ὁρίζω (G3724) — Greek Lexicon

ὁρίζω

horízō

G3724 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To set a boundary, define, determine, or appoint. ὁρίζω primarily means 'to establish a limit or boundary,' whether physically or figuratively. In figurative contexts, it extends to defining, determining, deciding upon, or appointing something—such as establishing a decree, declaring an outcome, or determining a role or time. In New Testament and contemporaneous writings, it is often used in the sense of 'to appoint' or 'to determine beforehand,' especially in reference to actions or roles that are fixed or decided by authoritative decree.

Semantic Range

to set a boundary, to define limits, to determine, to appoint, to establish, to declare by decree, to decide, to ordain

Root / Etymology

From the Greek noun ὅριον, meaning 'boundary, limit, border.' It is a denominative verb formed on the root ὁρ- with the verb-forming suffix -ίζω. There is no evidence of direct borrowing from non-Greek sources.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὁρίζω is primarily used in geographical or legal contexts for setting, establishing, or marking boundaries and limits literally. By the Hellenistic period and continuing into Koine, it frequently acquires broader senses: 'to appoint,' 'to determine,' or 'to set' something in place, especially by authority or decree. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the literal sense persists, but the figurative sense becomes prominent, often denoting establishment by divine or legal authority (e.g., Acts 17:31, 'God has appointed a day...'). Major English translations often render it as 'to appoint,' 'to determine,' or 'to ordain' in these contexts, but sometimes obscure the underlying imagery of setting a boundary or limit. Unlike verbs such as διατάσσω ('to prescribe, give orders'), ὁρίζω highlights the marking of boundaries as an act of determination, whether literal or figurative. The related noun horizon (ὁρίζων, 'the limiting circle') preserves the concrete spatial imagery in later Greek.

Translation Consistency

primary "set" 0 occurrences

“Set” naturally covers the primary sense of ὁρίζω (establish or fix a boundary) and its common figurative uses (set a time, set/appoint someone or something by decree, determine). It is simple, idiomatic English and flexible enough to render literal and figurative occurrences consistently, whereas alternatives like “appoint” or “determine” are either too narrow or more formal.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):

"having been appointed" (2x) "determined" (2x) "having been determined" (1x) "predetermined" (1x) "having defined" (1x) "appoints" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὅριον; to mark out or bound ("horizon"), i.e. (figuratively) to appoint, decree, specify:--declare, determine, limit, ordain.

Root Family

ὁρίζω (horizō) — to mark a boundary, to define, to appoint, to determine

Root ὁρ- to mark a boundary, to define, to appoint, to determine

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3724-01`	ὥρισαν	orisan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	determined	they determined	they determined	1
`G3724-04`	ὡρισμένῃ	orismene	`V PRF PASS PTCP DAT F SG`	predetermined	to the having-been-determined	predetermined	1
`G3724-08`	ὁρίζει	orizei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	fixes	he defines	he appoints	1
`G3724-07`	ὁρισθέντος	oristhentos	`V AOR PASS PTCP GEN M SG`	declared	having been appointed	having been appointed	1
`G3724-05`	ὡρισμένον	orismenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N SG`	determined	having been determined	having been determined	1
`G3724-02`	ὁρίσας	orisas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having determined	having defined	having defined	1
`G3724-06`	ὡρισμένος	orismenos	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	appointed	having been appointed	having been appointed	1
`G3724-03`	ὥρισεν	orisen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he has appointed	he determined	he determined	1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3724-05`	Luke 22:22	ὡρισμένον	orismenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N SG`	determined	having been determined	having been determined
`G3724-04`	Acts 2:23	ὡρισμένῃ	orismene	`V PRF PASS PTCP DAT F SG`	predetermined	to the having-been-determined	predetermined
`G3724-06`	Acts 10:42	ὡρισμένος	orismenos	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	appointed	having been appointed	having been appointed
`G3724-01`	Acts 11:29	ὥρισαν	orisan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	determined	they determined	they determined
`G3724-02`	Acts 17:26	ὁρίσας	orisas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having determined	having defined	having defined
`G3724-03`	Acts 17:31	ὥρισεν	orisen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he has appointed	he determined	he determined
`G3724-07`	Romans 1:4	ὁρισθέντος	oristhentos	`V AOR PASS PTCP GEN M SG`	declared	having been appointed	having been appointed
`G3724-08`	Hebrews 4:7	ὁρίζει	orizei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	fixes	he defines	he appoints

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