כּוּן (H3559) — Hebrew Lexicon

כּוּן

𐤊𐤅𐤍

kûwn

H3559 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To be firm, stable, or securely established; to be prepared or made ready; to set up, fix, or make firm. The verb conveys the notion of causing something to acquire firmness, stability, or readiness, whether referring to a physical object being made secure, a plan being put into order, an individual being equipped or made ready, or an abstract concept such as a reign, purpose, or word being established. In its causative stems (Hiphil/Niphil), it conveys the idea of preparing, establishing, appointing, or confirming something or someone.

Semantic Range

to be firm, to be stable, to be established, to prepare, to set up, to make ready, to fix, to confirm, to appoint, to provide, to make firm, to fashion, to ordain, to render certain, to direct, to cause to stand, to make secure

Root / Etymology

The root is כון (k-w-n), which at the root level means 'to be firm, fixed, stable.' The verbal stem conveys both stative sense ('to be established') and dynamic/causative senses ('to establish,' 'to prepare,' 'to make firm'). Derived forms and usages are widely attested in the Hebrew Bible, including participial, nominal, and verbal forms.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כּוּן appears in multiple verbal stems, with nuances reflecting both stative ('to be firm, secure, ready') and causative ('to establish, set up, prepare, make ready') actions. The word is broadly used both literally (to prepare the altar, construct a building, set items in place) and figuratively (to establish a dynasty, confirm a decree, prepare a person's heart). In legal and covenantal contexts, it may refer to confirming agreements or establishing ordinances. In the Psalms and Prophets, it is frequently used to describe the establishment of divine purposes, the stability of the earth, or the affirmation of righteousness. The semantic domain significantly overlaps with יצב (to stand, to set), though כּוּן more often emphasizes preparation or the process of making something stable or ready, whereas יצב typically denotes positional standing or remaining. Later translation traditions, such as LXX and Vulgate, reflect both literal and figurative dimensions, sometimes rendering it with verbs for 'prepare,' 'establish,' or 'strengthen.' In English translations, the diversity of contexts sometimes forces renderings such as 'prepare,' 'establish,' or 'be fixed,' but these may not fully capture the dynamic process implied by the Hebrew. The term does not carry explicitly cultic or ritual connotations, though it regularly appears in cultic and royal settings. Over time, the core idea of firmness and preparedness remains consistent, with nuances reflecting different periods and literary genres.

Translation Consistency

primary "establish" 31 occurrences

Establish best covers both the stative sense (“be established, be firm”) and the causative senses (“establish, set up, confirm, appoint, make ready”) in natural English. It is widely used across contexts (reigns, laws, plans, persons) and aligns with the majority of attested renderings while remaining a single, consistent base verb for all forms of H3559.

Alternatives (19 occurrences):

"prepare" (5x) "prepared" (5x) "ready" (2x) "ready ones" (1x) "made firm" (1x) "appointed" (1x) "able" (1x) "stands" (1x) "certainty" (1x) "made ready" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous); certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, [idiom] very deed.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

כון (Yehoyakhin) — to establish, to set up, to prepare

Root כון to be firm, to be stable, to establish, to prepare

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3078	יְהוֹיָכִין	YHWH establishes
H3112	יוֹיָכִין	Yahweh establishes
H3199	יָכִין	to He-Establishes
H3200	יָכִינִי	the Yakinite
H3204	יְכׇנְיָה	Yah Establishes
H3560	כּוּן	and from Firm-Settlement
H3561	כַּוָּן	prepared offering-cakes
H3562	כּוֹנַנְיָהוּ	Yahweh has established
H3594	כִּיּוּן	Kiyyun
H3651	כֵּן	thus
H3652	כֵּן	thus
H3653	כֵּן	your established base
H3659	כׇּנְיָהוּ	Yahweh-will-establish
H403	אָכֵן	firmly so
H4349	מָכוֹן	established dwelling-place
H4350	מְכוֹנָה	in the fixed stand
H4368	מְכֹנָה	and in Foundation-place
H4369	מְכֻנָה	her established base
H5225	נָכוֹן	being established
H8499	תְּכוּנָה	his established arrangement

