Word Study for G4732 (στερεόω)

stereóō /ster-eh-o'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom στερεός

Meaningto solidify, i.e. confirm (literally or figuratively)

KJV usageestablish, receive strength, make strong.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of stereóō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word stereóō, represented by G4732, means to solidify, establish, or make strong. It appears 5 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. The term is used to describe both literal, physical strengthening and the figurative establishment of faith in individuals and communities.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the book of Acts, G4732 is used to illustrate the tangible power of faith. It describes a literal healing where a man's "feet and ankle bones received strength" Acts 3:7. This miracle is then explained as an act of faith, which has "made this man strong" Acts 3:16. The word is also applied figuratively to the early church, where congregations "were established in the faith" and consequently "increased in number daily" Acts 16:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context in which strengthening occurs:

G4102 pístis (faith): Defined as persuasion, credence, or reliance upon Christ for salvation, this is the essential catalyst for the act of strengthening. It is through faith that the man is made strong Acts 3:16 and the churches are established Acts 16:5.
G1453 egeírō (to waken, rouse, lift up, raise): This word describes the accompanying action of the healing in Acts 3:7, where the man is "lifted... up" at the same moment his ankles receive strength.
G4052 perisseúō (to superabound, be in excess, increase): This term highlights the result of being established. After the churches were established in the faith, they "increased in number" Acts 16:5.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G4732 is centered on the manifestation of God's power through faith.

Tangible Results of Faith: The word demonstrates that faith is not merely an internal belief but an active force that produces real-world results, from the physical restoration of a body to "perfect soundness" Acts 3:16 to the growth of the church.
Divine Strengthening: Whether used for an individual's body or a community's foundation, stereóō points to a strength that comes from a divine source, accessed through faith in the name of Jesus Acts 3:16.
Establishment and Growth: The stability of the church is directly linked to its growth. Being "established in the faith" is presented as the prerequisite for the church to increase in number Acts 16:5.

Summary

In summary, G4732 is a specific and powerful term that connects the concept of faith to the result of being made strong or established. It bridges the gap between the spiritual and the physical, showing how reliance on God solidifies a person's body, confirms a believer's standing, and establishes the church, leading to tangible wholeness and growth.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Passive Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Imperfect Passive Indicative 3rd Plural 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

3 verses, all in Acts — and none of the other 26 New Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.