Understanding βεβαιόω (bebaioō) Strong’s G950: The Divine Confirmation that Establishes Unshakable Faith

Pronunciation Guide: beh-bah-YOH-oh (emphasis on the third syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G950: βεβαιόω (bebaioō) fundamentally means to make firm, establish, confirm, or validate with certainty. It conveys the action of strengthening something so that it becomes fixed, stable, and trustworthy. In biblical contexts, it often refers to God’s action of confirming His promises, establishing believers in faith, or validating the truth of the gospel message through miraculous signs or testimony.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Word: βέβαιος (bebaios) – firm, steadfast, sure
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Epistles, historical narrative
• Tense Forms: Present, future, aorist, perfect
• Voice: Active, passive
• Mood: Indicative, subjunctive, imperative, infinitive, participle

βεβαιόω Morphology:

• βεβαιῶ (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I confirm/establish
• βεβαιοῖς (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you confirm/establish
• βεβαιοῖ (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it confirms/establishes
• βεβαιώσω (future active indicative, 1st person singular) – I will confirm/establish
• ἐβεβαίωσα (aorist active indicative, 1st person singular) – I confirmed/established
• βεβαιωθῆναι (aorist passive infinitive) – to be confirmed/established
• βεβαιούμενοι (present passive participle, nominative plural masculine) – being confirmed/established
• βεβαιωθέντες (aorist passive participle, nominative plural masculine) – having been confirmed/established

Origin & History

The verb βεβαιόω derives from the adjective βέβαιος (bebaios), which etymologically connects to the concept of a secure foundation upon which one can firmly stand. In classical Greek literature, it was commonly used in legal contexts to denote the confirmation or validation of contracts and agreements. Herodotus employed the term to describe the establishment of alliances and treaties that were made secure through oaths and ceremonies. Thucydides used it to portray the confirmation of political arrangements that were meant to be lasting and unchangeable.

In the Septuagint (LXX), βεβαιόω appears relatively infrequently but carries significant theological weight when it does occur. In Psalm 41:13 (40:13 LXX), it describes how God establishes a person “before His face forever,” conveying divine stability and permanence. The cognate noun βεβαίωσις appears in Leviticus 25:23 where it relates to the permanent possession of land, reflecting the concept of divinely established inheritance. This historical usage provides important background for understanding its significance in the New Testament where it takes on spiritual dimensions related to God’s confirmation of His promises and the establishment of believers in their faith.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Legal Confirmation – To legally validate, ratify, or make binding as in a formal agreement or covenant
• Spiritual Establishment – To strengthen someone in their faith, making them firm and unshakable
• Divine Validation – God’s action of proving or substantiating the truth of His word through signs, wonders, or fulfilled prophecy
• Cognitive Affirmation – To make certain in one’s mind, removing doubts and establishing conviction

βεβαιόω Translation Options:

• Confirm – Emphasizes the aspect of validating something that was previously stated or promised, suitable when translating passages about God confirming His word
• Establish – Highlights the creation of a firm foundation, particularly appropriate when describing God establishing believers in faith
• Strengthen – Focuses on the intensification of something already present, useful when describing the reinforcement of conviction or faith
• Validate – Captures the legal nuance of making something officially recognized as true or correct, fitting for contexts involving authoritative testimony
• Make secure – Emphasizes the resulting stability and reliability, appropriate when the context involves protection from future uncertainty

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, βεβαιόω appears 8 times, predominantly in the Pauline epistles, with its first appearance in Mark 16:20 where it describes God confirming the apostles’ message through accompanying signs. This usage establishes a foundational pattern: divine confirmation follows human proclamation of the gospel. Paul extends this concept in his epistles, often describing how God establishes believers in their faith and confirms His promises.

The verb frequently appears in the passive voice, indicating that while human agents may participate in the confirmatory process, the ultimate source of this stabilizing action is God Himself. In 1 Corinthians 1:6-8, Paul connects the confirmation of the testimony about the Messiah with God’s ongoing work of establishing believers until the end, creating a theological link between past revelation, present confirmation, and future preservation.

• “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed [βεβαιοῦντος] the message by accompanying signs.” Mark 16:20
• “Even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed [ἐβεβαιώθη] among you.” 1 Corinthians 1:6
• “Now He who establishes [βεβαιῶν] us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.” 2 Corinthians 1:21
• “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm [βεβαιῶσαι] the promises given to the patriarchs.” Romans 15:8
• “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed [ἐβεβαιώθη] to us by those who heard Him.” Hebrews 2:3
• “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed [βεβαιότερον].” 2 Peter 1:19 (Here using the related comparative adjective βεβαιότερον)
• “Just as you were enriched in everything, in all speech and all knowledge… so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm [βεβαιώσει] you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:5-8

Cultural Insights

In the Greco-Roman legal system, the concept of βεβαίωσις (bebaiōsis, the noun form related to βεβαιόω) was a formal guarantee or warranty that accompanied property transactions. When someone sold land or property, they would provide a βεβαίωσις, legally binding themselves to defend the buyer’s right to the property if it was ever challenged. This practice illuminates Paul’s use of βεβαιόω in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, where God is described as the one who “establishes us with you in Christ” and has given “the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” Like the legal βεβαίωσις, God’s Spirit serves as the divine guarantee of the believer’s spiritual inheritance.