Word Forms

81 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H3559-37`	נָכ֖וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	established	being established	being established	30
`H3559-15`	הֵכִ֥ין	hekhin	`HVhp3ms`	he had prepared	he made firm	he established	18
`H3559-46`	תִּכּ֥וֹן	tikon	`HVNi3fs`	is established	you will be established	will be established	9
`H3559-43`	תָּכִ֣ין	takhin	`HVhi2ms`	prepares	you will establish	you will establish	8
`H3559-11`	הֲכִינ֖וֹתִי	hakhinoti	`HVhp1cs`	I have prepared	I have established	I have prepared	7
`H3559-78`	יִכּ֣וֹן	yikon	`HVNi3ms`	will be established	he will be established	he will be established	7
`H3559-19`	הֵכִ֥ינוּ	hekhinu	`HVhp3cp`	had prepared	they established	they established	6
`H3559-62`	וְ/הָכֵ֥ן	vehakhen	`HC/Vhv2ms`	and prepare	and make firm	and prepare	6
`H3559-75`	יָכִ֥ין	yakhin	`HVhi3ms`	he prepares	he makes firm	he will establish	6
`H3559-52`	וַ/הֲכִינוֹתִ֖י	vahakhinoti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and I will establish	and I established	and I will establish	5
`H3559-54`	וַ/תִּכֹּ֥ן	vatikon	`HC/VNw3fs`	was prepared	she was established	and it was established	5
`H3559-56`	וַ/יָּכִ֛ינוּ	vayakhinu	`HC/Vhw3mp`	and they prepared	and they established	and they prepared	5
`H3559-12`	הָכִ֣ינוּ	hakhinu	`HVhv2mp`	prepare	Establish firmly!	Establish firmly, all of you!	4
`H3559-28`	כּוֹנֵ֖ן	konen	`HVop3ms`	established	he firmly established	he firmly established	4
`H3559-33`	לְ/הָכִ֖ין	lehakhin	`HR/Vhc`	to prepare	to make firm	to establish	4
`H3559-55`	וַ/יָּ֤כֶן	vayakhen	`HC/Vhw3ms`	and he prepared	and he established	and he established	4
`H3559-06`	הָכֵ֑ן	hakhen	`HVha`	firmly	firmly establish	to establish firmly	3
`H3559-34`	מֵכִ֥ין	mekhin	`HVhrmsa`	establishes	one who establishes	one who establishes	3
`H3559-41`	נְכוֹנָ֖ה	nekhonah	`HVNrfsa`	right	being established	being established	3
`H3559-42`	נְכֹנִ֖ים	nekhonim	`HVNrmpa`	ready	established ones	prepared	3
`H3559-67`	וְ/הוּכַ֤ן	vehukhan	`HC/VHq3ms`	and-is-prepared	and he was made firm	and it was established	3
`H3559-77`	יְכוֹנְנֶֽ/הָ	yekhoneneha	`HVoi3ms/Sp3fs`	established it	he will firmly establish her	he will firmly establish her	3
`H3559-79`	יִכֹּֽנוּ	yikonu	`HVNi3mp`	may be established	they will be established	they will be established	3
`H3559-01`	אָכִ֥ין	akhin	`HVhi1cs`	I prepared	I will establish	I prepared	2
`H3559-10`	הֲכִינ֣וֹתָ	hakhinota	`HVhp2ms`	have-prepared	you have made firm	have prepared	2
`H3559-18`	הֱכִינ֧/וֹ	hekhino	`HVhp3ms/Sp3ms`	had established him	he made him firm	he established him	2
`H3559-20`	הִכּ֥וֹן	hikon	`HVNv2ms`	Be prepared	Be firmly established	Be firmly established	2
`H3559-25`	כּוֹנַ֣נְתָּ	konaneta	`HVop2ms`	have-established	you firmly established	you firmly established	2
