σθενόω G4599
To strengthen, make strong, or establish with power
Peter assures suffering believers that 'the God of all grace' will personally strengthen them after they have suffered a little while (1 Peter 5:10). The verb σθενόω appears only here in the New Testament, part of a four-verb promise: restore, confirm, strengthen, establish. It derives from σθένος (strength, might), emphasizing the divine power that stabilizes believers under trial. The future tense points to God's certain action—he himself will supply the strength they need. This rare verb intensifies Peter's pastoral encouragement to persevering Christians.
Senses
1. sense 1 — 1 Peter 5:10 uses the future tense σθενώσει: 'he will strengthen.' The context of suffering and persecution makes this promise vital—God will not merely comfort but actively strengthen. Multilingual evidence shows consistent rendering: Spanish 'fortalecerá,' German 'stärken.' The verb appears between 'restore' (καταρτίσει) and 'establish' (θεμελιώσει), suggesting progressive divine action: repair, strengthen, then ground believers firmly. Peter's rare word choice gives theological weight to God's empowering grace. 1×
AR["يُقَوِّيكُم"]·ben["শক্তিশালী-করবেন"]·DE["staerken"]·EN["will-strengthen"]·FR["σθενώσει"]·heb["יְחַזֵּק"]·HI["बलवन्त-करेगा"]·ID["akan-menguatkan"]·IT["sthenōsei"]·jav["badhé-nyagahaken,"]·KO["강하게-하시고"]·RU["укрепит,"]·ES["os-fortalecerá"]·SW["atawatia-nguvu"]·TR["güçlendirecek"]·urd["طاقتور-بنائے-گا،"]
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
σθενόω, strengthen, NT+5th c.AD+