τίθημι (tithēmi)
tithēmi
to place
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 96 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb tithēmi carries the fundamental sense of placing, setting, or laying something down in a specific position. In the New Testament, it appears frequently to describe physical actions, such as Jesus setting a child among his disciples (Mark 10:16) or the women observing where Joseph laid the body of Jesus (Luke 23:55). Its usage is broad, covering everything from putting a lamp on a stand to placing money in a treasury.
A distinctive feature of this word is its application to abstract concepts and voluntary acts. It describes laying down one’s life for others, a phrase used repeatedly by Jesus to explain his sacrificial death (John 10:11, 15). The sources also highlight its use in appointing roles or establishing principles, such as when God sets forth a pattern for believers (2 Peter 2:6) or when leaders are appointed within the community (Acts 20:28).
This verb often implies a deliberate act of positioning that carries lasting significance. Whether it refers to storing up counsel in one’s heart (Luke 1:66) or setting forth a parable to illustrate spiritual truth (Mark 4:30), tithēmi suggests an intentional arrangement. It bridges the concrete act of physical placement with the figurative establishment of ideas and relationships.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tithēmi describes the simple, deliberate act of placing or setting something down. In the New Testament, it moves from physical actions—like Jesus laying hands on children (Mark 10:16) or Joseph putting his body in a tomb—to profound spiritual truths. It reminds us that our faith involves intentional choices, such as storing God’s words in our hearts (Luke 1:66) or building our lives on a solid foundation (Luke 6:48). This verb suggests that what we place matters, and where we place it determines its impact.
For your daily walk, this word invites you to consider what you are setting before God and others. Just as a lamp is placed on a stand to give light rather than hidden under a basket (Matthew 5:15), our lives are meant to reflect truth openly. It is not about complex rituals but about faithful positioning. When we lay down our anxieties or place our trust in Christ, we join a long line of believers who understand that deliberate acts of faith shape our spiritual journey.
Ultimately, tithēmi points to the care God takes in arranging our lives. He sets patterns for us and appoints roles within His community. This knowledge brings comfort: your life is not random. Every step, every decision to place trust in Him, is part of a purposeful design. May you find peace in knowing that your efforts to live faithfully are seen and valued by the One who places all things in order.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 96 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I may place5×
- having bowed3×
- was appointed2×
- they laid2×
- they have laid2×
- put2×
- placed2×
- lay down2×
- he laid2×
- I lay2×
- you put1×
- you have laid1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔθηκεν9×
- ἔθηκαν7×
- ἔθετο7×
- τίθημι5×
- θῶ5×
- ἔθεντο4×
- τίθησιν4×
- θεὶς4×
- θεῖναι3×
- ἔθηκας2×
- ἔθηκα2×
- ἐτίθουν2×
Key Verses
-
Mark 10:16
He took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
This verse shows Jesus using the word physically to bless children, highlighting His tenderness and the value He places on the young.
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Luke 1:66
All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.
Here the word describes an internal act of storing up counsel in the heart, showing how deliberate reflection preserves spiritual truth.
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Matthew 5:15
Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
Jesus uses this verb to illustrate that truth should be visible and helpful, not hidden or concealed from others.
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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.
The word describes laying a foundation on rock, emphasizing the stability that comes from building life on solid spiritual ground.
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Mark 15:47
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.
Mary observes where Jesus was laid, anchoring the resurrection narrative in the tangible reality of His burial and subsequent empty tomb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tithēmi mean in the New Testament?
How is tithēmi different from other words for 'put'?
Where does this word appear most significantly?
Why is this word important for Christian living?
Every Occurrence (96 verses across 16 books)
Matthew 5 verses
Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the…
Matthew 12:18“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit on him. He…
Matthew 22:44‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’?
Matthew 24:51and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth…
Matthew 27:60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the…