Quick Definition
προστάσσω v. I instruct, command, appoint
Strong's Definition
to arrange towards, i.e. (figuratively) enjoin
Derivation: from G4314 (πρός) and G5021 (τάσσω);
KJV Usage: bid, command
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | aor. προσέταξα · pf.pass. προστέταγμαι | τάσσω
33.325 · Communication · Command, Order
to order, to instruct, to tell, to command to give detailed instructions as to what must be done
MAT 1:24 · MAT 8:4 · MRK 1:44 · LUK 5:14 · ACT 10:33 · ACT 10:48
62.9 · Arrange, Organize · Organize [of events and states]
to prescribe, to arrange for to arrange in a prescribed manner In some languages it may be important to recast to some extent the rendering of the second part of ACT 17:26 so as to combine both place and time, for example, ‘he set limits to the time and determined the places they would dwell.’
1 The meanings of τάσσω[c], συντάσσω, προστάσσω[a], ἐπιτάσσω, and διατάσσω[a] no doubt differ somewhat, particularly in connotation, but it is not possible to determine this from existing contexts.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
προσ-τάσσω: 1 aor. προσέταξα; pf. pass. ptep. προστεtaypevos ; fr. [Aeschyl. and] Hdt. down ; 1. to assign or ascribe to, join to. 2. to enjoin, order, prescribe, command : Sept. for ΤῊΝ ; absol. καθὼς προσέταξε, Lk. v. 14; with the dat. of a pers., Mt.i. 24; xxi.6 RG Τ ri, Mt. viii. 4; Mk.i. 44; τινί τι, pass. Acts x. 33; foll. by an ace. w. inf. Acts x. 48; το appoint, to define, pass. mpooreraypevot καιροί, Acts xvii. 26 G L (ed. ster. [larger ed. πρὸς teray.}) T Tr WH, for the Ree. προτεταγμένοι. [Syn.: see κελεύω, fin.]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
προστάσσω prostassō 7x
pr. to place or station at or against; to enjoin, command, direct, Mt. 1:24; 8:4; Mk. 1:44; to assign, constitute, appoint, Acts 17:26
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
προσ-τάσσω,
[in LXX chiefly for צוה pi.;]
c. acc. pers., to place at, to attach to.
to give a command, enjoin, appoint: Lk 5:14; c. dat. pers., Mt 1:24; c. acc. rei, Mt 8:4, Mk 1:44; c. acc. et inf., Ac 10:48; pass., Ac 10:33 17:26.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
προστάσσω, “appoint,” is read in the critical text of Ac 1725: cf. P Amh II. 2950 (c. B.c. 250) βασιλέως προστάξαντος... ., and P Tebt I. 7% (B.c. 114) βασιλέων προσταξάν των μηθένα τῶν ἐπὶ τῶν κριτηρίων Kal τῶν ἄλ[λ]ων τῶν πρὸς χρείαις δέχεσθαι ἐγκλήματα. . ., ‘‘the sovereigns decree that neither anyone who exercises judicial functions nor any of the other officials shall receive complaints . . .,” where the editors note that the formula βασιλέων προσταξάντων “appears to be used in cases where the following decree is not quoted in its exact words, whether because it was extracted from a series or because the construction is altered to oratio obligua.” See also P Reinach 18?! (B.c. 108) παρὰ Ta... προστεταγμένα. The verb is common in the inscrr., e.g. Sy/Z 365 (= *798)!® (a.p. 37) ὁ δὲ δῆμος - προσέταξε τοῖς ἄρχουσι ψήφισμα ὑπαντήσεως εἰσηγήσασθαι αὐτοῖς, and 1206. 523 (-- 3 ς78)}8. (ii/B.c.) μὴ ποιήσας τι τῶν προστεταγμένων ἐν τῶι νόμωι τῶιδε. For the subst. πρόσταγμα cf. P Cairo Zen 5903419 (B.c. 257) καλῶς οὖν ἔχει, ᾿Απολλώνιε, ἐπακολουθῆσαί σε τοῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ προστάγμασιν, and for προσταγή cf. Diog. Oenoand. Ρ. 18? (ed. William).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
προστάσσω (prostassō) — to order. προστάσσω, Attic dialect προστάττω ; Doric dialect ποτιτάσσω [Refs] also ποιτάσσω [Refs]: perfect προστέταχα [LXX]:—passive, [Refs] aorist προσετάχθην (see. below), also [Refs] aorist προσετάγην[LXX]
I. with accusative person,
I.1. place or post at a place, χωρεῖτε οἷ προστάσσομεν (i.e. ὑμᾶς) [Refs 5th c.BC+]: —passive, προσταχθέντα.. πύλαις [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.2. attach to, πρὸς τοῖσι ἔθνεσι τοὺς πλησιοχώρους π. attaching to certain tribes their next neighbours, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινάς τινι assign them to his command, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, Ἰνδοὶ προσετετάχατο.. Φαρναζάθρῃ [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.3. reversely, ἐπὶ μὲν τῇ [μοίρῃ] ἑωυτὸν π. appointed himself to the one part as their head, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. ἄρχοντά τισι appoint as commander over them, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive [Refs]
II. with accusative of things, command, prescribe, enjoin, περὶ βοηθείας ἢ ἄλλο τι προστάττοντες τῆσι πόλεσι [Refs]; ἑκάστῳ ἔργον π., αὑτῷ πόνον π., [Refs 5th c.BC+]prescribe [Refs 4th c.BC+] —passive, τοῖσι δὲ ἵππος προσετέτακτο to others orders had been given to supply cavalry, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ προσταχθέντα orders given, [Refs 5th c.BC+] the order having been given him, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. with dative person et infinitive, command, order one to do, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; the dative must be supplied in [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, impersonal, ἐκέλευε τοῖσι προσετέτακτο ταῦτα πρήσσειν διαταμεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. with accusative et infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; both usages in successive clauses, ὅσα οἱ νόμοι π. τοὺς προσήκοντας ποιεῖν, ἡμῖν π. καὶ ἀναγκάζουσι ποιεῖν [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, to be ordered to do, τέσσερες.. κῶμαι.. τοῖσι κυσὶ προσετετάχατο σιτία παρέχειν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὥσπερ προσετάχθησαν (i.e. ἐξεργάσασθαι) [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. absolutely, command, order, opposed to ὑπηρετέω, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, receive orders,[Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. Astrology texts, correlative of ἀκούω see, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]