κτίστης
ktístēs
G2939 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Founder or originator, specifically one who creates, establishes, or brings something into existence. In most extant contexts, used to refer to a supreme creator or the originator of the world, but not limited to divine usage in broader Greek. In the New Testament, typically refers to the divine Creator (God) as the one who brought forth all things.
Semantic Range
founder, originator, creator (divine or human); specifically, Creator (with reference to God); one who brings something into existence, one who establishes or institutes
Root / Etymology
From κτίζω (ktízō), meaning 'to create, to found, to establish'. The noun κτίστης is a verbal agent form indicating the one who performs the action of creation or founding.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term κτίστης is uncommon in classical Greek, where it can denote a founder of a city or institution, not restricted to the divine sense. In the Koine and Septuagint, its usage focuses more narrowly on God as Creator of all things, especially in theological contexts (e.g., Wisdom 13:1). In non-biblical Greek, the term often means 'founder' in civic or mythic senses (e.g., founders of cities). The English term 'Creator' captures the intended New Testament usage, but the Greek allows for broader application in non-theological settings. The related verb κτίζω spans a wider semantic range, including founding cities or households. The term appears only rarely in the New Testament (e.g., 1 Peter 4:19), having entered the biblical lexicon primarily through influence from Hellenistic Jewish literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κτίζω; a founder, i.e. God (as author of all things):--Creator.
Root Family
κτίστης (ktistēs) — creator, founder, originator, establisher
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2939-01 |
Κτίστῃ | ktiste | N DAT M SG |
Creator | to the Creator | to the Creator | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2939-01 |
1 Peter 4:19 | Κτίστῃ | ktiste | N DAT M SG |
Creator | to the Creator | to the Creator |