Lexical Definition

‎προέχομαι‎ proéchomai (pro-ekh-om-ahee) to excel ^G:V
middle voice from ‎πρό‎ and ‎ἔχω‎

be better.

• to hold oneself before others, i.e. (figuratively) to excel

Abbott-Smith

προ-έχω, [in LXX: Jb 27:6 A (חזק hi.)*;]
1. Trans., to hold before; mid., to hold something before oneself (Hdt.), hence, metaph., to excuse oneself: Ro 3:9, R, mg. (but v. Field, Notes, 152 f.; Lft., Notes, 266 f.; ICC and Vau., in l.).
2. Intrans.
(a) to project;
(b) in running, to have the start, hence, metaph., to excel: pass., Ro 3:9, R, txt. (v. reff. supr.).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

προέχω,

contraction προὔχω, as always in [Refs 8th c.BC+]future προέξω: aorist προέσχον, middle προεσχόμην, προὐσχόμην, compare προΐσχω:— hold before, τὴν ἀσπίδα τῆς κωλῆς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially so as to protect another, τὼ χεῖρε π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, hold before oneself, προὔχοντο ἑκάστοθι ἐννέα ταύρους [Refs 8th c.BC+]; hold out before one, πρὸ δούρατ᾽ ἔχοντο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; προὐσχόμην σε held you out as a child (to do your needs), [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 metaphorically in middle, put forward as a pretext, τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοιο [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὅπερ μάλιστα προὔχονται εἰ καθαιρεθείη, μὴ ἂν γίγνεσθαι τὸν πόλεμον the cancellation of which is the chief consideration in return for which they pretend that war would not occur, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2.b hold forth, offer, ἃ προείχοντο αὐτοῖς [Refs]
__II to be possessed or informed of a thing beforehand, π. τῶν Ἀθηναίων οὐ φιλίας γνώμας [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 have before, ἃ προεῖχεν μισθῷ ὁ.. Πτολεμαῖος had hitherto on lease, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; εἰς τοῦτο ὑπολόγησον ὃ προέχουσι what they have already received, [προέχων">Refs 3rd c.BC+] the first recipient, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B intransitive, jut out, project, in [Refs 8th c.BC+] in a local sense, of headlands, towers, hills, ὅθ᾽ ἀκρότατος πρόεχ᾽ ἀκτή [Refs 8th c.BC+]: generally, project, with genitive, προέχουσα κάρης εὐρεῖα καλύπτρη [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__B.II in running, to be the first, have the start, [Refs 8th c.BC+] keep ahead of them by a day's march, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; προέχων τῶν ἄλλων [ὁ ἵππος] getting before the rest, [Refs]; τῇ κεφαλῇ π. beat by a head, in racing, [Refs 5th c.BC+] started first by.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]: metaphorically, have the advantage of, τινὸς τῷ διπλασίῳ [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.2 of rank, with genitive, δήμου προὔχουσιν they are the first or chief of the people, [Refs]; τοῦ Δωρικοῦ, τοῦ Ἰωνικοῦ [γένεος], [Refs 5th c.BC+]: absolutely, to be superior, [Refs 5th c.BC+]to all that is eminent, [Refs]; οἱ προὔχοντες the chief men, [Refs]; οἱ π. [βίοι] the principal kinds of lives, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B.II.3 surpass, excel, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. δυνάμει, πλήθει καὶ ἐμπειρίᾳ, [Refs 5th c.BC+] to be preferred to him in honour, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.3.b rarely with accusative person, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be excelled, οὐθὲν π. ὑπὸ τοῦ Διός [Refs 1st c.AD+]; to be in worse case, [NT]
__B.III impersonal, οὔ τι προέχει it is of no advantage, with infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Rom.3.9}