Lexical Summary astériktos: Unstable, unsteady Original Word: ἀστήρικτος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance unstable. From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of sterizo; unfixed, i.e. (figuratively) vacillating -- unstable. see GREEK a see GREEK sterizo HELPS Word-studies 793 astḗriktos (an adjective, derived from 1 /A "not" and 4741 /stērízō "confirm") – properly, not established (unstable), describing someone who (literally) does not have a staff to lean on – hence, a person who can not be relied on because they are not steady (do not remain fixed, i.e. unstable). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and stérizó Definition unstable, unsettled NASB Translation unstable (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 793: ἀστήρικτοςἀστήρικτος, ἀστηρικτον (στηρίζω), unstable, unsteadfast: 2 Peter 2:14; 2 Peter 3:16. (Anthol. Pal. 6, 203, 11.) Topical Lexicon Summary Strong’s Greek number 793 designates a word rendered “unstable” in English versions. It appears exclusively in the Epistle of 2 Peter, where it describes those not firmly grounded in the truth, making them susceptible to error and complicit in the spread of false teaching. By situating the term in Peter’s wider argument, Scripture presents a vivid contrast between the steadfastness produced by knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:2–10) and the peril faced by souls who lack such stability. Biblical Usage in 2 Peter • 2 Peter 2:14 – False teachers “entice unstable souls.” The term underscores the vulnerability of individuals who have not yet been strengthened in doctrine and moral resolve. Moral and Spiritual Characterization Unstable persons in 2 Peter are: 1. Morally exposed (2 Peter 2:14)—easily drawn into sensuality and greed. Historical Setting of 2 Peter The epistle addresses late–first-century congregations threatened by itinerant teachers who denied the future return of Christ and promoted libertine ethics (2 Peter 3:3–4). In this context, spiritual stability was not optional; it was the safeguard against apostasy. Peter writes shortly before his martyrdom (1:14), urging believers to be “established in the truth” (1:12). The rare term under Strong’s 793 therefore carries weight as a deliberate marker of the peril facing immature disciples in an environment of theological upheaval. Connection with Old Testament and Early Church Witness • The image parallels the Septuagint’s depiction of the “double-hearted” (Psalm 12:2) and the “man of a divided mind” in James 1:8. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Catechesis: Robust instruction in apostolic doctrine fortifies believers against manipulation. Doctrinal Significance Peter’s coupling of instability with the distortion of “the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16) affirms the unity and authority of both Old Testament and apostolic writings. Failure to be anchored in the whole counsel of God opens the door to misinterpretation, proving that orthodoxy and orthopraxy stand or fall together. Practical Exhortations for the Church Today • Cultivate a comprehensive grasp of Scripture, resisting selective reading that breeds imbalance. Related Terms and Concepts Steadfastness (1 Corinthians 15:58), firm foundation (2 Timothy 2:19), rooted and built up (Colossians 2:7), maturity (Ephesians 4:14–15). Together these passages construct a biblical theology of spiritual stability that counters the peril signified by Strong’s 793. Forms and Transliterations αστηρικτοι αστήρικτοι ἀστήρικτοι αστηρικτους αστηρίκτους ἀστηρίκτους asteriktoi astēriktoi astḗriktoi asteriktous asteríktous astēriktous astēríktousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Peter 2:14 Adj-AFPGRK: δελεάζοντες ψυχὰς ἀστηρίκτους καρδίαν γεγυμνασμένην NAS: enticing unstable souls, KJV: beguiling unstable souls: INT: alluring souls unestablished a heart exercised 2 Peter 3:16 Adj-NMP Strong's Greek 793 |
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