Original Word: προκόπτω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: prokoptó
Pronunciation: pro-KOP-to
Phonetic Spelling: (prok-op'-to)
KJV: increase, proceed, profit, be far spent, wax
NASB: advancing, almost gone, increasing, lead, make progress, proceed
Word Origin: [from G4253 (πρό - before) and G2875 (κόπτω - mourn)]

1. to drive forward (as if by beating)
2. (figuratively and intransitively) to advance
3. (in amount) to grow
4. (in time) to be well along

proceed, profit, advance

From pro and kopto; to drive forward (as if by beating), i.e. (figuratively and intransitively) to advance (in amount, to grow; in time, to be well along) -- increase, proceed, profit, be far spent, wax.

see GREEK pro

see GREEK kopto

Cognate: 4298 prokóptō – properly, to cut (beat) to go forward; to advance (proceed). See 4297 (prokopē).

Word Origin
from pro and koptó
Definition
to cut forward (a way), advance
NASB Translation
advancing (1), almost gone (1), increasing (1), lead (1), make...progress (1), proceed (1).

STRONGS NT 4298: προκόπτω

προκόπτω: imperfect προέκοπτον; future προκοψω; 1 aorist προεκοψα; to beat forward;

1. to lengthen out by hammering (as a smith forges metals); metaphorically, to promote, forward, further; Herodotus, Euripides, Thucydides, Xenophon, others.

2. from Polybius on intransitively (cf. Buttmann, 145 (127); Winers Grammar, 251 (236)), to go forward, advance, proceed; of time: ἡ νύξ προέκοψεν, the night is advanced (A. V. is far spent) (day is at hand), Romans 13:12 (Josephus, b. j. 4, 4, 6; (προκοπτουσης τῆς ὥρας) Chariton 2, 3, 3 (p. 38, 1 edition Reiske; τά τῆς νυκτός, ibid. 2, 3, 4); ἡ ἡμέρα προκοπτει, Justin Martyr, dialog contra Trypho, p. 277 d.; Latinprocedere is used in the same way, Livy 28, 15; Sallust, Jug. 21, 52, 109). metaphorically, to increase, make progress: with a dative of the thing in which one grows, Luke 2:52 (not Tdf.) (Diodorus 11 87); ἐν with a dative of the thing, ibid. Tdf.; Galatians 1:14 (Diod (excerpt. de virt. et vitiis), p. 554, 69; Antoninus 1, 17); ἐπί πλεῖον, further, 2 Timothy 3:9 (Diodorus 14, 98); ἐπί πλεῖον ἀσεβείας, 2 Timothy 2:16; ἐπί τό χεῖρον, will grow worse, i. e. will make progress in wickedness, 2 Timothy 3:13 (τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων πάθη προυκοπτε καθ' ἡμέραν ἐπί τό χεῖρον, Josephus, b. j. 6, 1, 1).

Semantic Range and Narrative Nuance

The verb depicts forward motion or advancement and can describe either praiseworthy growth or the ominous progress of evil. Its usage embraces physical development, intellectual or religious advancement, and the onward march of moral darkness. Context alone determines whether the advance is beneficial or destructive.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Luke 2:52 – The Spirit-led maturation of Jesus Christ: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
2. Romans 13:12 – The waning of night and approach of day: “The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
3. Galatians 1:14 – Paul’s pre-conversion zeal in Judaism: “I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries, and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.”
4. 2 Timothy 2:16 – Empty talk driving believers toward deeper ungodliness: “But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness.”
5. 2 Timothy 3:9 – False teachers checked by providence: “But they will not advance much further, for just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be evident to everyone.”
6. 2 Timothy 3:13 – The downward spiral of impostors: “While evil men and impostors go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Theological Themes

Progress in God’s economy is not morally neutral. Scripture presents two trajectories:

• Righteous Advancement. Jesus’ growth (Luke 2:52) models balanced development—mental, physical, social, and spiritual—under God’s favor. Romans 13:12 urges believers to participate in a cosmic dawn, casting off sinful habits as daybreak approaches.

• Perilous Advancement. Paul’s self-portrait in Galatians 1:14 shows that religious fervor, severed from gospel truth, can race ahead destructively. Likewise, doctrinal error in Ephesus (2 Timothy) spreads with viral momentum, illustrating that evil also “progresses.” Nevertheless, God limits such advance (2 Timothy 3:9), ensuring the ultimate triumph of truth.

Historical Insights

Luke’s summary of Jesus’ upbringing reflects first-century Jewish expectations of maturation yet underscores that His progress harmonized perfectly with divine purpose. In Romans, the image of advancing time would resonate with believers living under the shadow of imperial Rome; every passing hour brought them nearer to final salvation. Paul’s confession in Galatians highlights the competitive academic milieu of Jerusalem’s rabbinic schools. By the Pastoral Epistles, the Church confronted sophisticated heresies; Paul employs the same verb ironically—false teachers seem to “get ahead,” but only toward ruin.

Pastoral and Ministry Application

1. Holistic Discipleship: Ministries should cultivate intellectual, physical, and relational growth, never divorcing any aspect from spiritual integrity, following Luke 2:52.

2. Eschatological Motivation: As the “night” recedes, churches are called to decisive ethical change, laboring under the dawning light of Christ’s return (Romans 13:12).

3. Guarding the Pulpit: Advancement in learning or influence must remain tethered to apostolic doctrine, lest it mirror Paul’s pre-conversion trajectory (Galatians 1:14).

4. Contending with Error: Leaders must recognize that falsehood is dynamic. Silence permits its advance; corrective teaching and church discipline arrest its spread (2 Timothy 2:16; 2 Timothy 3:9).

5. Perseverance amid Apostasy: The worsening state of deceivers (2 Timothy 3:13) should sober believers yet reassure them that Scripture foretold and circumscribed such decline.

Intertextual Connections

• Contrast with Philippians 1:25, where Paul speaks of believers’ “progress and joy in the faith,” showing the positive side by a cognate noun.
• Parallel in Proverbs 4:18, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,” illuminating Romans 13:12’s imagery.

Conclusion

Biblical advancement is ambidirectional. Either it marks the maturing grace of God’s people and the unfolding of redemptive history, or it signals the creeping corruption of deceit. The Church is therefore summoned to foster godly progress, resist counterfeit momentum, and rest in the assurance that, under God’s sovereignty, the advance of evil is temporary and ultimately self-defeating.

προέκοπτε προεκοπτεν προέκοπτεν προεκοπτον προέκοπτον προεκοψεν προέκοψεν προκοψουσιν προκόψουσιν proekopsen proékopsen proekopten proékopten proekopton proékopton prokopsousin prokópsousinInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts