Lexical Summary kataskeuazó: To prepare, construct, build, or furnish. Original Word: κατασκευάζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance build, make, ordain, prepare. From kata and a derivative of skeuos; to prepare thoroughly (properly, by external equipment; whereas hetoimazo refers rather to internal fitness); by implication, to construct, create -- build, make, ordain, prepare. see GREEK kata see GREEK skeuos see GREEK hetoimazo HELPS Word-studies 2680 kataskeuázō (from 2596 /katá, "down, exactly according to," intensifying skeuazō, "to prepare exactly, using a vessel, implement, or tool") – properly, prepare (make exactly ready), skillfully using implements according to a tooled-design. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and skeuazó (to prepare, make ready) Definition to prepare NASB Translation builder (2), built (1), construction (1), prepare (3), prepared (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2680: κατασκευάζωκατασκευάζω: future κατασκευάσω; 1 aorist κατεσκεύασα; Passive, present κατασκευάζομαι; perfect participle κατεσκευασμενος; 1 aorist κατεσκευασθην; to furnish, equip, prepare, make ready; a. of one who makes anything ready for a person or thing: τήν ὁδόν, Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27; perfect passive participle prepared in spirit, Luke 1:17 (Xenophon, Cyril 5, 5, 10). b. of builders, to construct, erect, with the included idea of adoming and equipping with all things necessary (often so in Greek authors; cf. Bleek, Brief a. d. Hebrew ii. 1, p. 398f): οἶκον, Hebrews 3:3f; κιβωτόν, Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; σκηνήν, Hebrews 9:2, 6; the Sept. for בָּרָא, Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 43:7. Strong’s Greek 2680 appears eleven times in the New Testament and consistently portrays purposeful preparation or construction carried out so that God’s redemptive purposes can advance unhindered. Whether the work is performed by God, by His appointed servants, or by faithful believers, each occurrence underscores His sovereign intention to ready people, places, and plans for His glory. The Prophetic Forerunner: Preparing the Way for the Messiah Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27 all cite the prophecy of Malachi 3:1 as applied to John the Baptist: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.” John’s ministry illustrates that spiritual preparation precedes the public manifestation of Christ. Luke 1:17 reinforces this truth: the angel foretells that John will “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Here the verb highlights an inner work—the turning of hearts—showing that true readiness involves repentance and alignment with righteousness. God the Master Builder Hebrews 3:3–4 employs the verb twice to declare that “the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself… but God is the builder of everything.” The writer contrasts Moses, who served within God’s house, with Jesus, who is worthy of greater glory as its divine architect. The imagery elevates Christ’s supremacy and reminds believers that every human work finds its source and validation in the One who fashions all things. The Tabernacle: Prepared for Worship Hebrews 9:2 records that “a tabernacle was prepared,” and verse 6 adds, “After everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room.” Meticulous preparation of the sacred space and its furnishings under the old covenant pointed toward the perfect, once-for-all ministry of Christ. Every curtain hung, lampstand positioned, and loaf of consecrated bread displayed bore witness to God’s desire for ordered, holy worship and foreshadowed the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:11). Noah’s Ark: Faith Expressed in Obedient Construction Hebrews 11:7 spotlights Noah, who “in godly fear built an ark to save his family.” 1 Peter 3:20 echoes the scene, noting that salvation took place “while the ark was being built.” Noah’s painstaking construction across many decades exemplifies faith that acts on God’s word long before visible evidence appears. The verb in both passages accents sustained obedience; Noah trusted God’s warning about “things not yet seen” and therefore readied the only means of deliverance from judgment. Ministry Implications 1. Readiness for Christ’s Work The Baptist’s role shows that effective ministry clears obstacles and calls people to repentance so that Christ might be received without hindrance. 2. Reliance on the Divine Architect Hebrews 3 teaches leaders and congregations to honor the Lord as the ultimate builder. Strategies, programs, and buildings have value only as they serve His design. 3. Ordered Worship The preparation of the tabernacle encourages thoughtful planning in corporate worship, balancing freedom of the Spirit with reverent attention to biblical patterns. 4. Persevering Obedience Noah’s example challenges believers to devote themselves to long-term assignments whose fruit may not be immediately visible. Eschatological Horizon Although the verb itself does not appear in John 14:2, its theme resonates with Jesus’ promise, “I am going there to prepare a place for you.” The preparatory acts in Scripture anticipate the final consummation, when the New Jerusalem—already “made ready as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2)—will descend. God’s preparatory work guarantees that His people will one day dwell in a perfectly constructed dwelling place. Concluding Observations Across the canon, Strong’s 2680 weaves a unified testimony: God prepares the way, the people, the place, and the means of salvation. He invites human participation, yet remains the decisive builder. Every faithful act of preparation—whether preaching repentance, constructing an ark, or organizing worship—finds its dignity and power in the certainty that the Lord Himself is fashioning all things toward His ultimate purpose in Christ. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 11:10 V-FIA-3SGRK: σου ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν NAS: AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY KJV: face, which shall prepare thy way INT: of you who will prepare the way Mark 1:2 V-FIA-3S Luke 1:17 V-RPM/P-AMS Luke 7:27 V-FIA-3S Hebrews 3:3 V-APA-NMS Hebrews 3:4 V-PIM/P-3S Hebrews 3:4 V-APA-NMS Hebrews 9:2 V-AIP-3S Hebrews 9:6 V-RPM/P-GMP Hebrews 11:7 V-AIA-3S 1 Peter 3:20 V-PPM/P-GFS Strong's Greek 2680 |
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