Meaning
lit., "a casting down," is used (a) of "conceiving seed," Heb 11:11; (b) of "a foundation," as that which is laid down, or in the sense of founding; metaphorically, of "the foundation of the world;" in this respect two phrases are used, (1) "from the foundation of the world," Mat 25:34 (in the most authentic mss. in Mat 13:35 there is no phrase representing "of the world"); Luk 11:50, Heb 4:3, Heb 9:26, Rev 13:8, Rev 17:8; (2) "before the foundation of the world," Joh 17:24, Eph 1:4, 1Pe 1:20. The latter phrase looks back to the past eternity.
"to lay a foundation, to found" (akin to A, No. 1), is used (a) literally, Mat 7:25, Luk 6:48, Heb 1:10; (b) metaphorically, Eph 3:17, "grounded (in love);" Col 1:23 (ditto, "in the faith"); 1Pe 5:10, AV, "settle." See GROUND, SETTLE.
