Quick Definition
I provide for
Strong's Definition
to consider in advance, i.e. look out for beforehand (actively, by way of maintenance for others; middle voice by way of circumspection for oneself)
Derivation: from G4253 (πρό) and G3539 (νοιέω);
KJV Usage: provide (for)
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
προνοέω, προνόω; present middle προνωυμαι; from Homer down;
1. to perceive before, foresee.
2. to provide, think of beforehand: τίνος (see Matthiae, § 348, vol. ii., p. 821 (but cf. § 379, p. 862); Kühner, § 419, 1 b. ii., p. 325; (Jelf, § 496); Winers Grammar, § 30, 10 c.), to provide for one, 1Ti_5:8 (where T Tr text WH marginal reading προνοειται); περί τίνος, Wis_6:8. Middle with an accusative of the thing, equivalent to to take thought for, care for a thing: Rom_12:17; 2Co_8:21 (where L T Tr WH have adopted προνωυμεν).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
προνοέω pronoeō 3x
to perceive beforehand, foresee; to provide for, 1Ti_5:8 ;
mid. to provide for one s self; by impl. to apply one s self to a thing, practice, strive to exhibit, Rom_12:17 ; 2Co_8:21
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
προ -μοέω , -ῶ ,
and depon . -έομαι , οῦμαι ,
[in LXX : Da LXX Dan_11:37 ( H995 ), Wis_6:7 , al. ;]
1. to foresee.
2. to provide ( RV , take thought for ): c . acc rei , καλά , Rom_12:17 (-ούμενοι ), 2Co_8:21 (-οῦμεν ).
3. to provide for ( seq . περί , Wis, l.c .): c . gen . pers ., 1Ti_5:8 (-εῖ , WH , mg ., -εῖται ).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
προνοέω [page 543]
take thought for, provide for : (1) act. P Ryl II. 77 .51 (A.D. 192) ἐπιστέλλεταί σοι ὅπως ἀκόλουθα τοῖς ἐπὶ σοῦ γενομένοις προνοήσαι (= ῃ ) πρᾶξαι , notice is given you in order that you may arrange to carry out the consequences of the proceedings before you (Edd.), P Fay 130 .7 (iii/A.D.) προνοῶ τοῦ χ [α ]λκοῦ πά [ντη πάν ]τως , I am by all means looking after the copper, and c. acc., as in 2Co_8:21 , P Lond 144 .10 (ii/iii A.D.) (= II. p. 253, Berichtigungen , p. 266) παρακαλῶ προνοῆσαι ὀνάρ [ιον ], ἵνα κτλ . : (2) mid. PSI V. 542 .15 (iii/B.C.) σοι καθήκει ὑπὲρ τῶν τοιούτων προνοιεῖσθαι , P Tebt I. 40 .12 (B.C. 117) (= Selections , p. 28) διὰ τὸ μάλιστα ἐπιβάλλειν προνοεῖσθαι τῶν βασιλικῶν , because it chiefly falls to you to look after the interests of the Crown, P Lond 1170 verso .267 (A.D. 258 259) (= III. p. 199) παρὰ Ἡρ [ω ]νείνου προνο [ο ]υμένου τῶν περὶ Θεαδελφίαν , P Oxy XII. 1491 .14 (early iv/A.D.) ἵνα προνοήσωμαι ἀργυρίου , in order that I may provide for the money, OGIS 495 .20 ἀνθ᾽ ὧν τῶν δημοσίων ἔργων μετὰ ἐπιμελείας προενοήσατο : (3) pass. P Par 63 .12 (B.C. 164) (= P Petr III. p. 18) τὴν πᾶσαν προσενεγκάμενος ἐκτένε̣ι̣αν καὶ π [ρο ]νοηθείς , using every effort and taking every precaution (Mahaffy), BGU IV. 1024 vii. 5 K (end iv/A.D.)
The verb is used in a weakened sense in P Oxy I. 63 .5 (ii/iii A.D.) προνόησον οὖν (σὺν Archiv i. p. 128) πάσῃ σπουδῇ ἐνβαλέσθαι αὐτοῦ τὸν γόμον , please to see that his freight is embarked with all despatch (Edd.).
For προνοητής , provider, cf. P Grenf II. 67 .1 (A.D. 237) (= Selections , p. 108) Θεῶνι πρω (= ο )νοη (τῇ ) αὐλ (ητρίδων ), to Theon provider of flute-girls. It is common in the sense of steward, manager, e.g. P Ryl II. 169 .2 (application for a lease A.D. 196 7) διὰ Ἰσιδώρου προνοητοῦ , P Lond 214 .3 (A.D. 270 275) (= II. p. 161) προν [ο ]ητὴς οὐσίας .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
προνοέω fut. ήσω "to perceive before, foresee", Il. , Thuc. , Arist. ; προνοῶν ὅτι . . "foreseeing" that . . , Xen. "to think of or plan beforehand, provide", Od. :—absol. "to be provident, take measures of precaution", Eur. , Thuc. : —πρ. ὅτι . . , "to provide, take care" that . . , Thuc. ; ὅπως . . , Xen. , etc. c. gen. "to provide for, take thought for", id=Xen. in same sense, Dep. προνοοῦμαι fut. ήσομαι aor1 mid. προὐνοησάμην and pass. προὐνοήθην perf. προνενόημαι Act. "to provide", Thuc. , etc.:—c. inf. "to take care to do", Eur. c. gen. "to provide for", Thuc. , etc.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
προ-μοέω, -ῶ and depon. -έομαι, οῦμαι,
[in LXX: Dan LXX 11:37 (בִּין), Wis.6:7, al. ;]
__1. to foresee.
__2. to provide (RV, take thought for): with accusative of thing(s), καλά, Rom.12:17 (-ούμενοι), 2Co.8:21 (-οῦμεν).
__3. to provide for (before περί, Wis, l.with): with genitive of person(s), 1Ti.5:8 (-εῖ, WH, mg., -εῖται).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Provide for (4306) pronoeo
Respect (4306) (pronoeo from pró = before + noieo = think, comprehend, observe, notice) means literally to think before, to observe in advance, to notice beforehand, to plan before, to plan carefully, to perceive in advance, to foresee and so to have regard for. Most of uses in secular Greek convey the idea of to care, to see to it that, make provision for, attend to. The the temporal meaning of observing in advance is rare.
The idea is to think about something ahead of time, giving it careful thought and consideration, with the implication that one can then respond appropriately. As used by Paul in the first epistle to Timothy (see below) pronoeo conveys the sense of thinking about another beforehand in a solicitous (showing consideration, full of concern, attentive) manner and so to care for or look after, with the implication of continuous responsibility. In first Timothy pronoeo describes the forethought necessary to provide care for the widows in one’s family. Christians are to continually (present tense) be thinking beforehand how they can respond appropriately to another's needs. Pronoeo describes an attitude that motivates one to do the right thing.
The KJV translates this verse "provide (pronoeo) things honest" which Vincent explains as follows...
The Authorized Version uses provide in its earlier and more literal meaning of taking thought in advance. This has been mostly merged in the later meaning of furnish, so that the translation conveys the sense of providing honestly for ourselves and our families. Better, as Revised, take thought for. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament Vol. 3, Page 1-161)
In writing to the Corinthians Paul says...
"we have regard for (pronoeo) what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." (2Cor 8:21)
Writing to Timothy Paul says...
"But if anyone does not provide for (pronoeo) his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." (1Ti 5:8)
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