In Jewish tradition, confirmation often required two or three witnesses to establish truth (Deuteronomy 19:15). This cultural understanding sheds light on Hebrews 2:3-4, where the author describes how salvation was “confirmed to us by those who heard him” and further validated by “God also bearing witness by signs and wonders and various miracles.” This represents a divine-human partnership in the confirmation process, with both human testimony and supernatural demonstrations serving as witnesses that establish (βεβαιόω) the truth of the gospel message.

Theological Significance

The theological richness of βεβαιόω lies in its portrayal of יהוה (Yahweh) as the ultimate confirmer and establisher of truth. When Paul writes in Romans 15:8 that “Christ became a servant… to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,” he reveals the Messiah as the living embodiment of God’s faithfulness—the divine confirmation of covenant promises that spanned centuries. This demonstrates God’s unchanging character across redemptive history, showing that what He promises, He unfailingly establishes.

The concept of βεβαιόω also illuminates the trinitarian nature of salvation. In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Paul describes God as the one who “establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us… and given us his Spirit.” Here, we see the Father establishing believers in the Son through the sealing of the Spirit—a beautiful picture of how all three persons of the Godhead participate in confirming the believer’s salvation. This confirmation is not merely intellectual assent but involves a transformative establishment of the believer’s entire being in relationship with the triune God.

Further, βεβαιόω reveals the interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the life of faith. While God is ultimately the one who establishes and confirms, believers are called to participate in this process through faithful obedience and proclamation. In Mark 16:20, the Lord confirmed the disciples’ message as they went out and preached, demonstrating that divine confirmation often accompanies faithful human action.

Personal Application

When we understand the power of βεβαιόω in our spiritual lives, we recognize that our faith is not built on shifting sand but on the solid rock of God’s confirming work. In times of doubt or uncertainty, we can take comfort in knowing that the same God who confirmed His word through signs and wonders is actively establishing us in the Messiah. Just as a legal βεβαίωσις guaranteed a property transaction, God’s Spirit within us serves as the divine guarantee of our salvation, confirming that we truly belong to Him.

This understanding invites us to participate in God’s confirming work by both receiving and transmitting His established truth. We receive His confirmation through Scripture, prayer, and the witness of the Spirit; we transmit it by faithfully proclaiming the gospel and allowing our lives to become living testimonies that God’s word is true and reliable. When we share testimonies of God’s faithfulness, we participate in the divine-human partnership of βεβαιόω—confirming to others what God has already established as true.

Related Words

• βέβαιος (bebaios) (beh-BAY-os) – The adjective form meaning “firm, steadfast, reliable.” While βεβαιόω is the action of making something firm, βέβαιος describes the resulting state of firmness or reliability. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful [βέβαιος]” (Hebrews 10:23). See G949
• βεβαίωσις (bebaiōsis) (beh-BAY-oh-sis) – The noun form meaning “confirmation, verification.” This term appears in Philippians 1:7, where Paul speaks of the “confirmation of the gospel.” It represents the completed action or result of the confirming process. See G951
• στηρίζω (stērizō) (stey-RID-zo) – Meaning “to strengthen, establish, set firmly.” This word shares semantic overlap with βεβαιόω but often emphasizes the supportive or strengthening aspect rather than the confirming aspect. “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen [στηρίξει] you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). See G4741
• θεμελιόω (themelioō) (theh-meh-lee-OH-oh) – Meaning “to lay a foundation, ground firmly.” While βεβαιόω focuses on making something firm or reliable, θεμελιόω specifically emphasizes the foundational aspect. “…that you, being rooted and grounded [τεθεμελιωμένοι] in love…” (Ephesians 3:17). See G2311
• ἑδραιόω (hedraioō) (he-drah-YOH-oh) – Meaning “to make stable, establish firmly.” This rare term appears once in the NT and shares conceptual similarity with βεβαιόω but specifically conveys the idea of being seated or positioned firmly. “…if indeed you continue in the faith, stable [τεθεμελιωμένοι] and steadfast…” (Colossians 1:23). See G1476

Did you Know?

• In ancient papyri, βεβαιόω frequently appears in marriage contracts where it indicated the husband’s legal obligation to “confirm” the marriage agreement by providing for his wife regardless of changing circumstances. This sheds light on how early Christians would have understood Paul’s teaching that God “confirms” His promises to us through the Messiah—as an unbreakable covenant commitment that remains valid through all of life’s changes.
• The concept of βεβαιόω finds a striking parallel in Hebrew thought through the metaphor of God as a rock (צוּר, tsur). Just as a rock provides unwavering stability, God’s confirming work establishes His people with immovable certainty. When David declares in Psalm 40:2 that God “set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure,” he expresses the same theological truth that Paul later articulates through the Greek concept of divine confirmation (βεβαιόω).
• The first appearance of βεβαιόω in Mark 16:20 creates a beautiful theological bookend to the gospel. Mark begins with “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (1:1) and concludes with the Lord “confirming the word” (16:20). This frames the entire gospel message as something that begins with God’s initiative and culminates with His divine confirmation—a pattern that mirrors the believer’s experience of salvation from initial faith to final establishment.

Remember This

βεβαιόω represents the unshakable certainty that when God speaks a promise, He follows through with divine confirmation that establishes it beyond all doubt—making our faith not a leap into darkness but a step onto the solid rock of His demonstrated faithfulness.