Original Word: στηρίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: stérizó
Pronunciation: stay-REE-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (stay-rid'-zo)
KJV: fix, (e-)stablish, stedfastly set, strengthen
NASB: strengthen, establish, established, confirm, determined, fixed, strengthening
Word Origin: [from a presumed derivative of G2476 (ἵστημι - standing) (like G4731 (στερεός - firm))]

1. to set fast
2. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction
3. (figuratively) to confirm

to establish

From a presumed derivative of histemi (like stereos); to set fast, i.e. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm -- fix, (e-)stablish, stedfastly set, strengthen.

see GREEK histemi

see GREEK stereos

4741 stērízō (from stēringks, "a support that fixes, plants down"; akin to 2476 /hístēmi, "to stand," having a duplication of the primitive Gk root/sta, "to make stand") – properly, set fast (fix); give support to secure (firmly establish); solidly plant (which eliminates vacillation).

Word Origin
akin to stérigx (support, prop)
Definition
to make fast, establish
NASB Translation
confirm (1), determined (1), establish (2), established (2), fixed (1), strengthen (6), strengthening (1).

STRONGS NT 4741: στηρίζω

στηρίζω; future στηριξω (as in the best Greek writings), and στηρίσω (in 2 Thessalonians 3:3 manuscript Vat., as in Jeremiah 17:5; στηριῶ, Jeremiah 3:12; Jeremiah 24:6; Ezekiel 14:8; Sir. 6:37 (see references below)); 1 aorist ἐστήριξα, and ἐστήρισα (στήρισον, Luke 22:32 L T Tr WH; Revelation 3:2 G L T Tr WH, as in Judges 19:5, 8; Ezekiel 6:2; Proverbs 15:25, etc.; cf. (WHs Appendix, p. 170); Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Sprchl. i., p. 372; Buttmann, 36 (32); Kühner, § 343, i., p. 910; (Veitch, under the word)); passive, perfect ἐστηριγμαι; 1 aorist ἐστηρίχθην; (στῆριγξ a support; akin to στερεός, which see, στερρός, and German stärken; cf. Curtius, § 222); from Homer down;

a. to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix: ἐστήρικται (χάσμα), is fixed, Luke 16:26; στηρίζω τό πρόσωπον, to set one's face steadfastly, keep the face turned (Ezekiel 6:2; Ezekiel 13:17; Ezekiel 15:7; etc.) τοῦ πορεύεσθαι εἰς with an accusative of place, a Hebrew expression (see πρόσωπον, 1 b. (and cf. Buttmann, § 140, 16 δ.; Winer's Grammar, 33)), Luke 9:51.

b. to strengthen, make firm; tropically (not so in secular authors) to render constant, confirm, one's mind (A. V. establish): τινα, Luke 22:32; (Acts 18:23 where R G ἐπιστηρίζων); Romans 1:11; Romans 16:25; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Peter 5:10 (here Rec. has 1 aorist optative 3 person singular στηρίξαι); Revelation 3:2; τήν καρδίαν τίνος, 1 Thessalonians 3:13; James 5:8; τινα ἐν τίνι, 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Peter 1:12. (Compare: ἐπιστηρίζω.)

Steadfast Strengthening (Strong’s Greek 4741)

Overview

Strong’s 4741 marks a decisive action that renders a person, community, or reality firm, unwavering, and immovable. The verb never implies mere rigidity; it points to divinely enabled stability that equips God’s people to advance in obedience, endurance, and hopeful expectation.

Gospel Foundations

• Luke 9:51 pictures the Lord Jesus as the perfect embodiment of resolute purpose: “As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem”. His unwavering determination secures our salvation and provides the model for discipleship.
• Luke 16:26 uses the term of the great chasm fixed between heaven and hell, underscoring the irreversible certainty of final judgment.
• Luke 22:32 reflects the Savior’s intercession for Peter: “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Christ’s prayer supplies the strength that Peter in turn must transmit to the flock.

