ἐπιστηρ-ίζω G1991
to strengthen, establish firmly; to confirm or buttress (someone's faith)
A compound of epi ('upon') and sterizo ('to fix, establish'), this verb means to strengthen or confirm, and appears exclusively in Acts in the context of Paul's missionary journeys. After proclaiming the gospel, Paul and Barnabas return to newly planted churches 'strengthening the souls of the disciples' (Acts 14:22). Judas and Silas similarly 'strengthened' the believers in Antioch (15:32). The verb conveys not initial conversion but the crucial follow-up work of establishing believers firmly in their faith.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To strengthen or confirm believers in their faith, especially through return visits and encouragement. All NT occurrences cluster in Acts: Paul and Barnabas strengthening disciples' souls (14:22), Judas and Silas confirming the Antioch church (15:32), Paul strengthening congregations through Syria and Cilicia (15:41), and his systematic tour through Galatia and Phrygia 'strengthening all the disciples' (18:23). Spanish 'fortaleciendo/fortalecieron' and French 'confirmer' highlight both the fortifying and confirming dimensions. The participial forms suggest ongoing, sustained pastoral activity rather than a single dramatic intervention. 4×
AR["ثَبَّتاهُم", "مُثَبِّتًا", "يُثَبِّتانِ", "يُثَبِّتُ"]·ben["শক্তিশালী-করছে", "শক্তিশালী-করতে", "শক্তিশালী-করলেন", "শক্তিশালী-করে"]·DE["στηρίζων", "ἐπεστήριξαν", "ἐπιστηρίζοντες", "ἐπιστηρίζων"]·EN["strengthened", "strengthening"]·FR["confirmer"]·heb["חִזְּקוּ", "מְחַזֵּק"]·HI["दृढ़-करता-हुआ", "दृढ़-करते-हुए", "दृढ़-किया"]·ID["menguatkan"]·IT["confermare"]·jav["nguataken"]·KO["굳건케-하며", "굳게-하며", "굳게-했다"]·PT["fortalecendo", "fortaleceram."]·RU["утвердили", "утверждая"]·ES["fortaleciendo", "fortalecieron"]·SW["akiwaimarisha", "akiyaimarisha", "wakawaimarisha", "wakiimarisha"]·TR["güçlendirdiler", "güçlendirerek"]·urd["مضبوط-کرتا-ہوا", "مضبوط-کرتے-ہوئے", "مضبوط-کیا"]
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
ἐπιστηρ-ίζω, cause to rest on, ἐπιστηριῶ ἐπί σε τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μουLXX; make to lean on, τί τινι Refs 3rd c.AD+; set over, Δεῖμον κεραυνῷ Refs 4th c.AD+; confirm, τινά NT:—passive, to be supported, ἐν τῷ ὕδατι Refs 4th c.BC+; ἐπιστηριχθήσομαι and ἐπεστηρίχθη ἐπὶ [τοὺς κίονας], LXX+2nd c.AD+