ὁρίζω (horizō)
horizō
to determine
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb horizō carries the concrete image of setting a boundary or drawing a line. Derived from the word for "boundary" (horos), it originally meant to mark off limits, but in Scripture it shifts to the abstract sense of determining or appointing something with authority. It is not merely suggesting a possibility; it is establishing a fixed point.
This decisive usage appears when God sets the times for nations (Acts 17:26) or appoints Jesus as judge (Acts 10:42). The word also describes how events unfold according to a set plan, such as the necessity of Jesus’ suffering (Luke 22:22). It conveys that history and divine purpose are not random but have defined edges and appointed outcomes.
Translators often render horizō as "determine," "appoint," or "decree." The term underscores God’s sovereignty, showing that He sets the limits of time and destiny. Whether referring to human leaders or cosmic events, horizō reminds readers that boundaries are not barriers but markers of intentional design.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word horizō paints a picture of God drawing clear lines on the map of history. It is not about vague possibilities but fixed appointments. When Scripture says God determined the times and boundaries for nations, it offers a profound comfort: your life is not drifting in chaos. The Creator has set specific seasons and places with intention, ensuring that every moment falls within His careful design.
This certainty anchors our faith when we face uncertainty. Whether looking at the appointed day of judgment or the necessary path of Jesus’ suffering, we see that nothing escapes divine notice. God’s decisions are firm, providing a stable foundation for our trust. We can rest in the knowledge that the One who sets the boundaries also holds the future.
Even in our daily choices, this word reminds us that our lives have purposeful contours. It invites us to walk within the safe and good limits God has established. Rather than fearing the unknown, we find peace in the reality that our days are numbered and known by Him. This assurance allows us to live with confidence and hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- determined3×
- having been declared1×
- determining1×
- appointed1×
- He appoints1×
- He appointed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὥρισεν1×
- ὥρισαν1×
- ὡρισμένῃ1×
- ὡρισμένος1×
- ὡρισμένον1×
- ὁρίσας1×
- ὁρίζει1×
- ὁρισθέντος1×
Key Verses
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Acts 17:26
He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings,
This verse highlights God's sovereignty over history by showing He set the specific seasons and geographical boundaries for every nation.
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Luke 22:22
The Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!”
Here the word underscores the solemn reality that Jesus’ betrayal was part of a determined plan, even while human responsibility remains clear.
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Acts 10:42
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.
The term confirms that Jesus’ role as Judge is not a new development but an appointment established by God from the beginning.