`H3559-27`	כּוֹנָֽנוּ	konanu	`HVOp3cp`	are established	they were made firm	are established	2
`H3559-31`	כּוֹנְנ֥וּ	konenu	`HVop3cp`	have established	they firmly established	they firmly established	2
`H3559-39`	נָכֹ֨נוּ֙	nakhonu	`HVNp3cp`	are prepared	have been established	they have been established	2
`H3559-63`	וְ/הָכִ֣ין	vehakhin	`HC/Vhc`	and prepared	and to establish	and to direct	2
`H3559-64`	וְ/הָכִ֨ינוּ	vehakhinu	`HC/Vhv2mp`	and prepare	and make firm	and prepare	2
`H3559-68`	וְ/כֹנַנְתִּ֥י	vekhonaneti	`HC/Voq1cs`	and I will establish	and I firmly establish	and I will establish	2
`H3559-69`	וְ/כוֹנֵ֥ן	vekhonen	`HC/Voq3ms`	and consider	and he firmly established	and establishes	2
`H3559-02`	אָכִ֥ינָה	akhinah	`HVhh1cs`	I will prepare	Let me establish	Let me establish	1
`H3559-03`	בַּ/הֲכִינ֣/וֹ	bahakhino	`HR/Vhc/Sp3ms`	when he established	his establishing him	in his establishing	1
`H3559-04`	בַּֽ/הֵכִ֥ין	bahekhin	`HRd/Vhp3ms`	when he prepared	when he established	when he prepared	1
`H3559-05`	הַ/הֵכִ֥ין	hahekhin	`HTr/Vhp3ms`	that had prepared	he firmly established	had prepared	1
`H3559-07`	הָכִ֖ין	hakhin	`HVhc`	stood firm	to establish	were made firm	1
`H3559-08`	הֲכִינ֑/וֹ	hakhino	`HVhc/Sp3ms`	of his preparation	his establishing	his preparation	1
`H3559-09`	הֲכִינֹ֔נוּ	hakhinonu	`HVhp1cp`	we have prepared	we have made firm	we have prepared	1
`H3559-13`	הַ/מֵּכִ֣ין	hamekhin	`HTd/Vhrmsa`	who prepares	the one establishing	the one preparing	1
`H3559-14`	הֵכַ֣נּוּ	hekhanu	`HVhp1cp`	we have prepared	we have made firm	we have made firm	1
`H3559-16`	הֱ֝כִינָ֗/הּ	hekhinah	`HVhp3ms/Sp3fs`	he established it	he made her firm	he established it	1
`H3559-17`	הֱכִינַ֗/נִי	hekhinani	`HVhp3ms/Sp1cs`	has established me	he established me	has established me	1
`H3559-21`	הוּכָ֖ן	hukhan	`HVHp3ms`	it is prepared	was made firm	was made ready	1
`H3559-22`	כְּ/הָכִ֞ין	kehakhin	`HR/Vhc`	when he had established	as establishing	as he established	1
`H3559-23`	כֽוֹנַנְתָּֽ/הּ	khonanetah	`HVop2ms/Sp3fs`	confirmed it	you firmly established her	you firmly established her	1
`H3559-24`	כֽוֹנְנָ֔/הּ	khonenah	`HVop3ms/Sp3fs`	establisher-of-it	he firmly established her	he firmly established it	1
`H3559-26`	כּוֹנָֽנְתָּה	konanetah	`HVop2ms`	you have established	you firmly established	you have established	1
`H3559-29`	כּוֹנְנָ֥/ה	konenah	`HVov2ms/Sh`	establish it	Firmly establish!	establish it	1
`H3559-30`	כּוֹנְנֵֽ/הוּ	konenehu	`HVov2ms/Sp3ms`	establish it	firmly establish him	establish it	1
`H3559-32`	לַ/הֲכִינָ֖/הּ	lahakhinah	`HR/Vhc/Sp3fs`	to establish it	to establish her	to establish it	1
`H3559-35`	מ֭וּכָן	mukhan	`HVHsmsa`	is prepared	made firm	is prepared	1
`H3559-36`	מוּכָנִ֥ים	mukhanim	`HVHsmpa`	fastened	made-ready ones	prepared	1
