
“Tithemi” has three basic meanings, to set something somewhere; (2) to change the status of someone for a purpose; and (3) to present or set forth an idea or account, such as set forth the gospel.
The first basic meaning is to put, place, set, or lay something somewhere. This meaning is by far the most common meaning found in scripture.
The second basic meaning, to change the status of someone for a purpose, either by designating a person for a task or office, or by establishing needed characteristics of a person such that they can complete a task or fulfill the requirements of the office. Thus to empower someone by gifting them for a specific assignment.
The third basic meaning is to present or set forth something developed for a purpose, such as to set forth the gospel.
The second and third basic meaning can be translated into English using designate or assign, empower, and set forth.
Lets look at the verses where the second or third basic meaning appears to be the intended meaning:
Matthew 24:51, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Luke 12:46, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
John 15:16, You did not choose Me but I chose you, and empowered you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
Here, I think "empowered" better presents the intended message. In order to bear fruit, we must abide in Christ and Christ in us; therefore we are a new creation. We are in Christ, and indwelt, empowering us for good works.
Acts of the Apostles 1:7, He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has designated by His own authority;
Designated conveys the message more transparently.
Acts of the Apostles 5:4, While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have developed this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Here I think developed captures the idea better, the evil plan was not just conceived, it was developed, arranged and set forth in his heart as a plan of action.
Acts of the Apostles 13:47, For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I HAVE EMPOWERED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’
Here, I think, “empowered” you as a light better reflects the gifting of Paul by the Holy Spirit.
Acts of the Apostles 20:28, Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has empowered you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Here, “empowered” you as overseers provides the implication of a changed (converted) status, i.e. gifted in administration.
Acts of the Apostles 27:12, Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority developed and set forth a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
The majority developed and set forth the decision to put out to sea. Again, the idea is not just a conceived idea, but a developed plan, involving not only to leave, but where to go and why.
Romans 4:17, (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
Here, if we stick with a literal translation of “tithemi” we would go with “designated.” However, that would obscure the linkage to Genesis 17:5 where we find “made.” While the Hebrew word in Genesis also means to put or set, it is translated as “made” over 100 times.
1 Corinthians 9:18, “What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may set forth the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
Here, set forth the gospel points to a full presentation, and not an abbreviated feel good alteration.
1 Corinthians 12:28, And God has empowered in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
For the same reason, “empowered” is better here, pointing to the gifting of the Holy Spirit rather than putting someone not specially equipped in a position.
2 Corinthians 5:19, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has set forth to us the word of reconciliation.
Set forth better captures the idea of reconciliation being provided through the whole gospel.
1 Thessalonians 5:9, For God has not designated us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Designated works best here, i.e. God has set us apart for salvation.
1 Timothy 2:7, For this I was designated and empowered as a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
“Designated and empowered” seems better, conveying both the assignment by God and the gifting of Paul by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:11, for which I was empowered as a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
Again, “empowered as” seems a better choice.
Hebrews 1:2, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He designated as heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
“Designated as” seems better, because of Christ’s accepted sacrifice.
1 Peter 2:8, and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also designated.
Again, they were designated because of their stumbling over salvation through faith and not works.
2 Peter 2:6, and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having set them forth as them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;
Here, I think, “set them forth as” is better than “made” because the purpose was to provide an illustration.
In summary, G5087, tithemi, is used about 17 times where the meaning is designate or assign (6 times), empower (6 times), and develop or set forth (5 times.)
One of the key insights arising from this word study is that God did not just assign a person to an office or task, many times He equipped the person,i.e. gifts of the Holy Spirit, so as to empower the person for that task or office.
God not only put us in Christ, He gave us a holy calling (be ambassadors of Christ with the ministry of reconciliation) and specifically empowered us to accomplish our part of His ministry. Praise God
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