κρείσσων G2909
Better, superior, more excellent; comparative indicating higher worth or greater strength.
A comparative adjective meaning 'better' or 'superior,' used when one thing surpasses another in quality, value, or moral standing. Although its classical root meant 'stronger' or 'mightier,' New Testament usage overwhelmingly carries the evaluative sense of 'more excellent.' Hebrews employs it as a virtual keyword: Christ mediates a better covenant (Heb 7:22), founded on better promises (Heb 8:6), through a better sacrifice (Heb 9:23). Paul also uses it practically—it is better to marry than to burn with passion (1 Cor 7:9). German 'besser,' Spanish 'mejor,' and French 'meilleur' all converge on the single axis of qualitative superiority.
Senses
1. better, superior, greater — Superior in quality, value, or moral standing; better or more excellent than something else. Hebrews deploys this word repeatedly to demonstrate Christ's superiority over angels (Heb 1:4), the Levitical priesthood (Heb 7:7, 19), the old covenant (Heb 7:22), and earthly sacrifices (Heb 9:23). Cross-linguistic evidence is unanimous: Spanish 'mejor,' French 'meilleur,' German 'besser' all map to a single axis of evaluative comparison, confirming a unified sense rather than a fragmented polysemy. 15×
AR["أفضَلُ", "أَفضَلَ", "أَفْضَل", "أَفْضَلَ", "أَفْضَلُ", "الأَفْضَلِ", "بِأَفْضَلَ"]·ben["উত্তম", "উত্তমতর", "উত্তমতরের", "উত্তমের", "ভালো", "শ্রেষ্ঠ", "শ্রেষ্ঠতরের"]·DE["besser"]·EN["better", "greater", "of-a-better", "of-better", "with-better"]·FR["besser", "meilleur"]·heb["גָּדוֹל-יוֹתֵר", "טוֹב", "טוֹב-יוֹתֵר", "טוֹבְיוֹתֵר", "טוֹבָה-יוֹתֵר", "טוֹבוֹת-יוֹתֵר", "נַעֲלֶה"]·HI["अच्छा", "उत्तम", "बड़े", "श्रेष्ठ"]·ID["Lebih-baik", "dengan-yang-lebih-baik", "lebih-baik", "lebih-tinggi", "yang-lebih-baik", "yang-lebih-tinggi"]·IT["migliore"]·jav["Langkung-saé", "langkung-ageng", "langkung-inggil", "langkung-sae"]·KO["더-나았다", "더-나으니", "더-나은", "더-나은-것을", "더-낫다", "더-큰-이에게", "뛰어나시니"]·PT["Melhor", "Pois-melhor", "algo-melhor", "com-melhores", "de-melhor", "maior", "melhor", "melhores", "superior"]·RU["большего", "лучше", "лучшего", "лучшее", "лучшей", "лучшим", "лучшими", "лучших"]·ES["con-mejores", "de-mejor", "mejor", "mejores"]·SW["bora-zaidi", "ingekuwa-bora", "kwa-maana-ni-afadhali", "mkuu-zaidi", "ni-bora"]·TR["daha iyi", "daha-iyi", "daha-iyi-bir", "daha-üstünün", "üstün"]·urd["بڑے-سے", "بہتر"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κρείσσων, ον, genitive ονος, as always in Epic dialect and old Attic dialect; later Attic dialect κρείττων; Ionic dialect κρέσσων Refs 5th c.BC+ κάρρων (which see); Cretan dialect κάρτων Refs — _comparative_ of κρατύς (see. κράτιστος), stronger, mightier, Refs 8th c.BC+; especially in battle, Refs 6th c.BC+: hence, having the upper hand, superior, Refs 8th c.BC+: as Law-term, of witnesses, Refs…