Bible Dictionaries
Certain, Certainty, Certainly, Certify

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

primarily, "not liable to fall, steadfast, firm," hence denoting "safety," Acts 5:23 , and 1 Thessalonians 5:3 , has the further meaning, "certainty," Luke 1:4 . See SAFETY.

safe, is translated "certainty," Acts 21:34; 22:30; "certain," Acts 25:26; "safe," Philippians 3:1; "sure," Hebrews 6:19 . See SAFE , SURE.

Notes: (1) Delos, "evident, visible," is translated "certain" in 1 Timothy 6:7 , AV. The most authentic mss. omit it.

(2) The rendering "certain," is frequently changed in the RV, or omitted, e.g., Luke 5:12; 8:22; Acts 23:17; Hebrews 2:6; 4:4 .

(3) The indefinite pronoun tis signifies "anyone, some one, a certain one;" the neuter, ti, "a certain thing," e.g., Matthew 20:20; Mark 14:51 .

(4) In the AV of Galatians 1:11 , gnorizo is rendered "certify," RV, "to make known."

(5) For "a certain island," Acts 27:16 , see the RV , "small island."

(6) In 1 Corinthians 4:11 , the verb astateo, "to be unsettled, to lead a homeless life," is rendered "we ... have no certain dwelling place." The unsettlement conveyed by the word has suggested the meaning "we are vagabonds" or "we lead a vagabond life," a probable significance.

"really, actually, verily" (from eimi, "to be"), is translated "certainly" in Luke 23:47 . See CLEAN , INDEED , TRUTH , VERILY.

see ALTOGETHER , B.