καθίστημι (G2525) — Greek Lexicon

καθίστημι

kathístēmi

G2525 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To set or place into a position or state; to cause someone or something to be or to become a certain way. The verb primarily means to appoint, put in charge, establish, set up, or assign to a role, position, or category. Other senses, especially in the passive or middle, include being established or made, or becoming something through change of state.

Semantic Range

to appoint (to an office or position), to put in charge, to establish or set up (a thing or person), to constitute (as something), to cause to be or become, to make, to assign, to conduct, to bring about a state

Root / Etymology

From κατά (down, according to) + ἵστημι (to cause to stand, to set). The root verb ἵστημι means to stand or make to stand; the prefix κατά intensifies or specifies the direction or thoroughness of the action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, καθίστημι was used broadly for establishing or instituting people or things into a role or condition, such as appointing magistrates or establishing laws. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it frequently refers to assigning someone to an official role, office, or responsibility (e.g., appointing elders, stewards, or overseers). It can also denote causing someone or something to become or be considered as something (e.g., to make a person a ruler or to establish a covenant). English translations often render it as 'appoint,' 'make,' 'set,' or 'constitute,' though each context may nuance the force of the verb (active, passive, reflexive, or causative meaning). Standard English Bibles may not always capture the gravity or enduring sense conveyed by καθίστημι, especially its emphasis on the process or official nature of the appointment. The underlying sense is of an intentional, often formal or authoritative, assignment or establishment. It does not always specify a permanent action—in some cases, the context may indicate the appointment was temporary or situational.

Translation Consistency

primary "appoint" 16 occurrences

Kathístēmi most frequently and typically means to put someone into an office, assign or set in a position or role. “Appoint” is natural English that covers the primary sense (assign/put in charge) and renders passive/middle senses naturally (be appointed, be appointed/established), while remaining flexible enough for related senses like set up or constitute.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):

"established" (2x) "conducting" (1x) "made" (1x) "makes" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and ἵστημι; to place down (permanently), i.e. (figuratively) to designate, constitute, convoy:--appoint, be, conduct, make, ordain, set.

Root Family

καθιστ- (kathístēmi) — to set, to place, to establish, to appoint

Root καθιστ- to set, to place, to establish, to appoint

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G2688	κατάστημα	in a settled condition

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2525-07`	κατέστησεν	katestesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	made	he established	he appointed	5
`G2525-09`	καθίσταται	kathistatai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is appointed	is being established	is being appointed	4
`G2525-02`	καταστήσει	katastesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	he will set	he will appoint	he will appoint	3
`G2525-04`	καταστήσω	katasteso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will set	I will appoint	I will appoint	2
`G2525-10`	καθίστησιν	kathistesin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	appoints	he/she/it appoints	appoints	2
`G2525-01`	κατασταθήσονται	katastathesontai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P PL`	will be made	they will be appointed	they will be established	1
`G2525-03`	καταστήσῃς	katasteses	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	appoint	you might appoint	you might appoint	1
`G2525-05`	καταστήσομεν	katastesomen	`V FUT ACT IND 1P PL`	we will appoint	we will appoint	we will appoint	1
`G2525-06`	κατεστάθησαν	katestathesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	were made	they were established	they were established	1
`G2525-08`	καθιστάνοντες	kathistanontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	conducted	establishing	conducting	1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2525-07`	Matthew 24:45	κατέστησεν	katestesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	appointed	he established	he appointed
`G2525-02`	Matthew 24:47	καταστήσει	katastesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	he will set	he will appoint	he will appoint
`G2525-04`	Matthew 25:21	καταστήσω	katasteso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will set	I will appoint	I will appoint
`G2525-04`	Matthew 25:23	καταστήσω	katasteso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will put in charge	I will appoint	I will appoint
`G2525-07`	Luke 12:14	κατέστησεν	katestesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	appointed	he established	he appointed
`G2525-02`	Luke 12:42	καταστήσει	katastesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will set	he will appoint	he will appoint
`G2525-02`	Luke 12:44	καταστήσει	katastesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	he will set	he will appoint	he will appoint
`G2525-05`	Acts 6:3	καταστήσομεν	katastesomen	`V FUT ACT IND 1P PL`	we will appoint	we will appoint	we will appoint
`G2525-07`	Acts 7:10	κατέστησεν	katestesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	made	he established	he appointed
`G2525-07`	Acts 7:27	κατέστησεν	katestesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	made	he established	he appointed
`G2525-07`	Acts 7:35	κατέστησεν	katestesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	made	he established	he appointed
`G2525-08`	Acts 17:15	καθιστάνοντες	kathistanontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	conducted	establishing	conducting
`G2525-06`	Romans 5:19	κατεστάθησαν	katestathesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	were made	they were established	they were established
`G2525-01`	Romans 5:19	κατασταθήσονται	katastathesontai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P PL`	will be made	they will be appointed	they will be established
`G2525-03`	Titus 1:5	καταστήσῃς	katasteses	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	appoint	you might appoint	you might appoint
`G2525-09`	Hebrews 5:1	καθίσταται	kathistatai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is appointed	is being established	is being appointed
`G2525-10`	Hebrews 7:28	καθίστησιν	kathistesin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	appoints	he/she/it appoints	appoints
`G2525-09`	Hebrews 8:3	καθίσταται	kathistatai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is appointed	is being established	is appointed
`G2525-09`	James 3:6	καθίσταται	kathistatai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is set	is being established	is being appointed
`G2525-09`	James 4:4	καθίσταται	kathistatai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is made	is being established	is made
`G2525-10`	2 Peter 1:8	καθίστησιν	kathistesin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	makes	he/she/it appoints	makes

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