`H3559-38`	נָכ֖וֹנָה	nakhonah	`HVNp3fs`	was established	was firmly established	was firmly established	1
`H3559-40`	נְכ֥וֹן	nekhon	`HVNrmsc`	perfected	being established	is established	1
`H3559-44`	תְּכִינֶֽ/הָ	tekhineha	`HVhi2ms/Sp3fs`	you-prepare-it	you establish her	you prepare her	1
`H3559-45`	תְּכוֹנֵ֥ן	tekhonen	`HVoi2ms`	you will aim	you will firmly establish	you will firmly establish	1
`H3559-47`	תִּכּוֹנָ֑נִי	tikonani	`HVri2fs`	you will be established	you will establish yourself firmly	you will be established	1
`H3559-48`	וּ/לְ/הָכִ֥ין	ulehakhin	`HC/R/Vhc`	to prepare	to make firm	to prepare	1
`H3559-49`	וּ/תְכוֹנֵ֪ן	utekhonen	`HC/Voi2ms`	and establish	you firmly establish	and you establish	1
`H3559-50`	וַ/הֲכִינ֥וֹתָ	vahakhinota	`HC/Vhp2ms`	and you have set	and you made firm	and you have set	1
`H3559-51`	וַ/הֲכִינֹתָה֩	vahakhinotah	`HC/Vhq2ms`	and set	and you established	and you shall set up	1
`H3559-53`	וַ/תְּכ֣וֹנֵֽן	vatekhonen	`HC/Vow2ms`	and-you-have-established	and you firmly established	and you firmly established	1
`H3559-57`	וַֽ/יְכוֹנְנֶֽ/הָ	vayekhoneneha	`HC/Vow3ms/Sp3fs`	and directs it	and he firmly established her	and he readied it	1
`H3559-58`	וַֽ/יְכֹנְנֶֽ/ךָ	vayekhonenekha	`HC/Vow3ms/Sp2ms`	and-established-you	and he firmly established you	and he firmly established you	1
`H3559-59`	וַ֝/יְכוֹנְנ֗וּ	vayekhonenu	`HC/Vow3mp`	and they establish	and they made firm	and they made firm	1
`H3559-60`	וַֽ/יְכוֹנְנ֑וּ/נִי	vayekhonenuni	`HC/Voi3mp/Sp1cs`	and fashioned me	they firmly established me	and established me	1
`H3559-61`	וַ֝/יְכֻנֶ֗/נּוּ	vayekhunenu	`HC/Vow3ms/Sp1cp`	and fashioned us	and he firmly established us	and he firmly established us	1
`H3559-65`	וְ/הָכִ֥ונוּ	vehakhivnu	`HC/Vhv2mp`	and prepare yourselves	and make firm	and prepare yourselves	1
`H3559-66`	וְ/הֵכִ֖ינוּ	vehekhinu	`HC/Vhp3cp`	and they shall prepare	they established	and they shall prepare	1
`H3559-70`	וְ/תִכּוֹנֵ֖ן	vetikonen	`HC/Vrj3fs`	and let it be established	and may she firmly establish herself	and may she be established	1
`H3559-71`	וְ/יִכּ֖וֹן	veyikon	`HC/VNi3ms`	and will be established	and he will be made firm	and he will be established	1
`H3559-72`	וְ/יִכּוֹנָ֑נוּ	veyikonanu	`HC/Vri3mp`	and set themselves against	and they will establish themselves	and they establish themselves	1
`H3559-73`	וְ֝/יִכֹּ֗נוּ	veyikonu	`HC/VNj3mp`	and they will be established	may they be established	may they be established	1
`H3559-74`	ו/יכן	vykhn	`HC/Vhw3ms`	and-he-repaired	and he established	and he established	1
`H3559-76`	יְכוֹנֵ֞ן	yekhonen	`HVoi3ms`	he establishes	he firmly establishes	he firmly establishes	1
`H3559-80`	יִתְכּוֹנָֽן	yitekonan	`HVri3ms`	it is established	he will establish himself firmly	it is established	1
`H3559-81`	יכין	ykhyn	`HVhi3ms`	makes sure	he will make firm	he will make firm	1

