βεβαι-όω G0950
To confirm, establish, or make firm; to validate a promise, secure a standing, or ratify what has been declared.
A verb meaning to make something firm, sure, or valid. In its active uses, it describes God or Christ confirming a word or promise — as in Mark 16:20, where the Lord confirms the disciples' preaching with accompanying signs, and Romans 15:8, where Christ confirms the promises to the patriarchs. In passive constructions, the subject is the one being established or made steadfast, as in Colossians 2:7, where believers are 'rooted and built up in him, established in faith.' The verb carries the image of something wavering being set on solid ground.
Senses
1. confirm, establish (active) — To confirm, establish, or validate in an active sense — the agent makes a word, promise, or person's standing firm. In Mark 16:20 the Lord confirms the preached word through signs; in Romans 15:8 Christ confirms the promises given to the fathers. Spanish 'confirmar/confirmará' and French 'affermir' both highlight the decisive, ratifying action involved. See also 1 Corinthians 1:8 and 2 Corinthians 1:21. 4×
AR["أَنْ-يُثَبِّتَ", "المُثَبِّتُ", "سَيُثَبِّتُ", "مُثَبِّتٍ"]·ben["দৃঢ়-করবেন", "দৃঢ়-করেন", "নিশ্চিত-করছিলেন", "নিশ্চিত-করতে"]·DE["bestaetigen"]·EN["confirming", "to-confirm", "will-confirm"]·FR["affermir", "confirmer"]·heb["יְחַזֵּק", "לְאַשֵּׁר", "מְאַשֵׁר", "מְחַזֵּק"]·HI["जो-दृढ़-करता-है", "दृढ़-करते-हुए", "दृढ़-करेगा", "पुष्टि-करने-के-लिए"]·ID["akan-meneguhkan", "meneguhkan"]·IT["bebaiountos", "confermare"]·jav["badhé-netepaken", "ingkang-neguhaken", "netepaken", "sami-ngiyataken"]·KO["굳게-하실-것이다", "굳게하시는-분", "확증하다", "확증하시며"]·PT["confirmar", "confirmará", "que-confirma"]·RU["-обетований", "подтверждающего", "утвердит", "утверждающий"]·ES["confirmando", "confirmar", "confirmará", "que-confirma"]·SW["akilithibitisha", "anayetuthibitisha", "atawathibitisha", "kuthibitisha"]·TR["ama-", "doğrulamak", "doğrulayarak", "pekiştirecek"]·urd["تصدیق-کرتے-ہوئے", "قائم-کرے-گا", "مضبوط-کرتا-ہے", "پکا-کرنے"]
2. be confirmed, be established (passive) — To be confirmed, established, or made steadfast in a passive or middle sense — the subject receives or experiences the confirming action. In Colossians 2:7 believers are described as being established in the faith, and in Hebrews 2:3 the salvation first spoken by the Lord 'was confirmed' to the audience by those who heard him. Spanish 'fue confirmada/fue confirmado' reflects the passive reception clearly. Hebrews 13:9 warns against hearts carried away by strange teachings rather than being established by grace. 4×
AR["تَثَبَّتَ", "تَثَبَّتَتْ", "مُتَثَبِّتينَ", "يُثَبَّتَ"]·ben["দৃঢ়-হয়ে", "দৃঢ়-হয়েছিল", "নিশ্চিত-হল", "স্থির-করা-হতে"]·DE["bestaetigen"]·EN["being-established", "to-be-established", "was-confirmed"]·FR["affermir", "confirmer"]·heb["אֻשְּׁרָה", "אֻשְׁרָה", "לְהִתְחַזֵּק", "מְחֻזָּקִים"]·HI["दृढ़-किया-जाना", "दृढ़-की-गई", "पुष्टि-की-गई", "स्थिर-किये-जअते-हुए"]·ID["dikuatkan", "diteguhkan"]·IT["bebaioumenoi", "bebaiousthai", "confermare", "ebebaiōthē"]·jav["dipunkiyataken", "kasantosaken", "katetepaken"]·KO["굳건해지면서", "굳게-하는-것이", "확증되었다", "확증되었으니"]·PT["confirmados", "foi-confirmada", "foi-confirmado", "ser-confirmado"]·RU["утвердилось", "утверждаемые", "утверждаться"]·ES["fue-confirmada", "fue-confirmado", "ser-confirmado", "siendo-confirmados"]·SW["kuthbitishwa", "mkiimarishwa", "ulithibitishwa", "ulivyothibitishwa"]·TR["doğrulandı", "içinde-", "pekistirilmis", "pekiştirilmek"]·urd["قائم-کی-گئی", "مضبوط-ہوتے-ہوئے", "مضبوط-ہونا", "پختہ-کی"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
βεβαι-όω, confirm, establish, make good, τοῖς δικασταῖς τὴν δόξαν Refs 5th c.BC+; ἔργῳ βεβαιούμενα, opposed to ἀκοῇ λεγόμενα, Refs 5th c.BC+; β. λόγον make good one's word, Refs 5th c.BC+; treat as valid, τὰς αὑτῶν αἰσθήσεις Refs 4th c.BC+; β. τινί τι secure one the possession of a thing, οὐδ᾽ ἡμῖν αὐτοῖς βεβαιοῦμεν [τὴν ἐλευθερίαν] NT+5th c.BC+:—middle, establish for oneself, secure, σφᾶς αὐτούς…