Greek word · G4599
σθενόω
sthenoō
to strengthen
To make strong, give strength. It comes from sthenos, "strength, might". The word is rare in Greek literature as a whole.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
From the study of 1 Peter 5:10
- Range of meaning
To make strong, give strength. It comes from sthenos, "strength, might". The word is rare in Greek literature as a whole.
- Against the English
Every major version has "strengthen" (NIV "make you strong"). The rendering is accurate.
- Used elsewhere in the period
This is the only place it occurs in the New Testament, and it is not found in the standard Septuagint. Lexicons (BDAG) list it with the plain sense "strengthen". Its rarity suggests the writer reached for an extra strength word to fill out the series.
Where it appears
1 Peter · 1
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1 Peter 5:10 σθενώσει, he will strengthen [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 make you strong". The word appears only here in the New Testament. It means giving strength (sthenos) to someone worn down.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.