κράτος G2904
might, power, dominion — sovereign strength or supreme authority, especially in doxological ascription to God
Kratos denotes raw sovereign power and ruling might, distinguishing itself from dynamis (inherent capability) and exousia (delegated authority) by emphasizing the sheer force of dominion. Its 12 NT occurrences are overwhelmingly doxological — the word appears in praise formulas ascribing eternal might to God or Christ (1 Pet 4:11, 5:11; Jude 25; Rev 1:6, 5:13; 1 Tim 6:16). Luke 1:51 applies it to God's mighty arm scattering the proud, and Acts 19:20 describes the word of the Lord growing in kratos. Paul pairs it with other power terms in Ephesians 1:19 and 6:10 to express the overwhelming magnitude of divine strength. Spanish 'dominio/poder,' French 'puissance,' and German 'Macht' all gravitate toward sovereign authority.
Senses
1. might, power, dominion — Sovereign might, supreme ruling power, or absolute dominion, used predominantly in doxological and theological contexts to ascribe unrivaled strength to God or Christ. Appears in liturgical formulas of praise (1 Pet 4:11, 'to him be the glory and the kratos'; Rev 5:13, 'power and might forever'). Also describes divine action — God performing kratos with his arm (Luke 1:51) and the word of the Lord prevailing with kratos (Acts 19:20). Paul stacks it alongside dynamis, energeia, and ischus in Ephesians 1:19 to convey the overwhelming totality of God's power. All 12 occurrences express this single semantic domain of supreme sovereign force. 12×
amh["ኃይል"]·AR["السُّلطانُ", "القُدْرَةُ", "جَبَرُوتًا", "سُلْطانُ", "سُلْطَةَ", "شِدَّةِ", "ـقُوَّةٍ", "قدرة", "قُدرَةِ"]·ben["ক্ষমতা", "পরাক্রম", "পরাক্রম,", "পরাক্রম-এ", "শক্তি", "শক্তিতে"]·ces["moc"]·dan["magt,"]·DE["Macht", "κράτος"]·ell["κράτος,"]·EN["might", "power"]·FR["puissance", "puissance,"]·guj["સામર્થ્ય,"]·hat["pouvwa"]·hau["iko"]·heb["גְּבוּרָה", "כֹּחַ", "כוח", "עֹז", "עֹצֶם", "שִׁלְטוֹן"]·HI["अधिकार", "पराक्रम", "प्रतप", "शक्ति", "सामर्थ्य", "सामर्थ्य,", "सामर्थ्य-के"]·hun["erő"]·ID["Amin", "kekuasaan", "kekuasaan,", "kekuatan", "kuasa"]·IT["kratos", "potenza"]·jav["kakiyatan", "kawasa", "kuasa", "panguwasa", "panguwasa,", "pangwaos"]·JA["力"]·KO["권능-을", "권능-이", "권능과", "권능의", "권세를", "능력으로", "능력이", "힘-의"]·mar["सामर्थ्य,"]·mya["တန်ခိုး"]·nld["kracht"]·nor["makt"]·pnb["قدرت"]·pol["moc"]·PT["domínio", "domínio,", "força", "o-poder", "poder"]·ron["putere,"]·RU["держава", "держава,", "держащего-власть", "могущества", "могуществе", "могуществу", "силе", "силу"]·ES["dominio", "fuerza", "poder", "potencia"]·SW["nguvu", "nguvu,", "uweza", "uwezo"]·swe["makt"]·tam["வல்லமையும்"]·tel["శక్తి"]·tgl["kapangyarihan"]·TH["ฤทธานุภาพ"]·TR["-e", "egemenlik", "gücü", "güç", "kudret", "kudret,", "kudretine", "kuvvetinin", "ustunlugunun"]·ukr["сила"]·urd["زور-سے", "طاقت", "قدرت", "قدرت،"]·VI["quyền-năng"]·yor["agbára,"]·yue["權能"]·ZH["权能"]
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
κράτος [ᾰ], Ionic dialect and Epic dialect κάρτος, εος, τό, both in Refs 8th c.BC+ κρέτος Refs 7th c.BC+:— strength, might, in Refs 8th c.BC+ especially of bodily strength, Refs 8th c.BC+, etc.; τὸ γὰρ αὖτε σιδήρου γε κ. ἐστίν this (i.e. τὸ βάψαι) is what gives strength to iron, Refs 8th c.BC+; κατὰ κράτος with all one's might or strength, Refs 6th c.BC+, etc.: frequently in phrase αἱρεῖν κατὰ κ.…