κρᾰται-ός G2900
mighty, powerful (of God's hand)
Peter exhorts believers to 'humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God' (1 Peter 5:6). The adjective, a poetic form emphasizing strength and power, appears frequently in the Septuagint describing God's 'mighty hand' in deliverance and judgment. The phrase evokes the Exodus and God's powerful acts in history. Peter applies this traditional image to present circumstances—God's power now works through suffering and humiliation, promising future exaltation. The 'mighty hand' can save or discipline.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Peter employs the classic biblical phrase 'the mighty hand of God,' rich with Exodus overtones. The adjective emphasizes raw power and strength—this is the hand that defeated Pharaoh and judges nations. Yet Peter's paradoxical counsel is to humble oneself under this power rather than resist it. The hand is mighty but ultimately protective for those who submit. Spanish 'poderosa' captures the sense of overwhelming strength deployed for divine purposes. 1×
AR["القَويَّةِ"]·ben["শক্তিশালী"]·DE["maechtig"]·EN["mighty"]·FR["κραταιὰν"]·heb["עַזָּה"]·HI["सामर्थी"]·ID["perkasa"]·IT["krataian"]·jav["kiyat"]·KO["강한"]·RU["крепкую"]·ES["poderosa"]·SW["wenye-nguvu"]·TR["kudretli"]·urd["طاقتور"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κρᾰται-ός, ά, όν, poetry form of κρατερός, strong, mighty, μοῖρα κραταιή Refs 8th c.BC+; of men, Refs 8th c.BC+; of a lion, κραταιοῦ θηρὸς ὑφ᾽ ὁρμῆς Refs 8th c.BC+; κ. ἔπος word of power,Refs 5th c.BC+; fierce, κ. καύματος ὥρᾳ poetical cited in Refs 2nd c.AD+ hard stone, Refs 3rd c.BC+; ἐν χειρὶ κ. with a mighty hand, LXX+2nd c.BC+: comparative, Refs 1st c.AD+: superlative, Refs; especially in…