Occurrences in Scripture

219 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H3559-37`	Genesis 41:32	נָכ֤וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	is established	being established	being established
`H3559-62`	Genesis 43:16	וְ/הָכֵ֔ן	vehakhen	`HC/Vhv2ms`	and prepare	and make firm	and prepare
`H3559-56`	Genesis 43:25	וַ/יָּכִ֨ינוּ֙	vayakhinu	`HC/Vhw3mp`	they prepared	and they established	and they prepared
`H3559-37`	Exodus 8:22	נָכוֹן֙	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	right	being established	being established
`H3559-31`	Exodus 15:17	כּוֹנְנ֥וּ	konenu	`HVop3cp`	have established	they firmly established	they firmly established
`H3559-66`	Exodus 16:5	וְ/הֵכִ֖ינוּ	vehekhinu	`HC/Vhp3cp`	and they shall prepare	they established	and they shall prepare
`H3559-42`	Exodus 19:11	נְכֹנִ֖ים	nekhonim	`HVNrmpa`	prepared	established ones	prepared
`H3559-42`	Exodus 19:15	נְכֹנִ֖ים	nekhonim	`HVNrmpa`	ready	established ones	ready ones
`H3559-11`	Exodus 23:20	הֲכִנֹֽתִי	hakhinoti	`HVhp1cs`	I have prepared	I have established	I have prepared
`H3559-37`	Exodus 34:2	נָכ֖וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	ready	being established	ready
`H3559-70`	Numbers 21:27	וְ/תִכּוֹנֵ֖ן	vetikonen	`HC/Vrj3fs`	and let it be established	and may she firmly establish herself	and may she be established
`H3559-62`	Numbers 23:1	וְ/הָכֵ֥ן	vehakhen	`HC/Vhv2ms`	and prepare	and make firm	and prepare
`H3559-62`	Numbers 23:29	וְ/הָכֵ֥ן	vehakhen	`HC/Vhv2ms`	and prepare	and make firm	and prepare
`H3559-37`	Deuteronomy 13:15	נָכ֣וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	certain	being established	being established
`H3559-37`	Deuteronomy 17:4	נָכ֣וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	established	being established	being established
`H3559-43`	Deuteronomy 19:3	תָּכִ֣ין	takhin	`HVhi2ms`	you shall prepare	you will establish	you will establish
`H3559-58`	Deuteronomy 32:6	וַֽ/יְכֹנְנֶֽ/ךָ	vayekhonenekha	`HC/Vow3ms/Sp2ms`	and-established-you	and he firmly established you	and he firmly established you
`H3559-12`	Joshua 1:11	הָכִ֥ינוּ	hakhinu	`HVhv2mp`	Prepare	Establish firmly!	Establish firmly, all of you!
`H3559-06`	Joshua 3:17	הָכֵ֑ן	hakhen	`HVha`	firmly	firmly establish	firmly established
`H3559-07`	Joshua 4:3	הָכִ֖ין	hakhin	`HVhc`	stood firm	to establish	were made firm
`H3559-15`	Joshua 4:4	הֵכִ֖ין	hekhin	`HVhp3ms`	he had designated	he made firm	he had appointed
`H3559-42`	Joshua 8:4	נְכֹנִֽים	nekhonim	`HVNrmpa`	ready	established ones	ready
`H3559-75`	Judges 12:6	יָכִין֙	yakhin	`HVhi3ms`	he could	he makes firm	he was able
`H3559-37`	Judges 16:26	נָכ֣וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	standeth	being established	stands
`H3559-37`	Judges 16:29	נָכ֣וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	rested	being established	was established
`H3559-64`	1 Samuel 7:3	וְ/הָכִ֨ינוּ	vehakhinu	`HC/Vhv2mp`	and prepare	and make firm	and prepare
