κρείττων (G2909) — Greek Lexicon

κρείττων

kreíttōn

G2909 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Comparative form meaning 'stronger' or 'superior,' primarily used for expressing greater strength, power, advantage, or quality in comparison to another. In figurative and evaluative contexts, designates 'better,' 'more excellent,' or 'preferable.' The main sense is one who or that which is more powerful, able, advantageous, or of higher worth.

Semantic Range

stronger, more powerful, superior in strength or status, better, more excellent, preferable, of higher quality, nobler

Root / Etymology

Formed from the comparative stem of κράτος (power, strength); likely derived from an earlier, unattested form *κράτιστος (an irregular comparative/superlative structure). The connection is with the base idea of strength or power.

Historical & Contextual Notes

κρείττων, as a comparative, appears in classical Greek from the 5th century BCE, commonly used for both physical strength ('stronger') and metaphorical qualities ('superior,' 'better'). In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term frequently conveys moral, qualitative, or status superiority ('better,' 'more excellent') rather than pure physical might. The nuance moves beyond mere strength to embrace qualities of worth, advantage, or ethical superiority. In particular, Hebrews uses the term repeatedly to express the greater excellence of the new covenant, priesthood, or promises. Standard English translations typically render it as 'better,' but this can lose the underlying connection to strength or superiority intrinsic to the term. Unlike ἄμεινόν (better, primarily in ability or circumstance) or βελτίων (better in virtue or moral quality), κρείττων foregrounds inherent strength or superiority.

Translation Consistency

primary "better" 19 occurrences

Most natural and common English rendering for κρείττων’s comparative sense. 'Better' neatly covers the range from stronger/superior to more excellent/preferable, is idiomatic in evaluative and comparative contexts, and matches majority usage in the P2 data (11 of 19). Using 'better' maximizes clarity and consistency across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

comparative of a derivative of κράτος; stronger, i.e. (figuratively) better, i.e. nobler:--best, better.

Root Family

κρείττων (kreíttōn) — stronger, superior, better

Root κρείτ- stronger, superior, better

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2909-04`	κρείττονος	kreittonos	`ADJ.A GEN M SG COMP`	better	of a superior one	of a better one	6
`G2909-03`	κρεῖττον	kreitton	`ADJ.P NOM N SG`	better	stronger thing	better thing	6
`G2909-01`	κρεῖσσον	kreisson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	better	something superior	something better	3
`G2909-02`	κρείσσονα	kreissona	`ADJ.S ACC N PL`	better	superior things	better things	2
`G2909-06`	κρείττοσιν	kreittosin	`ADJ.A DAT F PL COMP`	better	to superior ones	better	1
`G2909-05`	κρείττοσι	kreittosi	`ADJ.A DAT F PL COMP`	better	to superior ones	better	1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2909-03`	1 Corinthians 7:9	κρεῖττον	kreitton	`ADJ.P NOM N SG`	better	stronger thing	better thing
`G2909-01`	1 Corinthians 7:38	κρεῖσσον	kreisson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	better	something superior	something better
`G2909-01`	1 Corinthians 11:17	κρεῖσσον	kreisson	`ADJ.A ACC N SG COMP`	better	something superior	something better
`G2909-01`	Philippians 1:23	κρεῖσσον	kreisson	`ADJ.P NOM N SG`	better	something superior	something better
`G2909-03`	Hebrews 1:4	κρείττων	kreitton	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	better	stronger thing	better thing
`G2909-02`	Hebrews 6:9	κρείσσονα	kreissona	`ADJ.S ACC N PL`	better	superior things	better things
`G2909-04`	Hebrews 7:7	κρείττονος	kreittonos	`ADJ.A GEN M SG COMP`	greater	of a superior one	of a better one
`G2909-04`	Hebrews 7:19	κρείττονος	kreittonos	`ADJ.A GEN F SG COMP`	better	of a superior one	of a better one
`G2909-04`	Hebrews 7:22	κρείττονος	kreittonos	`ADJ.A GEN F SG COMP`	better	of a superior one	of a better one
`G2909-04`	Hebrews 8:6	κρείττονός	kreittonos	`ADJ.S GEN F SG`	better	of a superior one	of a better one
`G2909-06`	Hebrews 8:6	κρείττοσιν	kreittosin	`ADJ.A DAT F PL COMP`	better	to superior ones	better
`G2909-05`	Hebrews 9:23	κρείττοσι	kreittosi	`ADJ.A DAT F PL COMP`	better	to superior ones	better
`G2909-02`	Hebrews 10:34	κρείσσονα	kreissona	`ADJ.A ACC F SG COMP`	better	superior things	better things
`G2909-04`	Hebrews 11:16	κρείττονος	kreittonos	`ADJ.S GEN F SG`	better	of a superior one	of a better one
`G2909-04`	Hebrews 11:35	κρείττονος	kreittonos	`ADJ.A GEN F SG COMP`	better	of a superior one	of a better one
`G2909-03`	Hebrews 11:40	κρεῖττόν	kreitton	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	better	stronger thing	better thing
`G2909-03`	Hebrews 12:24	κρεῖττον	kreitton	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	better	stronger thing	better thing
`G2909-03`	1 Peter 3:17	κρεῖττον	kreitton	`ADJ.P NOM N SG`	better	stronger thing	better thing
`G2909-03`	2 Peter 2:21	κρεῖττον	kreitton	`ADJ.P NOM N SG`	better	stronger thing	better thing

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