"firm, stable, steadfast, Heb. 3:14; 6:19; sure, certain, established, Rom. 4:16"
Definition and meaning
firm, stable, steadfast, Heb. 3:14; 6:19; sure, certain, established, Rom. 4:16
In the original Greek the word is written: βέβαιος
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of bebaios (G949) across the King James Bible.
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
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Common questions
Strong's G949 (bebaios) is a Greek word that means: firm, stable, steadfast, Heb. 3:14; 6:19; sure, certain, established, Rom. 4:16 It appears 9 times in the King James Bible.
The word bebaios (G949) appears 9 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G949 is bebaios, a Greek word defined as: firm, stable, steadfast, Heb. 3:14; 6:19; sure, certain, established, Rom. 4:16. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
bebaios is a Greek word found in the New Testament.