βαθύνω (bathunō)
bathunō
to dig deep
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb bathunō means to make something deep or to dig deeply. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Luke 6:48, where Jesus describes a wise builder who digs down to bedrock before constructing his house. This concrete image emphasizes the necessity of thorough preparation and stability.
Its root relates to depth, suggesting a movement from surface-level action to profound foundation. While the word itself is rare, its usage highlights the importance of going beyond superficial efforts to establish a secure base, whether in physical construction or spiritual life.
Translators typically render this as "dug deep" or "dug down," capturing the physical effort involved. The term underscores that true stability requires significant work beneath the visible surface, a principle that applies equally to building houses and building character.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus speaks of digging deep in Luke 6:48, He uses a picture we can all see. A builder does not just scratch the surface before raising walls. He puts in the hard work of going down to the solid rock below. This image tells us that lasting stability comes from what lies hidden beneath our daily actions.
Your faith works the same way. It is easy to build on top of feelings or good intentions, but storms will eventually come. Going deep means laying your life on the unshakable truth of Christ. This takes time and effort, often in private moments that no one else sees. Yet this hidden work creates a foundation that wind and rain cannot move.
You do not need to have it all figured out right now. You only need to keep digging toward that solid ground. As you spend time in Scripture and prayer, you are laying stones on the rock. The result is a peace that stands firm when life gets turbulent.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he deepened1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐβάθυνεν1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 6:48
He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock.
This verse uses the word to describe the specific physical action of digging down to bedrock, linking deep preparation directly to structural stability during a flood.