πράσσω

I do, fare, require

Definition

The Greek verb πράσσω (prassō) primarily means 'to do' or 'to practice,' often implying repeated or habitual action. It can describe performing deeds, whether good or evil, as seen in John 3:20 where it refers to those who 'practice evil' (τὰ φαῦλα πράσσοντες). In a financial or legal context, it means 'to exact' or 'to collect' what is due, such as in Luke 3:13 where tax collectors are told to 'collect no more' (μηδὲν πλέον πράσσετε). Additionally, it can mean 'to fare' or 'to be in a certain condition,' as in Acts 15:29 where believers are told they will 'do well' (πράσσετε) by avoiding certain practices.

Biblical Usage

πράσσω appears 36 times in the New Testament, with notable usage in Luke-Acts and John. In Luke's Gospel, it often carries a financial sense (Luke 3:13, 19:23). In John and Acts, it frequently describes ethical or moral actions, particularly habitual deeds (John 3:20, 5:29; Acts 26:9, 26:26). Paul uses it in Romans (e.g., Romans 1:32, 2:1-3) to discuss those who practice sin and are judged accordingly. The word consistently implies ongoing activity rather than a single act.

Etymology

Derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *per- ('to bring forward, carry out'), πράσσω is related to πρᾶγμα (pragma, 'deed, matter') and πρᾶξις (praxis, 'action, practice'). It is a common verb in classical Greek for doing, achieving, or conducting business. Its meaning developed from a general sense of 'accomplish' to include specialized uses like exacting money and describing one's condition.

Semantic Range

πράσσω is theologically significant as it often describes the habitual practice of sin or righteousness, highlighting the ongoing nature of human moral conduct and its consequences before God. In passages like Romans 1:32 and 2:1-3, it underscores the principle of divine judgment based on persistent actions, not isolated incidents. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by emphasizing that biblical ethics concern sustained patterns of life, connecting deed to identity and destiny, as in the contrast between 'those who have done good' and 'those who have done evil' in John 5:29.

In the Greco-Roman world, πράσσω was a common term in commercial and legal contexts, reflecting a society where transactions and obligations were central. The financial usage in the New Testament (e.g., collecting taxes) taps into this everyday understanding. Its use for moral actions aligns with Greek philosophical discussions about ethics as a matter of consistent practice (praxis), differing from a modern tendency to view deeds as isolated events.

ποιέω (poieō, G4160) — a more general term for 'to do' or 'to make,' often for single acts; ἐργάζομαι (ergazomai, G2038) — emphasizes working or laboring, often with a focus on effort or toil; ἀγαθοποιέω (agathopoieō, G15) — specifically 'to do good,' with a moral quality.

Word Details

Scripture References