βέβαιος G0949
Firm, sure, secure; describing what is steadfast, reliable, and unshakable—used of promises, hope, and spiritual standing.
Bebaios conveys the quality of something that stands firm under pressure—stable, guaranteed, not liable to give way. Derived from baino ('to walk, stand'), it pictures ground solid enough to bear weight. In the New Testament, it characterizes God's promises (Romans 4:16, the promise is 'firm' for all Abraham's descendants), the believer's hope (Hebrews 3:6, 14; 6:19), and the prophetic word (2 Peter 1:19). Hebrews 2:2 calls the law spoken through angels 'firm,' meaning legally binding and enforceable. Spanish 'firme/segura' and German 'fest' both capture this sense of unshakable solidity, while French 'ferme' preserves the Latin firmness at the root of the idea.
Senses
1. firm, sure, secure — Firm, sure, secure, steadfast—describing what is reliable, stable, and guaranteed not to fail. Applied to the Abrahamic promise (Rom 4:16, made 'sure' to all descendants), the angelic law (Heb 2:2, 'firm' meaning legally binding), the believer's confession and hope (Heb 3:6, 14), the anchor of the soul (Heb 6:19), the prophetic word (2 Pet 1:19), and one's calling and election (2 Pet 1:10). The underlying image from baino ('to stand, walk') is of ground solid enough to bear weight—something you can build your life on without it shifting. 9×
AR["أثبَتَ", "ثابِتاً", "ثابِتٌ", "ثابِتَةً", "ثَابِتَةً", "ثَابِتَةٌ"]·ben["আরও-দৃঢ়", "দৃঢ়", "নিশ্চিত,", "স্থির"]·DE["fest"]·EN["firm", "more-firm", "secure", "sure"]·FR["ferme", "fest"]·heb["מְאֻשֶּׁרֶת", "נֶאֱמָן", "נֶאֱמָן-יוֹתֵר", "נֶאֱמָנָה"]·HI["और-भी-दृढ़", "दृढ़", "दृढ़;", "पक्की,"]·ID["kokoh", "lebih-pasti", "pasti", "pasti,", "teguh"]·IT["fermo", "stabile"]·jav["kukuh", "langkung-tetep", "sah", "tetep", "tetep,"]·KO["견고하게", "견고한", "더-확실한", "유효하니", "확고한", "확실한"]·PT["firme", "mais-firme"]·RU["более-твёрдое", "твёрдая", "твёрдо", "твёрдой", "твёрдую", "твёрдым"]·ES["firme", "más-segura", "segura"]·SW["imara", "imara-zaidi", "limekuwa-imara", "thabiti"]·TR["daha-sağlam", "geçerli", "sağlam"]·urd["زیادہ-مضبوط", "مضبوط", "پختہ", "پکا", "پکّی", "پکی"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
βέβαιος, ον (so always in Refs 5th c.BC+, also α, ον (see. below): (βαίνω):— firm, steady, κρύσταλλος Refs 5th c.BC+; γῆ β. terra firma, Refs 2nd c.AD+; steadfast, durable, ὁμιλία.. πιστὴ καὶ βέβαιος Refs 5th c.BC+ __b sure, certain, τέκμαρ Refs 5th c.BC+; πύλας β. παρέχειν make safe, secure, Refs 5th c.BC+; βεβαιότερος κίνδυνος a surer game, Refs: superlative -ότατοςRefs; βέβαιόν ἐστί τινι ὅτι..…