θεμελῐ-όω G2311
To lay a foundation, establish firmly; to ground something securely, literally or spiritually
Means to lay a foundation or establish something on a firm base. While it originates in the language of construction—setting stones for a building—the New Testament extends it powerfully into spiritual territory. Christ grounds believers in love (Eph 3:17), the faith must remain founded and steadfast (Col 1:23), and God himself will establish those who suffer (1 Pet 5:10). Spanish 'cimentados' (cemented) and 'fundados' (founded) nicely capture both the architectural and metaphorical registers of this verb.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To lay a foundation or establish firmly, used both of physical construction and of spiritual grounding. In Matt 7:25 the house built on rock had been well-founded and withstands the storm; Heb 1:10 quotes Psalm 102 declaring that the Lord founded the earth. The metaphorical uses are equally vivid: Eph 3:17 prays that believers be 'rooted and grounded' in love; Col 1:23 urges remaining 'founded and steadfast' in the faith; and 1 Pet 5:10 promises that God will 'establish' those who endure suffering. Spanish 'cimentados' (cemented) and 'fundados' (founded) together reflect the word's movement from masonry to theology. 5×
AR["أَسَّسْتَ", "تَأَسَّسَ", "مُؤَسَّسينَ", "يُؤَسِّسُكُم"]·ben["প্রতিষ্ঠিত", "প্রতিষ্ঠিত-করবেন", "ভিত্তি-স্থাপন-করলে", "ভিত্তি-স্থাপিত", "ভিত্তি-স্থাপিত-ছিল"]·DE["gruenden", "τεθεμελίωτο"]·EN["having-been-founded", "having-been-grounded", "it-had-been-founded", "will-ground", "you-founded"]·FR["fonder"]·heb["יְיַסֵּד", "יָסַדְתָּ", "מְיֻסָּדִים", "מֻשְׁתָּת"]·HI["दृढ़-करेगा", "नींव-डाली", "नींव-डाली-गई-थी", "नेएनव-दअले-हुए"]·ID["Engkau-meletakkan-dasar", "akan-mengokohkan", "beralas", "berdasar,", "didirikan"]·IT["ethemeliōsas", "tethemelioto", "tethemeliōmenoi", "themeliōsei"]·jav["badhé-dhasari.", "dipun-adekan", "kadhasar,", "sampun-kadhasaran", "sampun-ngedegaken-dhasar"]·KO["기초-된", "세우셨으며", "세우시리라", "세워졌다", "터-삼은,"]·PT["alicercados", "alicercados,", "estava-fundada", "fundaste"]·RU["основал", "основан-был", "сделает-непоколебимым.", "утверждённые", "утверждённые,"]·ES["cimentados", "estaba‒fundada", "fundados", "fundamentaste", "os-establecerá"]·SW["atawaweka-imara", "ili-jengwa", "mkiwa-imara", "mkiwa-na-msingi", "uliiweka-msingi"]·TR["temel-atılmıştı", "temellendirdin", "temellendirecek", "temellendirilmis"]·urd["بنیاد-رکھی-تھی", "بنیاد-رکھے-گا۔", "بنیاد-رکھے-ہوئے", "بنیاد-کیے-ہوئے", "تُو-نے-بنیاد-رکھی"]
Related Senses
H1129 1. Qal: build, construct (316×)H2691a 1. court, courtyard, enclosure (142×)G4864 1. synagogue, place of Jewish assembly (56×)G5438 1. prison, place of confinement (41×)H4013 1. fortress, stronghold (37×)H0875 1. well, cistern (dug water source) (35×)H0352b 1. pillar or jamb of gateway (32×)H2474 1. window, opening in wall (32×)H1406 1. roof / rooftop (31×)H4609b 1. steps, stairs, stairway (31×)H1129 2. Nifal: be built, be established (30×)H0361 1. portico, porch (architectural structure) (27×)H1129 3. Qal participle: builder (27×)H1219 1. fortified, inaccessible (25×)H4581 1. fortress, stronghold (25×)H3805 1. capital of a pillar (24×)H4350 1. stand, base, pedestal (24×)H0759 1. palace, royal residence (21×)H4692 1. siege, besiegement (20×)G3618 1. build or construct physically (19×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
θεμελῐ-όω, to lay the foundation of, found firmly, πύργους.. φοίνιξι θεμελιώσας NT+5th c.BC+:—passive, have the foundations laid, Refs 1st c.BC+; ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν NT+1st c.BC+; ἐν ἀγάπῃ τεθ. NT __II destroy utterly, in passive, -ωθέντα (θεμειλωθ- codex)· ἐκ ῥιζῶν ἀρθέντα, Refs 5th c.AD+