Word study
Appoint
16 Hebrew and 8 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: appointed, appoint, appointing, appoints. English often uses one word where Hebrew or Greek has several, each with its own shade of meaning. Under each word are verses where it is translated this way; choose the word itself for its full study: every verse, how else it is translated, the forms it takes and what the dictionaries say.
At a glance
How often each original word is translated “appoint” or one of its forms.
Compare the Hebrew words side by side Compare the Greek words side by side
Hebrew and Aramaic words (Old Testament)
- מוֹעֵד môêdappointed time, place, meetingtranslated this way 52 times of its 223 uses · Strong’s H4150Noun · Translated: Meeting 146, appointed feasts 20, appointed time 14, time 9Full study and all 213 verses →
Genesis 18:14 Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you — in about a year — and Sarah will have a son.”
Exodus 13:10 Therefore you shall keep this statute at the appointed time year after year.
- פָּקַד pâqadattend to, visit, muster, appointtranslated this way 26 times of its 294 uses · Strong’s H6485Verb · Translated: punish 41, numbered 26, appointed 15, counted 14Full study and all 267 verses →
Genesis 41:34 Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
Numbers 1:50 Instead, you are to appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its articles, care for it, and camp around it.
- נָתַן nâthangive, put, settranslated this way 24 times of its 1,957 uses · Strong’s H5414Verb · Translated: give 326, gave 206, given 187, put 135Full study and all 1,785 verses →
- שׂוּם sûmput, place, settranslated this way 23 times of its 560 uses · Strong’s H7760Verb · Translated: put 84, set 71, make 45, made 39Full study and all 533 verses →
Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people — God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Deuteronomy 1:13 Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
- עָמַד âmadtake one's stand, standtranslated this way 15 times of its 508 uses · Strong’s H5975Verb · Translated: stood 99, stand 95, standing 50, stands 12Full study and all 485 verses →
- צָוָה tsâvâhlay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, ordertranslated this way 9 times of its 491 uses · Strong’s H6680Verb · Translated: commanded 271, command 41, gave 16, instructed 13Full study and all 473 verses →
- מָנָה mânâhcount, number, reckon, assigntranslated this way 7 times of its 28 uses · Strong’s H4487Verb · Translated: count 6, appointed 6, numbered 3, counted 2Full study and all 27 verses →
Job 7:3 So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed to me.
Psalm 61:7 May he sit enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness to guard him.
- עָשָׂה âsâhdo, maketranslated this way 4 times of its 2,478 uses · Strong’s H6213Verb · Translated: done 292, made 265, make 143, did 112Full study and all 2,206 verses →
- מְנָא menâcount, appointtranslated this way 4 times of its 5 uses · Strong’s H4483Verb · Translated: appointed 3, appoint 1, numbered 1Full study and all 5 verses →
Ezra 7:25 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates — all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them.
Daniel 2:24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”
- מָלַךְ mâlakbe or become king, or queen, reigntranslated this way 3 times of its 340 uses · Strong’s H4427Verb · Translated: reigned 132, became king 68, reign 36, king 32Full study and all 283 verses →
1 Samuel 8:22 “Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”
2 Kings 8:20 In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king.
- קוּם qûmarise, standtranslated this way 3 times of its 34 uses · Strong’s H6966Verb · Translated: set 10, stood 3, appointed 2, arise 2Full study and all 30 verses →
Ezra 6:18 They also appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their groups to the service of God in Jerusalem, according to what is written in the Book of Moses.
Daniel 5:11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king,
- זָמַן zâmanbe fixed, appointedtranslated this way 3 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s H2163Verb · Translated: appointed 3Full study and all 3 verses →
Ezra 10:14 Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”
Nehemiah 10:34 We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.
- קוּם qûmarise, stand up, standtranslated this way 3 times of its 594 uses · Strong’s H6965Verb · Translated: rise 68, got 61, set 44, Get 42Full study and all 570 verses →
Deuteronomy 28:36 The LORD will bring you and the king you appoint to a nation neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you will worship other gods— gods of wood and stone.
- יָכַח yâkachdecide, adjudge, provetranslated this way 2 times of its 56 uses · Strong’s H3198Verb · Translated: rebuke 13, rebukes 3, appointed 2, judge 2Full study and all 54 verses →
Genesis 24:14 Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’— let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
Genesis 24:44 and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well,’ may she be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.
