What does ἐπιστηρίζω (epistērízō) mean in the Bible?
ἐπιστηρίζω (epistērízō): To strengthen through confirmed support or reassurance, often in faith or resolve during hardship
Greek · G1991
ἐπιστηρίζω
To strengthen
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
ἐπιστηρίζωG1991
Pronunciationepistērízō
What does ἐπιστηρίζω (epistērízō) mean in the Bible?
ἐπιστηρίζω (epistērízō): To strengthen through confirmed support or reassurance, often in faith or resolve during hardship
Full entry for ἐπιστηρίζω (G1991) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1991?
The BSB source-word alignment has 4 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include strengthening (3), strengthen (1).
Where does ἐπιστηρίζω (epistērízō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Acts 14:22. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itstrengthening3×Acts 14:22, Acts 15:41, Acts 18:23
strengthen1×Acts 15:32
Show sample aligned rows
Acts 14:22ἐπιστηρίζοντεςtostrengtheningVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine PluralActs 15:32ἐπεστήριξανtostrengthenVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralActs 15:41ἐπιστηρίζωνtostrengtheningVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularActs 18:23στηρίζωνtostrengtheningVerb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowActs 14:22
Aligned rows4
Books represented1
Acts4
Source forms
ἐπεστήριξαν1xepestērixanActs 15:32
ἐπιστηρίζοντες1xepistērizontesActs 14:22
ἐπιστηρίζων1xepistērizōnActs 15:41
στηρίζων1xstērizōnActs 18:23
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular2xActs 15:41, Acts 18:23
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural1xActs 15:32
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural1xActs 14:22
Evidence Summary
Greek word. To strengthen through confirmed support or reassurance, often in faith or resolve during hardship
Strong'sG1991
Lexical occurrences3 versesGreek text appearances4 timesWord forms2 forms3 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkActs 14:21-28Source Gloss
to strengthen
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
4 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Acts 14:22Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
ἐπιστηρίζοντεςepisthrizontev
I prop up, uphold, confirm
Read verseActs 15:32Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Active Indicative
ἐπεστήριξαν.epesthrixan
I prop up, uphold, confirm
Read verseActs 15:41Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
ἐπιστηρίζωνepisthrizwn
I prop up, uphold, confirm
Read verseActs 18:23Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
ἐπιστηρίζωνepisthrizwn
I prop up, uphold, confirm
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms3TensesPresent, AoristVoicesActive
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality2×
Present ActiveActs 14:22 · Acts 15:412×
Indicativestates a fact or reality1×
Aorist ActiveActs 15:321×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 3 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present2aorist1
Voice
active3
Mood
participle2indicative1
NT Occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Where It Appears in Scripture
Where this word appears in Scripture: passage, original form, and sense in context.
New Testament Witnesses
To confirm or support firmly.
To establish firmly.
To make firm or confirm.
Word Origins
ἐπιστηρίζω is built from these roots:
Why This Word Matters
Highlights pastoral investment in doctrinal and spiritual stability.Acts 14:21-28
Reinforces the pastoral aim of ongoing discipleship.Acts 15:36-41
Highlights pastoral care in ongoing discipleship.Acts 18:18-23