verb
katastēamō
Strong’sG2525
I set, establish, appoint, conduct
stem katastē-21 times in the New Testamentin 8 of 27 books10 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
To appoint, establish, or make someone or something so — to set a person in a position, role, or office (such as a judge, ruler, leader, guardian, or high priest), or more generally to bring a person or thing into a given state or condition 1234.
To bring or conduct a person to a place, escorting them there 13; Strong's and Dodson likewise render this side of the word as "convoy" or "conduct" 24.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
καθ-ίστημι
(and καθιστάνω, Ac 17:15), [in LXX for פּקד, קוּם, שׂוּם, etc., 24 words in all*;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2525 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
A in causal sense:—active, in present, imperfect, future, and perfect καθέστᾰκα LXX+4th c.BC+: pluperfect -εστάκειRefs 2nd c.AD+:—also in middle, future Refs 2nd c.AD+, aorist 1, more rarely present (below Refs 4th c.BC+:—set down, κρητῆρα καθίστα Refs 8th c.BC+; νῆα κατάστησον bring it to land, Refs 8th c.BC+; κ. δίφρους place, station them, before starting for the race, Refs 5th c.BC+; ποῖ [δεῖ] καθιστάναι πόδ; Refs 5th c.BC+; set up, erect, of stones, Refs —middle, [λαῖφος] κατεστήσαντο βοεῦσι steadied it, Refs
A.2 bring down to a place, τούς μ᾽ ἐκέλευσα Πύλονδε καταστῆσαι Refs 8th c.BC+: generally, bring, κ. τινὰ ἐς Νάξον Refs 5th c.BC+; especially bring back, πάλιν αὐτὸν κ. ἐς τὸ τεῖχος σῶν καὶ ὑγιᾶ Refs 5th c.BC+; without πάλιν, replace, restore, ἐς φῶς σὸν κ. βίον Refs 5th c.BC+; ἃς (i.e. τὰς κόρας) οὐδ᾽ ὁ Μελάμπους.. καταστήσειεν ἄν cure their squint, Refs 2nd c.AD+; ἰκτεριῶντας κ. Refs 1st c.AD+; τὸ σῶμα restore the general health, Refs 5th c.BC+:—middle, κατεστήσαντο (variant for{κατεκτήσαντο}) εὐδαιμονίαν Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, οὐκ ἂν ἀντὶ πόνων Χάρις καθίσταιτο would be returned, Refs 5th c.BC+
A.3 bring before a ruler or magistrate, Refs 5th c.BC+, etc.; τινὰ ἐπί τινα Refs 3rd c.BC+
A.II set in order, array, of soldiers, Refs 5th c.BC+; set as guards, προφυλακάς Refs
A.II.2 ordain, appoint, κατέστησε τύραννον εἶναι παῖδα τὸν ἑωυτοῦ Refs 5th c.BC+: usually without the infinitive, κ. τινὰ ὕπαρχον Refs; ἄλλον [ἄρχοντα] ἀντὶ αὐτοῦ LXX+5th c.BC+; δικαστάς, ἐπιμελητάς, νομοθέτας, Refs 5th c.BC+; of games, etc., γυμνικοὺς ἀγῶνας κ. Refs 5th c.BC+: rarely with infinitive, οἱ καθιστάντες μουσικῇ.. παιδεύειν Refs 5th c.BC+:—so in passive, κυβερνᾶν κατασταθείς Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist middle, appoint for oneself, τύραννον καταστησάμενοι παρὰ. σφίσι αὐτοῖσι Refs 5th c.BC+
A.II.2.b especially of laws, constitutions, ceremonies, etc., establish, νόμους, τελετάς, Refs 5th c.BC+; πολιτείαν, δημοκρατίαν, Refs 5th c.BC+; also, set in order, arrange, πολιτείαν Refs 5th c.BC+:—also in middle, τοῦτο βουλευτήριον φρούρημα γῆς καθίσταμαι Refs 5th c.BC+; πρὸς ἐμὲ τὸ πρᾶγμα καταστήσασθαι settle it with me, Refs 4th c.BC+
A.II.3 bring into a certain state, τινὰ ἐς ἀπόνοιαν Refs 5th c.BC+; τίνας εἰς ἀγῶνα καθέστακ; Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. ἑαυτὸν ἐς κρίσιν present himself for trial, Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. τινὰ εἰς τοὺς ἀρχικούς reckon him as one of.., Refs 5th c.BC+
A.II.4 with double accusative, make, render so and so, ψευδῆ γ᾽ ἐμαυτόν Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ πιστὸν ὑμᾶς ἀπιστοτέρους κ. Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. τι φανερόν, σαφές, Refs; τινὸς ἐπίπονον τὸν βίον κ. Refs 5th c.BC+participle, κλαίοντα καθιστάναι τινά bring one to tears, Refs 5th c.BC+infinitive, κ. τινὰ φεύγειν make him fly, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, ἀνάγκη τὴν ναυμαχίαν πεζομαχίαν καθίστασθαι Refs 5th c.BC+
A.II.5 middle, get for oneself, τὴν ζόην καταστήσασθαι ἀπ᾽ ἔργων ἀνοσιωτάτων Refs 5th c.BC+
A.II.6 make, in periphrases, πάννυχοι.. διάπλοον καθίστασαν Refs 4th c.BC+ —middle, κρυφαῖον ἔκπλουν οὐδαμῇ καθίστατοRefs
B intransitive in aorist 2, perfect καθέστηκα, and pluperfect of active (also future καθεστήξω Refs 5th c.BC+middle (except aorist 1) and passive: perfect καθέσταμαιLXX+2nd c.BC+:—to be set, set oneself down, settle, ἐς [Αἴγιναν] Refs 5th c.BC+; [ὀδύναι] καθίσταντο ἐς ὑπογάστριον Refs 5th c.BC+; of joints, ἐξίσταται ἀνωδύνως καὶ κ. goes out of joint and in again, Refs; κ. ἐς Ῥήγιον to make R. a base of operations, Refs 5th c.BC+; simply, to be come to a place, ὅποι καθέσταμεν Refs 5th c.BC+
B.b come before another, stand in his presence, Refs 5th c.BC+ (unless it be taken in signification Refs 5th c.BC+
B.2 to be set as guard, ὑπό τινος Refs 5th c.BC+; to be appointed, δεσπότης.. καθέστηκα Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. Χορηγὸς εἰς Θαργήλια, στρατηγός, etc., Refs 5th c.BC+; δικτάτωρ.. καθε[στάμενος τὸ τέταρτον], = Latin dictator designatus quartum, of Caesar, Refs
B.3 deposit a sediment, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.4 also, stand or become quiet or calm, of water, ὅταν ἡ λίμνη καταστῇ Refs 5th c.BC+; θάλασσα γαληνὴ καὶ κ. Refs 2nd c.BC+; πνεῦμα λεῖον καὶ καθεστηκός calm and settled, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὁ θόρυβος κατέστη subsided, Refs 5th c.BC+; of laughter, Refs 2nd c.AD+; of a swelling, Refs 5th c.BC+; also of persons, καταστάς composedly, Refs 4th c.BC+; [ἡ ψυχὴ] καθίσταται καὶ ἠρεμίζεται Refs 4th c.BC+; ὁρῶμεν [τοὺς ἐνθουσιαστικοὺς].. καθισταμένους Refs 1st c.BC+; καθεστῶτι προσώπῳ with composed, calm countenance, Refs 1st c.AD+; τίς ἂν καθεστηκὼς φήσαι; what person of mature judgement would say.. ? Refs 1st c.BC+; ἡ καθεστηκυῖα ἡλικία middle age, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡλικία μέση καὶ κ. Refs 5th c.BC+; οἱ καθεστηκότες those of middle age, Refs 5th c.BC+: also, with metaphor from wine, mellow, of persons, Refs 2nd c.AD+
B.5 come into a certain state, become, and in perfect and pluperfect, to have become, be, ἀντὶ φίλου πολέμιόν τινι κ. Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐς τὸ αὐτό they recover, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐς δέος, λύπην, Refs 5th c.BC+; εἰς ὁμόνοιαν, εἰς πολλὴν ἀθυμίαν, Refs 5th c.BC+; καταστῆναι ἐς συνήθειάν τινος τὴν πόλιν ποιεῖν make the city become accustomed to it, Refs 4th c.BC+had been, Refs 5th c.BC+; τίνι τρόπῳ καθέστατ; in what case are ye? Refs 5th c.BC+; φονέα με φησὶ.. καθεστάναιRefs 5th c.BC+; ἐν οἵῳ τρόπῳ [ἡ τῶν Ἀθηναίων ἀρχὴ] κατέστη how it came into being, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀρξάμενος εὐθὺς καθισταμένου (i.e. τοῦ πολέμου) from its first commencement, Refs
B.6 to be established or instituted, prevail, καί σφι μαντήϊον Διὸς κατέστηκε Refs 5th c.BC+; ὅδε σφι νόμος κατεστήκεεRefs 5th c.BC+: with infinitive, θεὸν Ἀμφιάραον πρώτοις Ὠρωπίοις κατέστη νομίζειν Refs 2nd c.AD+: perfect participle, existing, established, prevailing, τὸν νῦν κατεστεῶτα κόσμονRefs; τοὺς κατεστεῶτας τριηκοσίους the regularRefs 5th c.BC+; τὰ καθεστῶτα the present state of life, Refs 5th c.BC+; also, existing laws, usages, τὰ τότε κ., τά ποτε κ., Refs 5th c.BC+
B.7 of purchases, cost, πλέον ἢ ὅσου ἐμοὶ κατέστησαν more than they stood me in, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.8 stand against, oppose, πρός τινα uncertain reading in Refs 2nd c.BC+:—passive, Τιτήνεσσι κατέσταθεν Refs 8th c.BC+
C aorist 1 middle and sometimes present middle are used in transitive sense, see above Refs 4th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| katastēatōκαθίστησιν | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | keep | 2× |
| katastēotōκαθίσταται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | appointed | 4× |
| katastēamiκαταστήσω | will happen · Ifuture active indicative 1st person singular | put … incharge | 2× |
| katastēatiκαταστήσει | will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular | put … incharge | 3× |
| katastēaniκαταστήσομεν | will happen · wefuture active indicative 1st person plural | appoint | 1× |
| katastēiliκατασταθήσονται | will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural | made | 1× |
| katastēataκατέστησεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | made | 5× |
| katastēilaκατεστάθησαν | happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural | made | 1× |
| katastēaseiaκαταστήσῃς | happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular | appoint | 1× |
| katastēarōntoisκαθιστάνοντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | conducted | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 19 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katastēamō | katastēame | katastēami2×καταστήσω | katastēama | katastēamē | katastēamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | katastēasō | katastēase | katastēasi | katastēasa | katastēasē | katastēaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēatō2×καθίστησιν | katastēate | katastēati3×καταστήσει | katastēata5×κατέστησεν | katastēatē | katastēatelē |
| we 1st person plural | katastēanō | katastēane | katastēani1×καταστήσομεν | katastēana | katastēanē | katastēanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēavō | katastēave | katastēavi | katastēava | katastēavē | katastēavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēalō | katastēale | katastēali | katastēala | katastēalē | katastēalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katastēomō | katastēome | katastēomē | katastēomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | katastēosō | katastēose | katastēosē | katastēoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēotō4×καθίσταται | katastēote | katastēotē | katastēotelē |
| we 1st person plural | katastēonō | katastēone | katastēonē | katastēonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēovō | katastēove | katastēovē | katastēovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēolō | katastēole | katastēolē | katastēolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katastēimi | katastēima |
| you 2nd person singular | katastēisi | katastēisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēiti | katastēita |
| we 1st person plural | katastēini | katastēina |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēivi | katastēiva |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēili1×κατασταθήσονται | katastēila1×κατεστάθησαν |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katastēameiō | katastēameia | katastēameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | katastēaseiō | katastēaseia1×καταστήσῃς | katastēaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēateiō | katastēateia | katastēateiē |
| we 1st person plural | katastēaneiō | katastēaneia | katastēaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēaveiō | katastēaveia | katastēaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēaleiō | katastēaleia | katastēaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katastēomeiō | katastēomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | katastēoseiō | katastēoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēoteiō | katastēoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | katastēoneiō | katastēoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēoveiō | katastēoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēoleiō | katastēoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katastēimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | katastēiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēiteia |
| we 1st person plural | katastēineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēiveia |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēileia |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | katastēasōr | katastēasar | katastēasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēatōr | katastēatar | katastēatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēavōr | katastēavar | katastēavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēalōr | katastēalar | katastēalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | katastēosōr | katastēosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēotōr | katastēotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēovōr | katastēovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēolōr | katastēolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | katastēisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēivar |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katastēamoiō | katastēamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | katastēasoiō | katastēasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēatoiō | katastēatoia |
| we 1st person plural | katastēanoiō | katastēanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēavoiō | katastēavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēaloiō | katastēaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katastēomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | katastēosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | katastēonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katastēimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | katastēisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katastēitoia |
| we 1st person plural | katastēinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | katastēivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | katastēiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | katastēarō | katastēari | katastēara | katastēarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | katastēorō | katastēorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | katastēiri | katastēira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | katastēarōntos1× | katastēarintos | katastēarantos | katastēarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | katastēorōntos | katastēorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | katastēirintos | katastēirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
katastē is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
21 occurrences, every one of them listed
katastēatō“keep”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Hebrews 7:28tos nomos gar anthrōpoin katastēatō archierevoin echarōntoin asthenian, tos logos de …For the law appoints as high priests men who are …
2 Peter 1:8… kai pleonazarōnteim ouk argoin oude akarpoin katastēatō eis tan tou kuriou nu Iēsu …… to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive …
katastēotō“appointed”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular4×
Hebrews 5:1… archierevos ek anthrōpoiu laborōntos huper anthrōpoiu katastēotō teim pros ton theon, hina prosferateiō …Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them …
Hebrews 8:3… tem prosferarō dōreim tē kai thusiain katastēotō; hothen anankaiem echarō tinem kai houton …And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices …
James 3:6… tos kosmos tau adikiau tas glōssas katastēotō en tei melei nu, tas spilarōntas …… life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
James 4:4“makes”… arō tou kosmou, echthros tou theou katastēotō.… with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
katastēami“put … incharge”will happen · Ifuture active indicative 1st person singular2×
Matthew 25:21… oligeim ase pistos, epi polleiu sin katastēami; eiserchasar eis tan charan tou kuriou …… with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things …
Matthew 25:23… oligeim ase pistos, epi polleiu sin katastēami; eiserchasar eis tan charan tou kuriou …… with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things …
katastēati“put … incharge”will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular3×
Matthew 24:47… hoti epi pantei tei huparcharōntei autou katastēati auton.Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his …
Luke 12:42“put in charge”… tos pistos oikonomos, tos fronimos, hon katastēati tos kurios epi tau therapeiau autou …… then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
Luke 12:44… hoti epi pantei tei huparcharōntei autou katastēati auton.Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his …
katastēani“appoint”will happen · wefuture active indicative 1st person plural1×
Acts 6:3“appoint”… hepta plēroin pneumeu kai sofiau, hoin katastēani epi tau chreiau houtau;… among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them
katastēili“made”will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Romans 5:19… dia tau hupakoau tou henou dikaiois katastēili tois pollois.… one man the many will be made righteous.
katastēata“made”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular5×
Matthew 24:45… tos pistos doulos kai fronimos hon katastēata tos kurios epi tau oiketeiau autou …… wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the …
Luke 12:14“made”… de legata auto; Anthrōpor, tinos min katastēata kriton ē meriston epi vin?But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
Acts 7:10“made”… sofian enantion Faraō basilevou Aiguptau, kai katastēata auton hēgorōnton epi Aiguptan kai holon …… favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
Acts 7:27… plēsion apōtheta auton legarantos; Tinos sin katastēata archonton kai dikaston epi nu?… pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?
Acts 7:35… Mōuson, hon arnela legarantois; Tinos sin katastēata archonton kai dikaston, houton tos theos …… had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the …
katastēila“made”happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Romans 5:19… tau parakoau tou henou anthrōpou hamartōlois katastēila tois pollois, houtōs kai dia tau …… the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience …
katastēaseia“appoint”happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular1×
Titus 1:5… Krēta hina teim leiparōnteim epidiortheseia, kai katastēaseia kata polan presbuteroin, hōs mis si …… in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I …
katastēarōntois“conducted”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine1×
Acts 17:15“conducted”tois de katastēarōntois ton Paulon agala heōs Athēnaiu, kai …Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to …