← G2936 G2938 →

κτίσις

ktísis

G2937 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The act of creating or establishing, production, or constitution of something; by extension, that which has been created, a created being, entity, or the sum of created things. In various contexts, it can refer specifically to the natural world (creation), a particular creature, or the result of a founding action (such as a community or social order).

Semantic Range

act of creating, foundation/establishment, production, creature, created order, creation, created thing

Root / Etymology

From the verb κτίζω (to create, to found, to establish), which itself likely derives from the root κτι- relating to producing or founding. Cognate with classical Greek usage referring both to the act of foundation and the thing that is founded.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κτίσις initially referred to the act of founding a city, colony, or political entity, emphasizing establishment and constitution (see Herodotus, Thucydides). Over time, especially in Hellenistic and Koine usage, the meaning broadened to encompass the action of creating in a more general sense and then the resulting creation itself. In the Septuagint and New Testament, κτίσις most commonly refers to the created world, the entirety of the cosmos, or an individual creature. In some philosophical contexts (e.g., Philo), it can indicate the cosmic order as a result of divine or rational activity. English translations often render it as 'creation' or 'creature,' but these do not always capture the nuance between the creative act and its result. Later Christian usage (patristic writers) continued to nuance κτίσις as both the process and the product of divine creation. 'Ordinance' as a translation is rare and generally reflects the concept of a foundational establishment rather than a legal decree.

Translation Consistency

primary "creation" 18 occurrences

κτίσις most often denotes the created order or the act/result of creating. "Creation" is the natural, common English noun that covers both the act/constitution (the making) and the product (the created world or a created being). It matches the dominant P2 renderings and is broader than alternatives like "creature," which is narrower and less frequent.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"institution" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κτίζω; original formation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, literally or figuratively):--building, creation, creature, ordinance.

Root Family

κτί- (ktízō) — to found, to create, to bring into being

Root κτί- to create, to found, to establish
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2936 κτίζω you brought into being

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2937-02 κτίσεως ktiseos N GEN F SG creation of creation of creation 8
G2937-03 κτίσις ktisis N NOM F SG creation creation creation 7
G2937-01 κτίσει ktisei N DAT F SG creation to the creation to the creation 4

Occurrences in Scripture

19 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2937-02 Mark 10:6 κτίσεως ktiseos N GEN F SG of creation of creation of creation
G2937-02 Mark 13:19 κτίσεως ktiseos N GEN F SG of the creation of creation of creation
G2937-01 Mark 16:15 κτίσει ktisei N DAT F SG creation to the creation to the creation
G2937-02 Romans 1:20 κτίσεως ktiseos N GEN F SG creation of creation of creation
G2937-01 Romans 1:25 κτίσει ktisei N DAT F SG creation to the creation to the creation
G2937-02 Romans 8:19 κτίσεως ktiseos N GEN F SG creation of creation of creation
G2937-03 Romans 8:20 κτίσις ktisis N NOM F SG creation creation creation
G2937-03 Romans 8:21 κτίσις ktisis N NOM F SG creation creation creation
G2937-03 Romans 8:22 κτίσις ktisis N NOM F SG creation creation creation
G2937-03 Romans 8:39 κτίσις ktisis N NOM F SG created thing creation creation
G2937-03 2 Corinthians 5:17 κτίσις ktisis N NOM F SG creation creation creation
G2937-03 Galatians 6:15 κτίσις ktisis N NOM F SG creation creation creation
G2937-02 Colossians 1:15 κτίσεως ktiseos N GEN F SG creation of creation of creation
G2937-01 Colossians 1:23 κτίσει ktisei N DAT F SG creation to the creation to the creation
G2937-03 Hebrews 4:13 κτίσις ktisis N NOM F SG creature creation creation
G2937-02 Hebrews 9:11 κτίσεως ktiseos N GEN F SG creation of creation of creation
G2937-01 1 Peter 2:13 κτίσει ktisei N DAT F SG institution to the creation institution
G2937-02 2 Peter 3:4 κτίσεως ktiseos N GEN F SG of creation of creation of creation
G2937-02 Revelation 3:14 κτίσεως ktiseos N GEN F SG creation of creation of creation
← G2936 Greek Lexicon G2938 →