Word Study for G2936 (κτίζω) | Strong's Concordance

ktízō /ktid'-zo/ Ask about this word

Rootprobably akin to κτάομαι (through the idea of proprietorship of the manufacturer)

Meaningto fabricate, i.e. found (form originally)

KJV usagecreate, Creator, make.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ktízō — 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 ktízō, represented by G2936, means to fabricate, found, create, or make. It appears 16 times across 12 unique verses in the Bible. The term refers to the act of original formation, whether applied to the physical universe or to spiritual transformation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In Scripture, G2936 is used to describe God's absolute power as the originator of all existence. It encompasses the creation of "all things" in heaven and on earth, both "visible and invisible" Colossians 1:16. This creative act is the reason God is worthy of glory, honor, and power Revelation 4:11. Beyond the initial formation of the cosmos, the term is applied to the spiritual re-creation of believers. Paul explains that we are God's "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" Ephesians 2:10 and that believers are to put on the "new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" Ephesians 4:24. The word also appears in the context of creating specific things for a purpose, such as God having created foods to be received with thanksgiving 1 Timothy 4:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to clarify the concept of creation:

G2937 ktísis (creation, creature): This noun refers to the product of God's creative act. It is used in direct contrast to the Creator G2936, as seen in the warning against worshipping the creature rather than the Creator Romans 1:25.
G1746 endýō (to invest with clothing, put on): This verb is used figuratively to describe the believer's role in their spiritual re-creation. Believers are commanded to "put on the new man," which is created by God (Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10).
G4161 poíēma (workmanship, thing that is made): This term highlights the believer as a product of God's divine skill. We are described as His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for a specific purpose Ephesians 2:10.
G1504 eikṓn (image, likeness): This specifies the model for the new creation. The new man is renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created him Colossians 3:10.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2936 is significant and multifaceted:

Divine Sovereignty: The act of creation is the ultimate demonstration of God's power and authority. He created all things for His own pleasure and purpose, establishing His role as the sovereign originator of everything (Revelation 4:11, Colossians 1:16).
Spiritual Transformation: The word's usage is not confined to the past. It illustrates the profound change that occurs in a believer, who is made into a "new man." This new creation is not of human effort but is a divine act, created after the likeness of God himself Ephesians 4:24.
The Foundation of Worship: The distinction between the Creator G2936 and the creature G2937 is foundational to proper worship. Idolatry is defined as changing the truth of God by serving the created thing rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever Romans 1:25.

Summary

In summary, G2936 is a powerful verb that defines God's role as the sole fabricator of the universe and the author of spiritual newness. From the creation of "all things" by Jesus Christ Ephesians 3:9 to the creation of "one new man" in the church Ephesians 2:15, the term establishes God's ultimate authority and the transformative nature of His work in the lives of believers. It underpins the very basis for worship, distinguishing the one who creates from all that has been made.

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 15 occurrences, inflected in 12 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 3×
Aorist Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Aorist Active Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Aorist Active Participle Accusative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Participle Dative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Participle Genitive Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Passive Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Aorist Passive Participle Accusative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Passive Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Perfect Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

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 12 verses across 7 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Ephesians (4 verses); never once in the other 20.

Mark

Romans

1 Corinthians

Ephesians

Colossians

1 Timothy

Revelation

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, 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.