Bible Encyclopedia: Certainty

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CERTAIN; CERTAINLY; CERTAINTY

ser'-tin, ser'-tin-li, ser'tin-ti: The rendering of some Hebrew words and forms expressive of what is definitely settled or determined.

(1) Translation of the Hebrew nakhon, "to be established" or "fixed," as in Deuteronomy 13:14 (Hebrew 15); Deuteronomy 17:4; 1 Samuel 23:23 (of Exodus 16:4, "a certain rate every day" the King James Version). In the New Testament it is the rendering of asphales, asphaleia, from "a" privative and sphallein, "to shake" or "move"; as in Luke 1:4, "the certainty of those things" = actual circumstances; Acts 21:34; Acts 22:30; Acts 25:26.

(2) The word "certain" is also employed in the Old Testament to bring out the force of the absolute infinitive form used with the finite verb to express emphasis or to strengthen the idea of the main verb (Kautzsch-Gesenius, Hebrew Grammar, translation Collins-Cowley, 357, 3). Such usage occurs in Genesis 18:10 Joshua 9:24 Leviticus 5:19; Leviticus 24:16 1 Samuel 20:3 the King James Version; 1 Kings 2:37 Jeremiah 26:15; Jeremiah 36:29; Jeremiah 42:19, 22; 44:17:00.

(3) The word "certain" is also made auxiliary to bring out the force of such expressions as the Hebrew yatsabh, "to be firm," as in Daniel 2:8; also in the New Testament, of the verb astatein as in 1 Corinthians 4:11, "have no certain dwelling-place."

(4) Mention might be made also of "certain" as the rendering of sundry words, as 'akh, in Lamentations 2:16; ki, in Exodus 3:12; and ontos, in Luke 23:47, all being expressions for what is sure, beyond doubt.

W. N. Stearns

Greek

803. asphaleia -- certainty, security
... certainty, security. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: asphaleia Phonetic
Spelling: (as-fal'-i-ah) Short Definition: safety, security, reliability ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/803.htm - 6k

1097. ginosko -- to come to know, recognize, perceive
... root gno- Definition to come to know, recognize, perceive NASB Word Usage ascertaining
(1), aware (7), certainty (1), come to know (1), comprehend (1), felt (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1097.htm - 12k

5039. tekmerion -- a sure sign
... Neuter of a presumed derivative of tekmar (a goal or fixed limit); a token (as
defining a fact), ie Criterion of certainty -- infallible proof. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5039.htm - 6k

3982. peitho -- to persuade, to have confidence
... to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent
(to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty) -- agree, assure ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3982.htm - 10k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... "Faith always has the element of assurance, certainty and confidence . . . and
evidential value substantiating the thing we hope for . . . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

Strong's Hebrew

3321. yetsab -- to make certain, gain certainty
... 3320, 3321. yetsab. 3322 . to make certain, gain certainty. Transliteration:
yetsab Phonetic Spelling: (yets-abe') Short Definition: meaning. ...
/hebrew/3321.htm - 6k

3559. kun -- to be firm
... root Definition to be firm NASB Word Usage aim (1), appointed (1), carried (1),
certain (2), certainty (1), confirm (2), confirmed (1), consider (1), could (1 ...
/hebrew/3559.htm - 7k

7189b. qosht -- truth
... truth. Transliteration: qosht Short Definition: certainty. Word Origin from an unused
word Definition truth NASB Word Usage certainty (1), truth (1). ...
/hebrew/7189b.htm - 5k

3330. yatstsiyb -- certain, true
... certainty, true, truth (Aramaic) from ytseb; fixed, sure; concretely, certainty --
certain(-ty), true, truth. see HEBREW ytseb. 3329, 3330. yatstsiyb. 3330a ...
/hebrew/3330.htm - 5k

3045. yada -- to know
... informed (4), instruct (3), instructed (1), intimate friends (1), investigate (2),
knew (38), know (542), know for certain (4), know with certainty (1), know ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

571. emeth -- firmness, faithfulness, truth
... Contracted from 'aman; stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness --
assured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th ...
/hebrew/571.htm - 6k

Library

'Sober Certainty'
... 'SOBER CERTAINTY'. 'And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know
of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/sober certainty.htm

The Certainty and Joy of the Resurrection
... CORINTHIANS (To II Corinthians, Chap. V) THE CERTAINTY AND JOY OF THE RESURRECTION.
'But ... I. The certainty of Christ's Resurrection. 'Now ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the certainty and joy of.htm

Whether There is Certainty in the Hope of a Wayfarer?
... OF THE SUBJECT OF HOPE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether there is certainty in the hope of
a wayfarer? ... But certainty pertains not to the will but to the intellect. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there is certainty in.htm

On the Authority and Certainty of the Sacred Scriptures
... DISPUTATION 1 ON THE AUTHORITY AND CERTAINTY OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES.
RESPONDENT: BERNARD VESUKIUS I. The authority of Scripture ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 1 on the authority.htm

The Need for Certainty.
... BOOK I. THE MAN. CHAPTER III. The Need for Certainty. One of ... down! The way
of certainty is the way of the extended hand. Ultimately ...
/.../jackson/the message and the man/chapter iii the need for.htm

The Sense and Certainty of this Election Afford to the Children of ...
... First Head of Doctrine. Divine Election and Reprobation Article 13 The sense and
certainty of this election afford to the children of God additional matter� ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/various/the canons of dordt/article 13 the sense and.htm

On the Authority and Certainty of the Holy Scriptures
... DISPUTATION VI ON THE AUTHORITY AND CERTAINTY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. The
authority of the word of God, which is comprised in the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation vi on the authority.htm

Certainty of Our Justification.
... JUSTIFICATION. XXXIII. Certainty of Our Justification. "Being justified freely by
His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.""Romans 3:24. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxiii certainty of our justification.htm

The Certainty of Sacred Theology
... ORATION III The Certainty Of Sacred Theology. THE CERTAINTY OF SACRED THEOLOGY
Although the observations which I have already offered ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/oration iii the certainty of.htm

This Certainty of Perseverance, However, is So Far from Exciting ...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Article 12 This certainty of perseverance, however,
is so far from exciting in believers a spirit of� This ...
/.../various/the canons of dordt/article 12 this certainty of.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The quality, state, or condition, of being certain.

