κραταιός
krataiós
G2900 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Possessing strength or great power; mighty, strong. The word denotes someone or something characterized by notable physical or metaphorical power, authority, or forcefulness. It can describe individuals, entities, or even abstract qualities (such as a firm hand or a strong city) distinguished by their might or effectiveness. In some contexts, it emphasizes prevailing or dominating power.
Semantic Range
mighty, strong, powerful, prevailing, dominant, authoritative, possessing effective strength
Root / Etymology
From the noun κράτος (krátos), meaning 'strength,' 'power,' or 'might,' with the adjectival suffix -αῖος (-aios) denoting possession or quality. The form thus indicates a characteristic of having κράτος, namely, 'powerful' or 'mighty.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
κραταιός appears in both the Septuagint and the New Testament, as well as in Hellenistic and later Greek. In earlier and classical Greek, it is less common, but the related noun κράτος is frequently used to denote power (especially divine or heroic strength). In the Septuagint, κραταιός often renders Hebrew words signifying strength, power, or might, particularly in references to military, physical, or divine strength. In the New Testament (e.g., Luke 1:52, 'He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble'), κραταιός underscores either physical might or, more commonly, the sovereignty or prevailing strength of God or others in positions of authority. Standard English translations often use 'mighty,' 'powerful,' or 'strong,' but the nuance includes effective, prevailing strength, not mere potential. The term does not refer exclusively to military power, but may imply moral, political, or even supernatural might depending on context. Compared with ἰσχυρός (ischyros), which often indicates potential strength or capability, κραταιός generally signifies dominating or effective, manifested power.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κράτος; powerful:--mighty.
Root Family
κραται- (krataiós) — to possess might, to be strong, to be powerful
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2901 | κραταιόω | was being strengthened |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2900-01 |
κραταιὰν | krataian | ADJ.A ACC F SG |
mighty | powerful | mighty | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2900-01 |
1 Peter 5:6 | κραταιὰν | krataian | ADJ.A ACC F SG |
mighty | powerful | mighty |