4339. prosélutos
Lexical Summary
prosélutos: Proselyte, convert

Original Word: προσήλυτος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: prosélutos
Pronunciation: pro-SAY-loo-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (pros-ay'-loo-tos)
KJV: proselyte
NASB: proselyte, proselytes
Word Origin: [from the alternate of G4334 (προσέρχομαι - came)]

1. an arriver from a foreign region
2. (specially), a convert to Judaism ("proselyte")

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
proselyte.

From the alternate of proserchomai; an arriver from a foreign region, i.e. (specially), an acceder (convert) to Judaism ("proselyte") -- proselyte.

see GREEK proserchomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from proserchomai
Definition
one who has arrived (at Judaism), a proselyte
NASB Translation
proselyte (2), proselytes (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4339: προσήλυτος

προσήλυτος, προσηλύτου, (from προσέρχομαι, perfect προσελήλυθα, cf. Buttmann, 74 (64); (Winer's Grammar, 24, 26, 97 (92)));

1. a newcomer (Latinadvena; cf. πρός, IV. 1); a stranger, alien (Schol. ad Apoll. Rhod. 1, 834; the Sept. often for גֵּר (cf. Philo de monarch. 1, 7 at the beginning)).

2. a proselyte, i. e. one who has come over from a Gentile religion to Judaism (Luther, Judengenosse): Matthew 23:15; Acts 2:11 (); . The rabbis distinguish two classes of proselytes, viz. הַצֶּדֶק גֵּרֵי proselytes of righteousness, who received circumcision and bound themselves to keep the whole Mosaic law and to comply with all the requirements of Judaism, and הַשַּׁעַר גֵּרֵי, proselytes of the gate (a name derived apparently from Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:14; (); (), ()), who dwelt among the Jews, and although uncircumcised observed certain specified laws, especially the seven precepts of Noah (as the rabbis called them), i. e. against the seven chief sins, idolatry, blasphemy against God, homicide, unchastity, theft or plundering, rebellion against rulers, and the use of flesh with the blood thereof. (Many hold that this distinction of proselytes into classes is purely theoretical, and was of no practical moment in Christ's day; cf. Lardner, Works, 11:306-324; cf. vi. 522-533; Schürer in Riehm as below.) Cf. Leyrer in Herzog xii., p. 237ff (rewritten in edition 2 by Delitzsch (xii. 293ff)); Steiner in Schenkel iv., 629f; (BB. DD.); Schürer, Neutest. Zeitgesch., p. 644 ((whose views are somewhat modified, especially as respects classes of proselytes, in his 2te Aufl. § 31 V., p. 567, and his article 'Proselyten' in Riehm, p. 1240f)) and the books he refers to.

Topical Lexicon
Historical Background of Proselytes

Gentiles who embraced the God of Israel through circumcision, submission to the Mosaic Law, and participation in temple and synagogue life were known as proselytes. Their numbers grew throughout the Diaspora, placing them side by side with native Jews in devotion, prayer, and anticipation of Messiah.

Distinction from “God-Fearers”

Jewish sources spoke of “God-fearers” who admired Israel’s faith yet stopped short of full conversion. By contrast, the New Testament’s use of 4339 concerns full proselytes—men and women wholly identified with Israel’s covenant community.

New Testament Occurrences

Matthew 23:15 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” Jesus exposes zeal void of inward change.

Acts 2:11 – At Pentecost “both Jews and proselytes” hear the apostles declaring “the wonders of God” in their own tongues, prefiguring the gospel’s worldwide scope.

Acts 6:5 – Among the Seven is “Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,” whose appointment testifies to early Christian inclusion of former Gentiles in recognized leadership.

Acts 13:43 – After synagogue teaching in Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas persuade “many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism to continue in the grace of God,” revealing a key bridge population for Gentile mission.

Theological Significance

1. Fulfillment of Promise

Proselytes validate Isaiah’s vision of nations flowing to Zion (Isaiah 2:2-3). Their presence before and after Pentecost shows God already drawing the Gentiles.

2. Transition from Law to Grace

A proselyte like Nicolas, once welcomed through circumcision, now serves Christ apart from the law’s ceremonial boundary, illustrating the shift confirmed at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).

3. Warning against Hollow Evangelism

Matthew 23:15 stands as a perpetual caution: external zeal without heart transformation breeds deeper bondage.

Impact on Apostolic Mission

• Synagogues containing Jews and proselytes provided ready audiences acquainted with Scripture and monotheism.
• Proselytes often became firstfruits of Gentile conversion, carrying the gospel along established trade and cultural routes.
• Their backgrounds enabled them to mediate between Jewish believers and uncircumcised Gentiles, easing tensions in the fledgling church.

Practical Lessons for Today

• Evangelize with authenticity, aiming for heart renewal rather than mere conformity.
• Disciple new believers into grace-centered identity, not ritual performance.
• Embrace cultural diversity in leadership, following the precedent set in Acts 6:5.

Continuing Relevance

The narrative of the proselyte underscores God’s enduring intention to gather peoples from every nation. Modern outreach engages hearts already stirred—today’s seekers resemble yesterday’s proselytes—inviting them to find full covenant inclusion through faith in Jesus Christ, “for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek” (Romans 10:12).

Forms and Transliterations
προσέθλιψεν προσηλυτοι προσήλυτοι προσηλύτοις προσηλυτον προσήλυτον προσήλυτος προσηλύτου προσηλύτους προσηλύτω προσηλυτων προσηλύτων προσηνές πρόσθεμα πρόσθεσις προσκατέστησαν proselutoi prosēlutoi proseluton prosēluton prosēlutōn proselytoi prosēlytoi prosḗlytoi proselyton proselýton prosēlyton prosēlytōn prosēlýtōn prosḗlyton
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 23:15 N-AMS
GRK: ποιῆσαι ἕνα προσήλυτον καὶ ὅταν
NAS: one proselyte; and when
KJV: to make one proselyte, and when
INT: to make one convert and when

Acts 2:11 N-NMP
GRK: τε καὶ προσήλυτοι Κρῆτες καὶ
INT: both and converts Cretans and

Acts 6:5 N-AMS
GRK: καὶ Νικόλαον προσήλυτον Ἀντιοχέα
NAS: and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
KJV: and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
INT: and Nicolas a convert of Antioch

Acts 13:43 N-GMP
GRK: τῶν σεβομένων προσηλύτων τῷ Παύλῳ
NAS: and of the God-fearing proselytes followed
KJV: and religious proselytes followed Paul
INT: of the worshipping converts Paul

Strong's Greek 4339
4 Occurrences


προσηλύτων — 1 Occ.
προσήλυτοι — 1 Occ.
προσήλυτον — 2 Occ.

4338
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