- פָּקִיד pâqîdcommissioner, deputy, overseertranslated this way 2 times of its 13 uses · Strong’s H6496Noun · Translated: officer 3, commissioners 2, appointed 2, overseer 2Full study and all 13 verses →
2 Kings 25:19 Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as five royal advisors. He also took the scribe of the captain of the army, who had enlisted the people of the land, and sixty men who were found in the city.
Jeremiah 52:25 Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as seven trusted royal advisers. He also took the scribe of the captain of the army, who had enlisted the people of the land, and sixty men who were found in the city.
- שִׁית shîthput, settranslated this way 2 times of its 80 uses · Strong’s H7896Verb · Translated: set 13, make 7, put 6, placed 5Full study and all 78 verses →
Job 14:13 If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!
Hosea 6:11 Also for you, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore My people from captivity.
Greek words (New Testament)
- τίθημι títhēmiI put, placetranslated this way 8 times of its 98 uses · Strong’s G5087Verb · Translated: put 18, placed 12, lay 12, laid 10Full study and all 94 verses →
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will remain — so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- καθίστημι kathístēmiI set, establish, appoint, conducttranslated this way 6 times of its 20 uses · Strong’s G2525Verb · Translated: appointed 4, made 4, put him in charge 2, put 2Full study and all 19 verses →
Luke 12:14 But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
Acts 7:10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
- καιρός kairósfitting season, opportunity, timetranslated this way 4 times of its 82 uses · Strong’s G2540Noun · Translated: time 44, times 9, appointed time 4, harvest time 4Full study and all 77 verses →
Matthew 8:29 “What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Mark 13:33 Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.
- τάσσω tássōI assign, arrangetranslated this way 4 times of its 7 uses · Strong’s G5021Verb · Translated: appointed 4, designated 1, set 1, devoted 1Full study and all 7 verses →
Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
- ποιέω poiéōI do, maketranslated this way 3 times of its 544 uses · Strong’s G4160Verb · Translated: do 50, done 44, doing 40, made 34Full study and all 494 verses →
Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,
Mark 3:16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),
- προχειρίζομαι procheirízomaiI appoint, choose, electtranslated this way 3 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s G4400Verb · Translated: appointed 2, appoint 1Full study and all 3 verses →
Acts 3:20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.
Acts 22:14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice.
- κεῖμαι keîmaiI lie, recline, am laidtranslated this way 2 times of its 23 uses · Strong’s G2749Verb · Translated: lying 5, lies ready 2, appointed 2, laid 2Full study and all 23 verses →
Luke 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
Philippians 1:16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
- ὁρίζω horízōI define, determine, appoint, decreetranslated this way 2 times of its 8 uses · Strong’s G3724Verb · Translated: determined 2, appointed 2, set 1, decided 1Full study and all 8 verses →
How to study a word well
- Start from the verse, not the dictionary. Find which Hebrew or Greek word stands in the verse you are studying. One English word often translates several different original words.
- Read every place the word is used. A word means what its writers used it to mean. The list of verses and the count by book show its range, and who uses it most.
- Look at how it is translated. A word rendered five different ways has a wider meaning than any one English word can carry.
- Notice the form. A command is not a statement, and a passive verb is something done to the subject. The form in your verse is part of the meaning.
- See what it keeps company with. The words that appear beside it again and again show how the Bible itself connects ideas.
- Then read the dictionaries. They give the considered view of scholars, with their evidence.
- Come back to the verse. Context decides. A word does not carry every one of its meanings into every verse, and where a word came from does not settle what it means in a sentence written centuries later.
Scripture text and translation counts: Berean Standard Bible. Full entry: Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906, public domain), in the digital edition Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced by unfoldingWord (Joel Ruark, J. de Joode), based on data by Eliran Wong and Stephen Ku; its additions are used under CC BY 4.0. Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project, CC BY 4.0. Hebrew-to-English verse numbering: original work of the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible available at https://github.com/openscriptures/morphhb, CC BY 4.0. We reformatted the data, linked the references to this site’s Bible text and left out words in other scripts that the source holds only as images. These are historical reference works; an entry gives its authors’ view, and a word’s meaning in any verse depends on how it is used there.