Pauline Ministry and Apostolic Prayer

• Romans 1:11 reveals Paul’s pastoral heartbeat: imparting a spiritual gift “to strengthen” believers.
• Romans 16:25 roots that strengthening in “Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel.” The stability comes through the proclamation of Jesus Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:2 assigns Timothy to “strengthen and encourage you in your faith,” illustrating team ministry focused on congregational firmness.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:13 looks to the Parousia: “so that He may establish your hearts as blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus.”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:17 asks God to “encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed,” while 2 Thessalonians 3:3 promises, “the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” These letters were penned to believers under persecution, where firmness meant survival.

Petrine and Jacobian Exhortation

• James 5:8 addresses suffering saints: “You too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.” The inner resolve is set on the eschatological horizon.
• 1 Peter 5:10 assures those under fiery trials that God Himself “will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Divine strengthening follows temporary suffering and leads to eternal glory.
• 2 Peter 1:12 explains Peter’s ministry of continual reminder: he writes “to refresh your memory,” literally to keep the readers firmly established in present truth. Teaching truth is a means of stabilizing souls.

Apocalyptic Urgency

• Revelation 3:2 warns the church in Sardis: “Wake up and strengthen what remains and is about to die.” Stabilizing grace is urgently required when spiritual lethargy threatens witness and life.

Theological Threads

1. Christ as the Source: Every occurrence either flows from Christ’s resolve (Luke 9:51), His intercession (Luke 22:32), or His gospel (Romans 16:25).
2. The Word and Teaching: Steadfastness is imparted through apostolic doctrine (Romans 1:11; 2 Peter 1:12).
3. Prayer and Divine Action: Strengthening is requested or promised in prayer, showing dependence on God’s initiative (1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:3).
4. Eschatological Orientation: The verb consistently anchors hope in the Lord’s return or final judgment (James 5:8; Revelation 3:2).
5. Communal Responsibility: Believers are called to strengthen one another (Luke 22:32; 1 Thessalonians 3:2), indicating that firmness is both a gift and a duty.

Historical Significance

In a first-century world of social instability, persecution, and doctrinal confusion, this verb captured the church’s need for permanence. Jewish and Gentile believers, uprooted from former identities, required a new center of gravity. The apostles used the term to assure converts that the resurrection and enthronement of Christ, not the shifting tides of empire, defined reality.

Ministry Implications Today

• Preaching must aim not merely at information but at the solidification of faith.
• Intercessory prayer should include explicit petitions for the Lord to strengthen hearts against temptation and trial.
• Discipleship requires mutual reinforcement; older saints emulate Peter by strengthening younger believers.
• Church discipline and doctrinal clarity guard the fellowship the way the fixed chasm in Luke 16 guards eternity—by maintaining clear boundaries.

Summary

Strong’s 4741 traces a golden thread from Christ’s unflinching journey to the cross to the final establishment of His saints in glory. It calls every generation to find its steadfastness in Him, to relay that strength through teaching and community, and to persevere until the day when faith becomes sight and firmness becomes forever.

ἐπιστηρίζων εστηριγμένα εστηριγμέναι εστηριγμένη εστηριγμένος εστηριγμενους εστηριγμένους ἐστηριγμένους εστήριζον εστήρικα εστηρικται εστήρικται ἐστήρικται εστήριξα εστήριξε εστηρίσατο εστήρισε εστηρισεν ἐστήρισεν εστιβίζου εστιμίσατο στήριζει στηριζων στηρίζων στηριξαι στηρίξαι στηριξατε στηρίξατε στηριξει στηρίξει στήριξον στήριξόν στηρίσαι στηρίσατέ στηρίσει στηρισον στήρισον στηρίσω στηριχθηναι στηριχθήναι στηριχθῆναι στηριχθήσονται στηριώ στιβαρούς στιβαρώς στίβι episterizon episterízon epistērizōn epistērízōn esterigmenous esterigménous estērigmenous estērigménous esteriktai estēriktai estḗriktai esterisen estērisen estḗrisen sterichthenai sterichthênai stērichthēnai stērichthē̂nai sterison stērison stḗrison sterixai steríxai stērixai stēríxai sterixate steríxate stērixate stēríxate sterixei steríxei stērixei stēríxeiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts