Meaning
Verb. Occurs about 200 times in the Old Testament.
To be firm, stable, fixed, established.
Describes something that stands securely or endures.
For example, “Your throne is established (נָכוֹן) from of old” — Psalm 93:2plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPsalm 93:2
Hebrew נָכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֲךָ֣ מֵאָ֑ז מֵֽעוֹלָ֣ם אָֽתָּה ESV Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. NIV Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. NLT Your throne, O LORD, has stood from time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past. ἕτοιμοςὁθρόνοςσουἀπὸτότεἀπὸτοῦαἰῶνοςσὺεἶ
To be established, be fixed, be prepared.
Often refers to plans or purposes that are set.
For example, “The LORD’s throne is established (נָכוֹן) in the heavens.” — Psalm 103:19plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPsalm 103:19
Hebrew יְֽהוָ֗ה בַּ֭שָּׁמַיִם הֵכִ֣ין כִּסְא֑וֹ וּ֝מַלְכוּת֗וֹ בַּכֹּ֥ל מָשָֽׁלָה ESV The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. NIV The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. NLT The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. κύριοςἐντῷοὐρανῷἡτοίμασεντὸνθρόνοναὐτοῦκαὶἡβασιλείααὐτοῦπάντων…
To establish, set up, prepare, make firm.
This is the most common form and often means to make something stable or ready.
For example, “The LORD establishes (הֵכִין) his steps.” — Proverbs 16:9plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigProverbs 16:9
Hebrew לֵ֣ב אָ֭דָם יְחַשֵּׁ֣ב דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה יָכִ֥ין צַעֲדֽוֹ ESV The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. NIV In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. NLT We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. πάντατὰἔργατοῦκυρίουμετὰδικαιοσύνηςφυλάσσεταιδὲὁἀσεβὴςεἰςἡμέρανκακήν
The verb כּוּן often refers to God’s action in establishing creation, kingship, and moral order. It expresses the idea that what God does is permanent, reliable, and purposeful.
Examples:
The translators did not use a single Greek word for כּוּן; instead, they chose terms that fit the context:
Together these words paint a full picture of what it means for something (or someone) to be firmly set, trustworthy, and enduring, whether a throne, the world, or the human heart.
The same Greek verbs used in the LXX show up again in the New Testament, carrying forward the Hebrew theology of firm establishment:
| Greek verb | NT examples | Connection to כּוּן |
| στηρίζω — “to strengthen, make firm” | Luke 22:32plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigLuke 22:32 Greek ἐγὼ δὲ ἐδεήθην περὶ σοῦ ἵνα μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἡ πίστις σου. καὶ σύ ποτε ἐπιστρέψας στήρισον τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου. ESV but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.“ NIV But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers., 1 Peter 5:10plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_big1 Peter 5:10 Greek ὁ δὲ θεὸς πάσης χάριτος, ὁ καλέσας ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν αἰώνιον αὐτοῦ δόξαν ἐν Χριστῷ, ὀλίγον παθόντας αὐτὸς καταρτίσει, στηρίξει, σθενώσει, θεμελιώσει. ESV And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. NIV And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make… | God *establishes* believers just as He *establishes* His creation and throne |
| βεβαιόω — “to confirm, make sure” | 1 Corinthians 1:8plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_big1 Corinthians 1:8 Greek ὃς καὶ βεβαιώσει ὑμᾶς ἕως τέλους ἀνεγκλήτους ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. ESV who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. NLT He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.…, Hebrews 2:3plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigHebrews 2:3 Greek πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη, ESV how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, NIV how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.… | The confirming work of God parallels how He *makes firm* His word and covenant |
| θεμελιόω — “to lay a foundation” | Colossians 1:23plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigColossians 1:23 Greek εἴγε ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι καὶ ἑδραῖοι καὶ μὴ μετακινούμενοι ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου οὗ ἠκούσατε, τοῦ κηρυχθέντος ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει τῇ ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν, οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγὼ Παῦλος διάκονος. ESV if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.… | Believers are *founded* on Christ — the ultimate fulfillment of stability |
| ἑτοιμάζω — “to prepare” | Matthew 25:34plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMatthew 25:34 Greek τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ· δεῦτε, οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. ESV Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. NIV “Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of … | Echoes God's *preparing* of His throne or world in the Psalms |
| Form (Description) | English Meaning | Hebrew Spelling |
| Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular | he was established / firm | כּוּן — rare / not clearly attested |
| Niphal Perfect 3 masculine singular | he was established | נָכוֹן |
| Niphal Participle masculine singular | established, fixed | נָכוֹן |
| Niphal Infinitive Absolute | to be established | הִכּוֹן |
| Niphal Imperfect 3 masculine singular | he will be established | יִכּוֹן |
| Niphal Imperfect 3 feminine singular | she will be established | תִּכּוֹן |
| Hiphil Perfect 3 masculine singular | he established / prepared | הֵכִין |
| Hiphil Imperfect 3 masculine singular | he will establish / prepare | יָכִין |
| Hiphil Imperative masculine singular | establish! / prepare! | הָכֵן |
| Hiphil Infinitive Construct | to establish / prepare | הָכִין |
| Hiphil Participle masculine singular | establishing / preparing | מֵכִין |
| Hiphil Participle feminine singular | establishing / preparing | מְכִינָה |