ἐκαρτέρησαν

καρτερέω

to be steadfast: aor ind act 3rd pl

καρτερέω

to be steadfast: aor ind act 3rd pl

καρτερέω (s. κράτος) fut. καρτερήσω LXX; 1 aor. ἐκαρτέρησα (Soph., Thu. et al.; pap, LXX; TestJob 4:10; Jos., Ant. 11, 52) to continue without wavering in a state or condition, be strong, be steadfast, hold out, endure (Thu. 2, 44, 3; Pla., Theaet. 157d, Lach. 193a; Diod S 3, 5, 3 καρτερῆσαι μέχρι τῆς τελευτῆς; PGrenf I, 1, 19 [II B.C.]; PAmh 130, 6; Job 2:9; Sir 2:2; 12:15; 2 Macc 7:17 al.) τὸν ἀόρατον ὡς ὁρῶν ἐκαρτέρησεν he persevered as if he saw him who is invisible Hb 11:27. Cp. Windisch; Strathmann.—GWhitaker, in ET 27, 1916, 186 prefers the mng. fix one’s eyes upon, on the basis of certain pass. in Plut.—But the proper understanding of this word must surely proceed from the fact that the ptc. with καρτερεῖν does not denote an accompanying circumstance, but rather the quality in which someone endures or is steadfast (Diod S 8, 18, 3 τοιοῦτον βίον ζῶντα καρτερεῖν=keep on living a life like this; 14, 65, 4 μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσομεν ταῦτα πάσχοντες;=how long will we continue to suffer this?; 18, 60, 1 καρτερεῖν δεσποζόμενος=allow oneself to be continually dominated; Arrian., Anab. 7, 8, 3 οὔκουν σιγῇ ἔχοντες ἐκαρτέρησαν=they did not continue, then, in silence; Ps.-Dicaearchus p. 141 ln. 11 F. ἀκούων καρτ.=listen continually). Accordingly Hb 11:27, giving the reason for Moses’ fearlessness: he kept the one who is invisible continually before his eyes (i.e., in faith), as it were.—DELG s.v. κράτος. M-M. TW.