Greek · G5021 · unreviewed

τάσσω

To appoint

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τάσσω G5021
Pronunciation tássō

What does τάσσω (tássō) mean in the Bible?

τάσσω (tássō) is a Greek word meaning "to appoint". τάσσω [in LXX chiefly for שׂוּם, also for צָוָה pi. Emphasizes divine sovereignty in salvation. This term runs through the canonical themes of Redemption.

Full entry for τάσσω (G5021) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to appoint
Extended definition

To arrange authoritatively in order, often with military precision; assign to a specific role or position.

primarily, in military sense, then generally, to draw up in order, arrange in place, assign, appoint, order: with dative (accusative) and inf. (Bl., § 72, 5), Act.15:2 18:2 (διατ-, WH) Act.22:10; ἑαυτούς, 1Co.16:15; pass., Mat.8:9 (T [WH], R, txt., om.), Luk.7:8, Rom.13:1; ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον (perh. in mid. sense; see EGT and Page, in l), Act.13:48; mid., to appoint for oneself or by one's own authority, Mat.28:16, Act.28:23.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Emphasizes divine sovereignty in salvation. Acts 13:42-52
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Aorist Present Perfect
Voices
Active Middle Passive
Indicative states a fact or reality
Aorist Active Acts 15:2 · 1 Cor 16:15
Aorist Middle Matt 28:16
Perfect Passive Acts 22:10
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Perfect Passive Acts 13:48 · Rom 13:1
Present Passive Luke 7:8
Aorist Middle Acts 28:23
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 6 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 3 resultant 1 participle 2
Tense
aorist 4 perfect 1 present 1
Voice
active 2 passive 2 middle 2
Mood
indicative 4 participle 2

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)

Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources