present.
Strong's G4399 in the New Testament
1 indexed usage in New Testament.
He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
Strong's G4399 in the Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
17 indexed usages in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament.
And he sat upon his seat as in former times, even on his seat by the wall, and he went before Jonathan; and Abner sat on one side of Saul, and the place of David was empty.
The pangs of death surrounded me, The agonies of death prevented me.
The days of my affliction prevented me; But the Lord was my stay.
Strong's G4399 in the deuterocanonical books / Apocrypha
3 indexed usages in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.
For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us:
What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself?
Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: Where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.
Usage Excerpts
First 21 linked usage excerpts for Strong's G4399.
And he sat upon his seat as in former times, even on his seat by the wall, and he went before Jonathan; and Abner sat on one side of Saul, and the place of David was empty.
The pangs of death surrounded me, The agonies of death prevented me.
The days of my affliction prevented me; But the Lord was my stay.
Is it not so? Thus saith the Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians, He shall not enter into this city, and he shall not shoot an arrow there, neither shall a shield come against it, neither shall he heap a mound against it.
My belly boiled, and would not cease: The days of poverty prevented me.
Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down: Deliver my soul from the ungodly: Draw thy sword,
The pangs of hell came round about me: The snares of death prevented me.
They prevented me in the day of mine affliction: But the Lord was my stay against them.
For thou hast prevented him with blessings of goodness: Thou hast set upon his head a crown of precious stone.
As for my God, his mercy shall go before me: My God will show me vengeance on mine enemies.
The princes went first, next before the players on instruments, In the midst of damsels playing on timbrels.
Ambassadors shall arrive out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall hasten to stretch out her hand readily to God.
But I cried to thee, O Lord; And in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, And make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
I arose before the dawn, and cried: I hoped in thy words.
Mine eyes prevented the dawn, That I might meditate on thine oracles.
And he prayed to the Lord, and said, O Lord, were not these my words when I was yet in my land? therefore I made haste to flee to Tarshish; because I knew that thou art merciful and compassionate, long-suffering, and abundant in kindness, and repentest of evil.
He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he join with Alexander against us:
What have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in making amity with the Jews to strengthen himself?
Casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: Where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware.
All Indexed Usage Links
Every indexed verse link for Strong's G4399, grouped by book.
1 Kingdoms 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
2 Kingdoms 2 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
4 Kingdoms 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Job 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Psalms 11 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Jonah 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Matthew 1 usage, New Testament
1 Maccabees 2 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Wisdom of Sirach 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Strong's G4399 FAQ
What does prophthano (προφθάνω) mean?
Prophthano (Strong's G4399) is a Greek word most simply glossed "prevent". prophthano (prof-than'-o) v. 1. to get an earlier start of, i.e. anticipate [from G4253 and G5348]
How many times is prophthano (προφθάνω) used in the Bible?
This page currently indexes 21 linked usages for Strong's G4399 across 9 books.
Where can I study prophthano (προφθάνω) in context?
Use the linked verse references on this page to study Strong's G4399 in context. The indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.
What English words translate prophthano (προφθάνω)?
The visible usage excerpts most often surface English words such as prevented. These are scanning signals from the displayed verses, not replacements for the original-language definition.
Does Strong's G4399 appear in the Septuagint or deuterocanonical books?
Yes. The current local index includes 17 in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament and 3 in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha for Strong's G4399, with linked reader references where each row is available.