"to found, lay the foundation of, Mt. 7:25; Heb. 1:10; met. to ground, establish, render firm and unwavering, Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:23; 1 Pet. 5:10*"
Definition and meaning
to found, lay the foundation of, Mt. 7:25; Heb. 1:10; met. to ground, establish, render firm and unwavering, Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:23; 1 Pet. 5:10*
In the original Greek the word is written: θεμελιόω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 themelioo (G2311) across the King James Bible.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
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Common questions
Strong's G2311 (themelioo) is a Greek word that means: to found, lay the foundation of, Mt. 7:25; Heb. 1:10; met. to ground, establish, render firm and unwavering, Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:23; 1 Pet. 5:10* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word themelioo (G2311) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2311 is themelioo, a Greek word defined as: to found, lay the foundation of, Mt. 7:25; Heb. 1:10; met. to ground, establish, render firm and unwavering, Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:23; 1 Pet. 5:10*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
themelioo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.