ἀστατέω
astatéō
G790 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be unsettled or itinerant, in the sense of not having a fixed or permanent place of residence; frequently used to characterize a condition of wandering, lacking a stable dwelling or home. The term applies both literally (without geographic stability or residence), and by figurative extension, to social or economic precariousness.
Semantic Range
to be unsettled, to wander without a fixed residence, to be homeless, to live without security or stability, to lack an established home or place
Root / Etymology
Formed from the negative prefix ἀ- (not) and στατέω, derived from ἵστημι ('to stand, set, establish'), indicating a negation of being fixed or settled. The term literally means 'to not be made to stand' or 'to not be established.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Hellenistic and early Roman periods, ἀστατέω is rare but attested in some literary and documentary Greek. In the New Testament (1 Corinthians 4:11), it describes the apostolic experience of not having a fixed residence, highlighting vulnerability and itinerancy. The term conveys a sense distinct from simply traveling (as πορεύομαι) or sojourning (παροικέω)—it points to an ongoing state of not being settled, with social or existential implications. English translations that render it as 'homeless' or 'having no certain dwelling-place' capture part of the sense, but do not fully convey the nuance of instability and the lack of rootedness implied in Greco-Roman cultural context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and a derivative of ἵστημι; to be non-stationary, i.e. (figuratively) homeless:--have no certain dwelling-place.
Root Family
στατ- (statḗr) — to stand, to set, to establish a standard
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G4715 | στατήρ | a standard coin |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G790-01 |
ἀστατοῦμεν | astatoumen | V PRS ACT IND 1P PL |
have no certain dwellingplace | we are unsettled wanderers | we are unsettled wanderers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G790-01 |
1 Corinthians 4:11 | ἀστατοῦμεν | astatoumen | V PRS ACT IND 1P PL |
have no certain dwellingplace | we are unsettled wanderers | we are unsettled wanderers |