Quick Definition
προϋπάρχω v. I have been already
Strong's Definition
from 4253 and 5225; to exist before, i.e. (adverbially) to be or do something previously
KJV Usage: + be before(-time)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
προ-ὑπ-άρχω: impf. mpoimnpxov; fr. Thue. and Plato down; to be before, exist previously: with a ptep. Acts viii. 9; προῦπῆρχον ὄντες, Lk. xxiii. 12; ef. Bornemann, Schol. ad h. ].; W. 350 (328); [B. § 144, 14].
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
προϋπάρχω prouparchō 2x
to be before, or formerly, Lk. 23:12; Acts 8:9*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** προ-ϋπ-άρχω,
[in LXX: Jb 42:18*;]
to be beforehand in.
to be before or previously: c. ptcp., Lk 23:12, Ac 8:9.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
προὐπάρχω, κε ΠῚ. before or previously.’’ Like προτρέπω, this Lucan word (Lk 23!%, Ac 89) is found in vernacular sources. Thus in a description of the repair of certain canal dykes, P Lille I. 1 versot (B.C. 259-8), reference is made to the already existing dykes—t@v δὲ προύπαρχόντων χωμάτων ἐν τοῖς διαπλευρισμοῖς τούτοις : cf. P Tebt I. 9% (B.c. 119) κατασταθεὶς πρὸς [τ]ῆι. προὐπαρχούση[ι] μοι κωμογραμματείας
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
προϋπάρχω (prouparchō) — be formerly. προϋπ-άρχω, take the initiative in a thing, with genitive, ἀδικίας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τῶν εὐεργεσιῶν, τῆς ἔχθρας, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with neuter adjective, π. τι ἔς τινα [Refs 2nd c.AD+] —passive, τὰ προϋπηργμένα εἰς αὑτόν benefits formerly received, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. intransitive, exist before, be pre-existent, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ νόμοι οἱ προϋπάρχοντες [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἡ τῶν σωμάτων αὔξησις ἐκ προϋπαρχόντων ἐστίν from pre-existent materials, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; προϋπάρξαντα things that happened before, past events, variant for{πρὶν ὑπ}. in [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὰ προϋπάρχοντα former possessions, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; οἱ π. ὕπατοι the previous consuls, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]perfect passive, τὰ προϋπηργμένα antecedents, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; οἰκειότης, χάρις προϋπηργμένη, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
II.2. with genitive, προϋπάρχειν δεῖ τὸ κινοῦν τοῦ κινουμένου must exist before.. , [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to be logically prior, μέθοδος πασῶν προϋπάρχουσα καὶ κυριωτέρα [Refs 2nd c.AD+]