Word Study for G2932 (κτάομαι)

ktáomai /ktah'-om-ahee/ Ask about this word

Roota primary verb

Meaningto get, i.e. acquire (by any means; own)

KJV usageobtain, possess, provide, purchase.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ktáomai — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word ktáomai, represented by G2932, is a primary verb that means to get, i.e. acquire (by any means; own). It appears 7 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible. Its usage spans a range of actions from purchasing material goods to possessing one's own soul, illustrating a broad concept of acquisition.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G2932 is used in both literal and figurative contexts. Literally, it refers to the act of acquiring possessions, such as when Judas "purchased a field with the reward of iniquity" Acts 1:18 or when the chief captain explained he had "obtained" his freedom with a great sum Acts 22:28. Jesus uses it as "provide" when instructing his disciples not to acquire gold, silver, or brass for their journey Matthew 10:9. The meaning shifts to a spiritual context when Peter rebukes Simon for thinking the gift of God could be "purchased" with money Acts 8:20. It is also used to describe a state of ownership or self-control, as in the instruction for believers to "possess" their vessel in sanctification 1 Thessalonians 4:4 and to "possess" their souls through patience Luke 21:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context in which things are acquired or possessed:

G5281 hypomonḗ (cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy): This is presented as the very means by which one is to "possess" their soul, highlighting a spiritual acquisition through steadfastness Luke 21:19.
G4632 skeûos (a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus): This is the object to be possessed in sanctification and honor, referring to one's own body or life 1 Thessalonians 4:4.
G4174 politeía (citizenship; concretely, a community): This is what the chief captain "obtained" for a great sum, showing that status and rights could be purchased Acts 22:28.
G3408 misthós (pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad): This is the "reward" of iniquity that was used to purchase a field, linking the acquisition directly to the payment received for a wrongful act Acts 1:18.

Theological Significance

The theological application of G2932 is significant, particularly in distinguishing what is worldly from what is divine.

The Inviolability of Divine Gifts: The word is central to Peter's rebuke of Simon Magus. The idea that the gift of God could be "purchased" G2932 is presented as a grievous error, establishing that spiritual things are not subject to material acquisition Acts 8:20.
Sanctified Possession: In 1 Thessalonians 4:4, the act of "possessing" G2932 one's vessel is tied directly to G38 hagiasmós (sanctification) and G5092 timḗ (honour). This elevates the concept of possession from mere ownership to a matter of moral and spiritual self-governance.
Endurance and the Soul: The command to "possess ye your souls" through patience links the act of gaining ownership to spiritual endurance Luke 21:19. It suggests that true possession of one's life or soul is not a given but is secured through steadfast faith.

Summary

In summary, G2932 demonstrates how a common verb for acquiring things is used to teach profound spiritual lessons. While it can refer to the simple purchase of a field or the obtaining of citizenship, its most critical uses highlight a sharp contrast. One cannot purchase the gifts of God, but one must, through patience and sanctification, take possession of their own soul and vessel. The word illustrates the boundary between the material economy of the world and the spiritual economy of God's kingdom.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 7 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

κτᾶσθαι
κτήσασθε
ἐκτησάμην
ἐκτήσατο
κτήσησθε
κτῶμαι

Related Words

3 entries in Strong’s name this word as their origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 7 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (3 verses); never once in the other 23.

Matthew

Luke

Acts

1 Thessalonians

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.