Quick Definition
βεβαιόω v. I confirm, ratify
Strong's Definition
from 949; to stabilitate (figuratively)
KJV Usage: confirm, (e-)stablish
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | βάσις · βέβαιος · βεβαίωσις · βέβηλος · βεβηλόω · βῆμα · βωμός
31.91 · Hold a View, Believe, Trust · Trust, Rely
to cause to believe, to establish in belief (derivative of βέβαιος[b] ‘dependable, reliable,’ 31.90) to cause someone to be firm or established in belief For another interpretation of βεβαιόω in MRK 16:20, see βεβαιόω[b] 28.44.
28.44 · Know · Well Known, Clearly Shown, Revealed
to confirm, to verify, to prove to be true and certain, confirmation, verification to cause something to be known as certain For another interpretation of βεβαιόω in MRK 16:20, see βεβαιόω[a] 31.91.
74.17 · (βεβαιόομαι) · Able, Capable
to receive more inner strength, to be strengthened in one’s heart to increase in inner strength, with the implication of greater firmness of character or attitude
1 The meanings of βέβαιος[c] (28.43), βεβαιόω[b] and βεβαίωσις (28.44) involve two quite distinct sets of semantic features. There is the obvious element of that which is confirmed, verified, and true (meanings which could be classified in Domain 72 True, False) as well as the process of making such information known. These meanings could therefore be treated in either domain.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
βεβαιόω, -@; fut. βεβαιώσω ; 1 aor. ἐβεβαίωσα; Pass., [pres. βεβαιοῦμαι] : 1 aor. ἐβεβαιώθην ; (βέβαιος) ; to make Jirm, establish, confirm, make sure : τὸν λόγον, to prove its truth and divinity, Mk. xvi. 20; ras ἐπαγγελίας make good the promises by the event, i. e. fulfil them, Ro. xv. 8 (so also in Grk. writ. as Diod. 1,5); Pass. : τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ, 1 Co.i. 6; ἡ σωτηρία . . . εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη, a constructio praegnans [ W. ὃ 66, 2 d.] which may be resolved into εἰς ἡμᾶς παρεδόθη καὶ ἐν ἡμῖν βέβαιος ἐγένετο, Heb. ii. 3 οὗ. 2; see βέβαιος. of men made steadfast and constant in soul: Heb. xiii. 9; 1 Co. i. 8 (βεβαιώσει ὑμᾶς ἀνεγκλήτους will so confirm you that ye may be unreprovable [W. § 59, 6 fin.]); 2 Co. i. 21 (βεβαιῶν ἡμᾶς εἰς Χριστόν, causing us to be steadfast in our fellowship with Christ; cf. Meyer ad loc.); ἐν τῇ πίστει, Col. ii. 7 [LT Tr WH om. ἐν]. (In Grk. writ. fr. Thue. and Plat. down.) [Comp.: δια-βεβαιόομαι.}
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
βεβαιόω bebaioō 8x
to confirm, establish; to render constant and unwavering, 1 Cor. 1:8; to strengthen or establish by arguments or proofs, ratify, Mk. 16:20; to verify, as promises, Rom. 15:8
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
βεβαιόω, -ῶ
(< βέβαιος), [in LXX: Ps 40 (41):12 (נצב hi.), 118 (119):28 (קוּם pi.), III Mac 5:42*;]
to confirm, establish, secure, of things (cl.): λόγον, Mk 16:[20]; ἐπαγγελίας, Ro 15:8; of persons (DCG, ii, 605): I Co 1:8, II Co 1:21. Pass., I Co 1:6, Col 2:7, He 2:3 13:9 (as an Attic legal term, to guarantee the validity of a purchase, establish or confirm a title; v. next word, Cremer, 139; cf. δια-β.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
