καθίζω

καθίστημι kathístēmi · G2525 · to put in charge of, to appoint, to designate

Both verbs can express appointment to office or position, though καθίστημι typically emphasizes the act of establishing or constituting someone in a role with permanence, while καθίζω extends from its core meaning of physical seating to metaphorical placement in authority. The overlap occurs primarily in their shared capacity to designate someone to a position of responsibility.

יָשַׁב yâshab · H3427 · to sit down, to be seated, to make sit

Hebrew יָשַׁב emphasizes dwelling/remaining/inhabiting as a state of residence, while Greek καθίζω specifically focuses on the action of sitting down or causing to sit, though both converge on the concept of settling into a position.

To sit, to sit down, to be seated, sitting17.12

In Matthew 5:1, before the Sermon on the Mount it is written, “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him,” using this word for the physical posture of sitting down.

To cause to sit down, to seat17.17

In Matthew 20:21, the mother of James and John asks Jesus, “Say that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine shall sit, one at Your right, and one at Your left,” using this word for the causative act of seating someone in a place of honor.

To put in charge of, to appoint, to designate37.104

In Acts 2:30, Peter preaches of David, “he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne,” using this word for the act of installing someone in a position of rule.

To remain, to stay, to reside, to inhabit, to be, to settle85.63

In Matthew 19:28, Jesus says, “you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones,” using this word for a settled, established position of authority rather than mere physical posture.

To seat at the right side, to give a special place of honor to87.36

In Mark 16:19, of the ascension it is written, “He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God,” using this word for the act of taking a position of special honor.

Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.

Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.