What does the word ‘steadfast’ mean in the Bible and why does it matter in Scripture and in life? We can certainly determine the New Testament definition of steadfast (from the Greek). There, steadfast is used in the conventional way we think of being steadfast.
The Old Testament word (from the Hebrew), most often translated as " steadfast, is a little more complicated and isn’t easily translated from the original language with precision. Every language has words like that. When I visited Japan to teach the Bible, I loved that before every meal, we bowed our heads and said, “Itadakimasu.” We don’t have an exact English word that correlates, but this Japanese term roughly translates to “I humbly receive this to myself.” While an imprecise translation, it is still beautiful! We’ll talk about the various ways translators manage the Hebrew word for steadfast.
Steadfast in the Bible is an essential term. Exploring how and when its used in Scripture, what words are used to translate it, what it modifies differently in the New Testament than it did in the Old, and how God views steadfastness is worth our energy and our time.
Steadfast: Basic Definition and Biblical Context
In most instances in the Bible, steadfast means what Merriam-Webster dictionary says it means: “firmly fixed in place,” “immovable,” or “firm in belief, determination, and adherence.” Such as in Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV). The New Testament use of steadfast is most often applied as a modifier describing the faith, hope, or the way of people who follow Jesus. It is an exhortation to remain firm in that faith.
Readers of the Old Testament see the word ‘steadfast’ most often paired with the word love (in many translations) and cited in relation to God’s character. Perhaps the most well-known appearance of this steadfast love is in Exodus 34:6-7 ESV when God hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and passed by him, proclaiming His own name: “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.’”
In this profound moment of revelation, God uses the term “steadfast love” twice in referring to His nature toward His followers.
Hebrew and Greek Words for 'Steadfast'
The Hebrew word (used in the Old Testament) often translated as ‘steadfast,’ (and most generally paired with the word “love” as in “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV) is hesed (kheh’ -sed), sometimes spelled chesed.
Hesed has no English or Greek equivalent. In Strong’s concordance, hesed is labeled H2617 and has been translated in the King James Version as mercy (149x), kindness (40x), lovingkindness (30x), and goodness (12x). Strong’s defines hesed as goodness, kindness, faithfulness. The ESV translation generally uses the phrase ‘steadfast love’ to capture the meaning of hesed. NASB uses faithfulness, NLT unfailing love, AMP lovingkindness, CSB faithful love, and The Message paraphrase uses loyal in love. Each nuance of translation leans into the sense of a love that is enduring, persevering, unwavering, and steadfast.
What’s tricky is that on rare occasions in Scripture, hesed has been translated with an opposite meaning as pity (1x), reproach (1x), or wicked thing (1x) and in those instances defined as “a reproach or shame.” We have words in English that can mean their opposite; we call them contranyms. Words such as dust (if we dust a donut with sugar, we apply it, when we dust a piece of furniture, we’re removing something), or bolt (which can mean to secure something in place or to leave a place quickly). The negative connotation of hesed is such a rare occurrence, however, that here we’ll focus on the more common translations.
In the New Testament Greek, Strong’s G1476, we find the word hedraios hed-rah'-yos, meaning sitting, sedentary, firm, immovable. This is the Greek word used in the above-mentioned verse, 1 Corinthians 15:58. It is also used in Colossians 1:23 ESV, “If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Again, from the context, it’s clear that believers are to have an immovable, persevering, enduring faith.
Another Greek word, hypomonē (hoop-om-on-ay'), Strong’s G5281, is used in 2 Thessalonians 3:35, “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ,” and in Revelation 1:9, “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Again, this word carries a strong connotation of enduring patience and, in these instances, is employed to describe Jesus.
God’s Steadfast Love in the Old Testament
God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, so it follows that He does not change His nature from the Old Testament to the New. God’s steadfast love is evident throughout the Old Testament. He endures with humanity despite our sin and rebellion (Genesis 8:21-22). He promises that He will provide deliverance through One who is to come (Isaiah 9:6-7). He keeps His covenants with His people despite their infidelities (Jeremiah 31:31-34). And God’s steadfast love and mercy are celebrated in numerous psalms (Psalm 107). One primary theme of the Old Testament is God’s steadfast love. Micah 7:18 ESV captures the essence of this theme with these words, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.”