βεβαιόω. The verb is very common in the juristic sense noted under βέβαιος : see e.g. P Petr IIT. 74(a)* βεβαιώσω σοι, ‘I shall give you a guarantee,” P Amh 11. 9519 (A.p. 109) ἐὰν δὲ ἐϊπέλθ[ω ἢ μὴ β]εβα[ιώσω, ἥ τ᾽ ἔφο]δος [ἄκυρος ἔ]στ[ω, “ if I make a claim or fail to- guarantee the sale, the claim shall be invalid” (Edd.), P Fay 9219 (a.p. 126) βεβαιώσιν πά[σ]ῃ βεβαιώσι, ‘will guarantee the sale with every guarantee.” Note also the recurrent formula in which a vendor promises βεβαιοῦν καὶ πάντα τὸν ἐπελευσόμενον ἀποστήσειν παραχρῆμα τοῖς ἰδίοις δαπανήμασιν : so BGU IV. 113125 (B.C. 13) etc. Hence it is that Paul, associating B. with another legal term ἀρραβών (see ».v.), the guaranteeing the delivery of something of which the earnest has already been paid, can describe the relation of God to believers in 2 Cor rf; Deissmann BS, p. 230, quotes BGU II. 44618 (A.D. 158-9) (= Chrest. II. p. 295) στερίκεθαι (2. ἐ. στερίσκεσθαι) αὐτὸν τοῦ ἀραβῶνος, ἔτι δὲ kal βεβαιώσιν (fut. inf.) αὐτὴν Σωτηρίαν τὰ κατὰ ταύτην τὴν ὁμολογίαν πάσῃ βεβαιώσει. For the possibly weaker sense of ‘* accomplish,” “fulfil” in Rom 158 Roufhac (p. 48) cites rene 123°, where a magistrate, having promised on entering on office to make a distribution of beef, ἐβεβαίωσεν δὲ τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν παραστήϊσ]ας μὲν τοῖς ἐντεμενίοις θεοῖς τὴν θυσίαν, “" fulfilled his promise by making a sacrifice to the gods (and distributing the flesh to those entered on the list).” Cf. BGU IV. 107318 (A.D. 275) (= Chrest. Il. p. 219) καὶ κατὰ τὰ εἰθισμένα προσκυνήσαντες τὰ δεῖα (/. θεῖα) ἔτι μᾶλλον ταῦτα αὐτῷ ἐβεβαιώσαμεν. Another instance of a less technical use is in P Oxy VIII. rr1g}7 (A.D. 254) διαδεξάμενοι τὴν βασιλείαν τὴν ὑπάρχουσ]αν ἡμεῖν καὶ ἐν τούτου ἄδιαν ἐ[βεβ]ᾳίωσαν πολλάκις, ‘‘[Hadrian’s] successors on the throne often confirmed our immunity in this respect ” (Ed.).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
βεβαιόω (bebaioō) — to confirm. βεβαι-όω, confirm, establish, make good, τοῖς δικασταῖς τὴν δόξαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔργῳ βεβαιούμενα, opposed to ἀκοῇ λεγόμενα, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; β. λόγον make good one's word, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; treat as valid, τὰς αὑτῶν αἰσθήσεις [Refs 4th c.BC+]; β. τινί τι secure one the possession of a thing, οὐδ᾽ ἡμῖν αὐτοῖς βεβαιοῦμεν [τὴν ἐλευθερίαν] [NT+5th c.BC+]:—middle, establish for oneself, secure, σφᾶς αὐτούς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν ἀρχήν, τὴν φιλίαν τινός, [Refs]; β. τινάς confirm them in one's interest,[Refs 2nd c.BC+]
2. middle, secure one's ground in argument, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; confirm oneself in an opinion, [Refs]
3. guarantee the validity of a purchase, warrant the purchaser's title, β. τινὶ τὸ βαλανεῖον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν μίσθωσιν [Refs 1st c.BC+]: generally, β. τοὺς κανόνας [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II. intransitive, determine, show itself positively, τοῖσιν ἐνδοιαστῶς ἔχουσι.. ἐβεβαίωσε [ἡ νοῦσος] [Refs 5th c.BC+]