Quick Definition
I provoke, stimulate
Strong's Definition
to call forth to oneself (challenge), i.e. (by implication) to irritate
Derivation: middle voice from G4253 (πρό) and G2564 (καλέω);
KJV Usage: provoke
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
προκαλέω, προκάλω: present middle participle προκαλούμενος; to call forth (cf. πρό, d. α.); middle to call forth to oneself, especially to challenge to a combat or contest with one; often so from Homer down; hence, to provoke, to irritate: Gal_5:26 ((εἰς ὠμότητα καί ὀργήν, Herodian, 7, 1, 11, 4 edition, Bekker)).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
προκαλέω prokaleō 1x
to call out, challenge to fight; to provoke, irritate, with feelings of ungenerous rivalry, Gal_5:26
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** προ -καλέω , -ῶ ,
[in LXX : 2Ma_8:11 A * ;]
to call forth .
Most freq . in mid .,
(a) to challenge; hence, to provoke: Gal_5:26 ;
(b) to invite (2Mac, l.c .).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
προκαλέω (~ προκαλέομαι ) [page 541]
call forth, challenge, though occurring in classical writers from Homer downwards, is found only in Gal_5:26 in Biblical Greek (except in 2Ma_8:11 A) : but cf. BGU IV. 1024 v. 5 (end of iv/A.D.) τ [οῦτο ] γὰρ προκαλ [εῖ ] ἐμ̣ε̣̣ τ̣ο̣, ν̣ δ [ι ]κά [ζ ]οντα . In a letter addressed to the Smyrnaeans, Syll 414 (= .3 876) .6 (A.D. 198) (= Lafoscade , p. 33 f.) the Emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla recall that, not-withstanding the immunity granted to sophists, a certain Claudius Rufinus had at their summons voluntarily undertaken a military command in view of his affection for his native land ὑμῶν αὐτὸν ἑκουσίῳ ἀνάγκῃ προκαλουμένων ὑφέστη τὴν στρατηγίαν κατὰ τὸ πρὸς τὴν πατρίδα φίλτρον . The subst. πρόκλησις occurs in the fragmentary P Ryl II. 353 (iii/A.D.)
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
προ-καλέω, -ῶ
[in LXX: 2Ma.8:11 A * ;]
to call forth.
Most frequently in mid.,
__(a) to challenge; hence, to provoke: Gal.5:26;
__(b) to invite (2Mac, l.with).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Challenging (4292) prokaleo
Challenging (4292) (prokaleo [in the middle voice = prokaleomai] from pro = before, forward + kaleo = call) literally means to call forth or call before (middle voice = call before oneself), and thus to invite or challenge to combat, to contest, to provoke or to irritate. This is the only NT use of prokaleo.
Vincent comments that proskaleo means...
calling forth, challenging, and so stirring up strife. Very common in Classical Greek writings.
Bruce writes that prokaleomai...
used of mutual challenges to combat or athletic contest; it can be extended to other areas of life, as in Philo’s story of Demosthenes who, when challenged to a slanging match, declined because, as he said, the winner would come off worse than the loser (De Agricultura [Philo] 110). The spirit which Paul here deprecates has a refined manifestation in challenge to theological debate; perhaps it was in this way that the Galatians were challenging one another. (Ibid)
Hansen surmises that...
In their concentration on keeping the law, the Galatian believers had become very competitive in their spiritual life, attempting to outdo each other. To provoke means to challenge to a contest. Some were so sure of their spiritual superiority that they wanted to prove it in a contest. (Hansen, G. W. Galatians. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press)
Matthew Poole writes...
Provoking one another is an effect of the former, disposing us, out of hope of victory, to challenge others to a contest with us. Or it may be understood of provoking others by injuries and wrongs done them; which is contrary to the duty of love. (Matthew Poole. Matthew Poole's Commentary on the New Testament)
One another (240) (allelon) means each other and speaks of a mutuality or sharing of sentiments between two persons or groups of persons, in this case evil or malignant sentiments! As each one challenges and envies the other, the effect is not edifying but but is like Paul described in Galatians 5:14 as "biting and devouring one another", a picture of saints who are not walking by the Spirit, but being empowered by the flesh, the end of which is they consume one another.