God’s love remains steadfast and finds its fullest expression in Jesus, who came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). God has shown His love through sending His Only Begotten Son (John 3:16) and by filling believers with the Holy Spirit so that we might be sanctified and reflect this same love.
Steadfast Faith in the New Testament
When the promises of God found their Yes in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:19), who ushered in the New Covenant prophesied in the Old Testament, the call to be like Christ featured the repeated call to remain steadfast in faith and in the practices of the faith. Steadfastness in the New Testament is attributed to Jesus and encouraged in the believer.
- We are called to remain steadfast in prayer (Colossians 4:2).
- Steadfast in hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
- Steadfast in faith despite persecution and suffering (1 Thessalonians 1:4).
In fact, James tells the believers that testing produces steadfastness (James 1:3). Peter lists steadfastness as one of several qualities we are to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:6) so that we are effective and fruitful. Additionally, in the Book of James, God promises that those who remain steadfast under trial will be blessed and will receive the “crown of life” (James 1:12.
What Are Some Examples of Steadfastness in the Bible?
One Old Testament example of steadfastness is Job. The story of Job told in the book of the same name, is one of the oldest stories in the Bible and one of the most challenging. Job was a righteous man but Satan challenged his devotion, complaining to God that Job wouldn’t be so devoted if God hadn’t blessed him so much. God gave Satan permission to test Job, and Job lost everything in one day (children, livestock, and property). The rest of Job details the ineffective comfort offered by Job’s friends, Job’s petition to the Lord, and God’s answer.
In all he endured, Job did not turn away from the Lord and, in fact, relied on God’s steadfastness: “You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit (Job 10:12 ESV). In James 5:11 ESV, James cites Job’s steadfastness, “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” Christians throughout the centuries have turned to Job in times of trouble and found hope in his steadfast faith.
Paul was also known for his steadfast faith that endured despite countless trials as he traveled to share the gospel and faced natural disasters (Acts 27:14-15), persecution from Jews and Gentiles (2 Corinthians 11:23-29), and a personal “thorn” God did not remove (2 Corinthians 12:7). In 2 Timothy 3:10-11 ESV, Paul is able to point to his own steadfastness as an encouragement and example for Timothy, “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.”
And, of course, Jesus is the ultimate example of remaining steadfast. He is God incarnate, and so the steadfast love extolled in the Old Testament became flesh and we saw Him revealed in Jesus. The writer of Hebrews says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2 ESV). His Holy Spirit is within us as believers and so, we too, have the strength to remain steadfast in hardships and trials.
How Can We Remain Steadfast in Trials?
What can we see from these men and others who remained steadfast in faith despite hard times throughout the Scriptures? We see evidence in the Bible that they prayed. Job took his complaint to God. Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing,” and Jesus often pulled away from the crowds to meet with God.
When resisting temptation in the wilderness, Jesus relied on God’s Word. Paul, too, exhorts Timothy to “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13).
And while Job’s friends were little comfort, he met with them. Paul met with other believers, and Jesus also traveled with others. Even in trials, we are not to neglect meeting together but consider ways to spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25).
The practices or “disciplines” of our faith (prayer, Bible reading, worship, service, celebration, giving, and meditation, among others) do not save us or sanctify us, but they help us remain available to God for His comfort, instruction, and care.
Bible Verses about Being Steadfast
Psalm 25 is rich with God’s steadfast love. Consider meditating on Psalm 25:6-7 ESV:
Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
And it can be good to pray 2 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV for ourself and others: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”
God’s love is steadfast, enduring, persevering, and patient. Jesus is our steadfast hope. We can remain steadfast in faith by the work of the Holy Spirit. Take heart!
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