Greek word · G2311

θεμελιόω

themelioō

to found

To lay a foundation, to found. Figuratively, to establish or make firm.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 22, 2026

What it means

θεμελιόω, -ῶ

[in LXX chiefly for יָסַד ;]

to lay the foundation of, to found: with accusative, τ. γῆν, Hebrews 1:10 (LXX); pass., Matthew 7:25, Luke 6:48; metaphorically, 1 Peter 5:10 (R, mg., settle); pass., Ephesians 3:18, Colossians 1:23.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: To lay a foundation, to found. Figuratively, to establish or make firm.
Against the English: "Grounded" (KJV, ESV, BSB, WEB) originally meant "having a foundation". In modern English it more often means emotionally stable or sensible, "down-to-earth", or even a child kept home as punishment. The building picture behind the word is easily missed. NIV's "established" is accurate but abstract. YLT's "founded" is closest.
How it drifted: English "grounded" has drifted toward a psychological meaning (well-adjusted, level-headed), which hides the picture of a building on its foundation.
Used elsewhere in the period: The LXX uses it for God founding the earth (Ps 24:2 [LXX 23:2]; Ps 104:5) and for laying the foundations of the temple (e.g. Ezra 3:6–12; Zech 4:9). In the New Testament: the house founded on the rock (Matt 7:25); "founded and steadfast" in faith (Col 1:23); 1 Pet 5:10. In Ephesians, the related noun θεμέλιος describes the household of God "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets" (2:20), growing into a holy temple (2:21–22).

Range of meaning: To lay a foundation, found, ground firmly. Used of buildings, of the earth (God 'founded' the earth), and in a figurative sense of people made firm (Col 1:23, 'grounded and steadfast'; Eph 3:17; 1 Pet 5:10).
Against the English: BSB turns it into a noun, 'its foundation was on the rock'. KJV/WEB 'it was founded', YLT and several modern versions 'it had been founded'. Only the last keeps the past-perfect form.
Used elsewhere in the period: Septuagint: Ps 24:2 (LXX 23:2), God 'founded' the world upon the seas. Ps 104:5 (LXX 103:5), the earth 'founded' so it will not be shaken. Isa 28:16 uses the related noun for the foundation stone God lays in Zion. Prov 10:25 calls the righteous 'an everlasting foundation' who remain when the storm passes.

Range of meaning: To lay a foundation, found or build on a foundation. Used figuratively, it means to ground someone firmly so they cannot be moved.
Against the English: KJV/WEB "settle", ESV/NASB/BSB "establish", NIV "steadfast", NLT a phrase about a firm foundation. In 1611 "settle" meant "fix in place, set on a base". Today "settle" suggests calming down or settling in, and the building image is lost.
How it drifted: The English verb "settle" has moved toward meaning "calm, resolve, make comfortable", so the KJV word no longer suggests a foundation.
Used elsewhere in the period: The wise man's house "had been founded on the rock" (Matt 7:25).

Believers are "rooted and grounded in love" (Eph 3:17) and "grounded and steadfast" (Col 1:23).

God "laid the foundation of the earth" (Heb 1:10, quoting Ps 102:25).

In the Septuagint it is common for founding the earth and laying the foundation of the temple (e.g. Ezra 3:6–12).

Matthew · 1

Matthew 7:25 τεθεμελίωτο it had been founded

The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.

Here: A past-perfect form: the foundation was laid before the storm came and was still standing firm when it hit. Whether the house stood was settled long before the storm, when it was built.

Ephesians · 1

Ephesians 3:17 τεθεμελιωμένοι, founded,

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Here: A building picture: a structure whose foundation has been laid and stays laid. It echoes 2:20–22, where the readers are a temple built on a foundation. Like "rooted", it is a perfect passive describing a settled state.

Colossians · 1

Colossians 1:23 τεθεμελιωμένοι established

if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Here: Perfect passive participle: 'having been founded, and so standing on that foundation now'. A building image. Someone else (God, through the gospel Epaphras preached) laid the foundation.

Hebrews · 1

Hebrews 1:10 ἐθεμελίωσας, laid the foundation,

And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

Here: "You founded". A builder's word: you set the earth on its foundations and made it stable. The past tense presents the founding as a single completed act.

1 Peter · 1

1 Peter 5:10 θεμελιώσει. [and] he will establish [you].

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.

Here: "He will set you on a foundation": a building language image of something that cannot be shaken. It fits the letter's picture of believers as living stones built on Christ the cornerstone (2:4–8).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.