2. (n.) A fact or truth unquestionable established.

3. (n.) Clearness; freedom from ambiguity; lucidity.

Thesaurus

Certainty (23 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CERTAIN; CERTAINLY; CERTAINTY. ser ... WN Stearns.
Multi-Version Concordance Certainty (23 Occurrences). Luke ...
/c/certainty.htm - 16k

Omniscience
... also the issue of the exercise of freewill on the part of man, the problem arises,
how the contingent character of such decisions and the certainty of the ...
/o/omniscience.htm - 18k

Nacon (1 Occurrence)
... In 1 Samuel 23:23 the word nakhon occurs, and is translated "of a certainty," margin
"with the certainty" or "to a set place"; also in 1 Samuel 26:4 it is ...
/n/nacon.htm - 7k

Floor (69 Occurrences)
... In 1 Samuel 23:23 the word nakhon occurs, and is translated "of a certainty," margin
"with the certainty" or "to a set place"; also in 1 Samuel 26:4 it is ...
/f/floor.htm - 32k

Threshing (57 Occurrences)
... In 1 Samuel 23:23 the word nakhon occurs, and is translated "of a certainty," margin
"with the certainty" or "to a set place"; also in 1 Samuel 26:4 it is ...
/t/threshing.htm - 28k

Certain
... 8. (n.) Certainty. 9. (n.) A certain number or quantity. 10. (adv.) Certainly.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CERTAIN; CERTAINLY; CERTAINTY. ...
/c/certain.htm - 9k

Assurance (16 Occurrences)
... That such a certainty may be attained appears from the testimony of Scripture (Romans
8:16; 1 John 2:3; 3:14), from the command to seek after it (Hebrews 6:11 ...
/a/assurance.htm - 16k

Mightest (21 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV DBY WBS). Luke 1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those
things, wherein thou hast been instructed. (KJV ASV DBY). ...
/m/mightest.htm - 13k

Surety (21 Occurrences)
... shoor'-ti: This word is used in three different connections or groups: (1) As a
derivative of the word "sure" it means "of a certainty" or "surely."-In Genesis ...
/s/surety.htm - 18k

Prophets (270 Occurrences)
... the product of their own feelings, fears or hopes, but, as something extraneous
to man and independent of him, it has with a divine certainty entered the soul ...
/p/prophets.htm - 69k

Bible Concordance

Certainty (23 Occurrences)

Luke 1:4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

John 17:8 Because I have given them the words which you gave to me; and they have taken them to heart, and have certain knowledge that I came from you, and they have faith that you sent me.
(See NIV)

Acts 12:11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, Now I know with certainty, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
(WBS)

Acts 21:34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Acts 22:30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Acts 23:28 And, wishing to know with certainty the offense of which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrin,
(WEY)

Acts 24:8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee; of whom thou canst thyself, in examining him, know the certainty of all these things of which we accuse him.
(DBY)

1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in the foot-race the runners all run, but that only one gets the prize? You must run like him, in order to win with certainty.
(WEY)

Ephesians 5:5 Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God.
(See NAS)

Colossians 2:2 in order that their hearts may be cheered, they themselves being welded together in love and enjoying all the advantages of a reasonable certainty, till at last they attain the full knowledge of God's truth, which is Christ Himself.
(WEY)

1 Thessalonians 1:5 The Good News that we brought you did not come to you in words only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, for you know the sort of men we became among you, as examples for your sakes.
(WEY)

Joshua 9:24 And they answered Joshua, and said: 'Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were sore afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
(See RSV)

Joshua 23:13 know for a certainty that Yahweh your God will no longer drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS)

1 Samuel 20:9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for, if I knew with certainty that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, would I not tell it thee?
(DBY)

1 Samuel 23:23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come again to me with certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall happen, if he is in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS)

1 Samuel 26:4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
(ASV JPS RSV)

Psalms 5:9 For there is no certainty in their mouth; their inward part is perversion, their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
(DBY)

Proverbs 22:21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Jeremiah 42:19 Jehovah hath spoken against you, O remnant of Judah, do not enter Egypt: know certainly that I have testified against you to-day;
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 42:22 And now, know ye certainly that by sword, by famine, and by pestilence ye die, in the place that ye have desired to go in to sojourn there.'
(See RSV)

Daniel 2:8 The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Daniel 7:16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the certainty of all this. And he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things:
(DBY YLT)

Daniel 7:19 Then I desired to know the certainty concerning the fourth beast, which was different from them all, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the rest with its feet;
(DBY YLT)

Subtopics

Certainty

Related Terms

Omniscience

Nacon (1 Occurrence)

Floor (69 Occurrences)

Threshing (57 Occurrences)

Certain

Assurance (16 Occurrences)

Mightest (21 Occurrences)

Surety (21 Occurrences)

Prophets (270 Occurrences)