καρτερέω (kartereō)
kartereō
to endure
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb kartereō describes a quality of being steadfast or enduring through difficulty. It conveys the idea of holding firm to a course of action despite pressure or hardship. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Hebrews 11:27, where it characterizes Moses’ decision to leave Egypt.
The source for this occurrence notes that Moses endured because he saw the invisible God. The term implies a mental and spiritual strength that does not yield to visible circumstances. It is closely related to the compound verb proskartereō, which means to persist in something with focused attention.
This single usage highlights a specific kind of patience. It is not passive waiting but active perseverance. The word suggests a resolve that remains unshaken by external threats or internal doubts. In this context, it defines the faith that sustains believers through trials.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels heavy and the path ahead seems blocked by fear or pressure, Hebrews 11:27 offers a quiet strength. Moses did not leave Egypt because he was immune to the king’s anger, but because his focus shifted from the visible threat to the invisible God. This word, kartereō, describes an active endurance—a steady holding on that refuses to yield when circumstances grow difficult.
You do not have to face your trials alone or with your own limited strength. This kind of perseverance is rooted in seeing beyond the immediate pain to the presence of God who cannot be seen by human eyes. It invites you to stand firm, not by ignoring reality, but by anchoring your heart in a truth that outlasts every temporary storm.
May you find peace in knowing that steadfastness is not about having no fear, but about trusting more deeply than the fear allows. The same God who sustained Moses is present with you now, offering grace for today and hope for tomorrow.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he persevered.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκαρτέρησεν.¶1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 11:27
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
This verse uniquely applies kartereō to Moses’ active refusal to yield to Pharaoh’s wrath, linking endurance directly to the spiritual vision of God.