`H3559-15`	1 Samuel 13:13	הֵכִ֨ין	hekhin	`HVhp3ms`	would have established	he made firm	he would have established
`H3559-46`	1 Samuel 20:31	תִכּ֖וֹן	tikon	`HVNi2ms`	be established	you will be established	you will be established
`H3559-12`	1 Samuel 23:22	הָכִ֣ינוּ	hakhinu	`HVhv2mp`	prepare	Establish firmly!	Establish firmly, all of you!
`H3559-37`	1 Samuel 23:23	נָכ֔וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	the certainty	being established	the certainty
`H3559-37`	1 Samuel 26:4	נָכֽוֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	indeed	being established	being established
`H3559-18`	2 Samuel 5:12	הֱכִינ֧/וֹ	hekhino	`HVhp3ms/Sp3ms`	had established him	he made him firm	he established him
`H3559-52`	2 Samuel 7:12	וַ/הֲכִינֹתִ֖י	vahakhinoti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	I will establish	and I established	and I will establish
`H3559-68`	2 Samuel 7:13	וְ/כֹנַנְתִּ֛י	vekhonaneti	`HC/Voq1cs`	and I will establish	and I firmly establish	and I will establish
`H3559-37`	2 Samuel 7:16	נָכ֖וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	established	being established	established
`H3559-53`	2 Samuel 7:24	וַ/תְּכ֣וֹנֵֽן	vatekhonen	`HC/Vow2ms`	and-you-have-established	and you firmly established	and you firmly established
`H3559-37`	2 Samuel 7:26	נָכ֖וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	established	being established	established
`H3559-54`	1 Kings 2:12	וַ/תִּכֹּ֥ן	vatikon	`HC/VNw3fs`	and was established	she was established	and it was established
`H3559-17`	1 Kings 2:24	הֱכִינַ֗/נִי	hekhinani	`HVhp3ms/Sp1cs`	has established me	he established me	has established me
`H3559-37`	1 Kings 2:45	נָכ֛וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	established	being established	being established
`H3559-38`	1 Kings 2:46	נָכ֖וֹנָה	nakhonah	`HVNp3fs`	was established	was firmly established	was firmly established
`H3559-56`	1 Kings 5:32	וַ/יָּכִ֛ינוּ	vayakhinu	`HC/Vhw3mp`	and they prepared	and they established	and they prepared
`H3559-15`	1 Kings 6:19	הֵכִ֑ין	hekhin	`HVhp3ms`	he prepared	he made firm	he prepared
`H3559-37`	Isaiah 2:2	נָכ֨וֹן	nakhon	`HVNrmsa`	established	being established	being established
`H3559-33`	Isaiah 9:6	לְ/הָכִ֤ין	lehakhin	`HR/Vhc`	to establish	to make firm	to establish
`H3559-12`	Isaiah 14:21	הָכִ֧ינוּ	hakhinu	`HVhv2mp`	Prepare	Establish firmly!	Establish firmly, all of you!
`H3559-67`	Isaiah 16:5	וְ/הוּכַ֤ן	vehukhan	`HC/VHq3ms`	and will be established	and he was made firm	and it will be established
`H3559-21`	Isaiah 30:33	הוּכָ֖ן	hukhan	`HVHp3ms`	it is prepared	was made firm	was made ready
`H3559-33`	Isaiah 40:20	לְ/הָכִ֥ין	lehakhin	`HR/Vhc`	to prepare	to make firm	to establish
`H3559-24`	Isaiah 45:18	כֽוֹנְנָ֔/הּ	khonenah	`HVop3ms/Sp3fs`	establisher-of-it	he firmly established her	he firmly established it

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