G2912 G2912
Cretans, people from the island of Crete
This adjective (used substantively) refers to inhabitants of Crete, the large Mediterranean island south of Greece. In Acts 2:11, Cretans (Κρῆτες) are listed among the Jewish pilgrims present at Pentecost who heard the gospel in their own languages. In Titus 1:12, Paul quotes a Cretan prophet (Epimenides) about his own people: 'Cretans (Κρῆτες) are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons'—a harsh proverb Paul calls true and uses to justify strong correction. The Cretans had a reputation in the ancient world for dishonesty ('to Cretanize' meant 'to lie'), making Paul's mission there particularly challenging.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 2:11 lists 'Cretans' (Κρῆτες) among those hearing the Pentecost proclamation in their own tongues. Titus 1:12 quotes a Cretan prophet saying 'Cretans (Κρῆτες) are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.' The multilingual glosses are ethnic designations: English 'Cretans/Krētes,' Spanish 'Krḗtes/cretenses,' French 'Crétois/Κρῆτες,' German 'Kreter/Κρῆτες.' The Acts reference is neutral geographical, while Titus references the island's unsavory reputation for deceit. 2×
AR["الكريتيّونَ", "كِرِيتِيُّونَ"]·ben["ক্রীতীয়", "ক্রেতীয়রা"]·DE["Kreter", "Κρῆτες"]·EN["Cretans", "Krētes"]·FR["Crétois", "Κρῆτες"]·heb["כְּרֵתִיִּים", "כְּרֵתִים"]·HI["क्रēति", "बोलते-हुए"]·ID["Orang-Kreta", "orang-Kreta"]·IT["Cretese", "krētes"]·jav["Tiyang-Kreta", "tiyang-Kréta"]·KO["그레데인들은", "둘-다"]·PT["Cretenses"]·RU["Критяне"]·ES["Krḗtes", "cretenses"]·SW["Wakrete"]·TR["Giritliler"]·urd["کریتی"]
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
1. a Cretan , 8th/7th c.BC, etc.; feminine Κρῆσσα, ης, 6th/5th c.BC 2. as adjective Cretan , Refs 5th c.BC; also Κρήσιος, η, ον, Refs 5th c.BC, Refs 5th c.BC (Middle Liddel)