2909. kreittón or kreissón
Lexical Summary
kreittón or kreissón: better, better things, greater

Original Word: κρείττων or κρείσσων
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: kreittón or kreissón
Pronunciation: kray'-tohn or krays'-sohn
Phonetic Spelling: (krite'-tohn)
KJV: best, better
NASB: better, better things, greater
Word Origin: [comparative of a derivative of G2904 (κράτος - dominion)]

1. stronger
2. (figuratively) better, i.e. nobler

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
best, better.

Comparative of a derivative of kratos; stronger, i.e. (figuratively) better, i.e. Nobler -- best, better.

see GREEK kratos

HELPS Word-studies

2909 kreíttōn (the comparative form of 2904 /krátos, "dominion") – what is better because more fully developed, i.e. in reaching the needed dominion (mastery, dominance); "better" after exerting the power needed to "plant down God's flag of victory."

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
cptv. of the same as kratistos
Definition
better
NASB Translation
better (17), better things (1), greater (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2909: κρείττων

κρείττων and (1 Corinthians 7:38; Philippians 1:23; in other places the reading varies between the two forms, especially in 1 Corinthians 7:9 (here T Tr WH L text κρείττων); ; Hebrews 6:9 (here and in the preceding passage L T Tr WH κρείσσων; see WH's Appendix, p. 148f; cf. Sigma) κρείσσων, κρεισσονος, neuter κρεισσονου (comparitive of κρατύς, see κράτιστος, cf. Kühner, i., p. 436; (Buttmann, 27 (24))) (from Homer down), better; i. e.

a. more useful, more serviceable: 1 Corinthians 11:17; 1 Corinthians 12:31 R G; Hebrews 11:40; Hebrews 12:24; with πολλῷ μᾶλλον, added, Philippians 1:23 (cf. μᾶλλον, 1 b.); κρεῖσσον (adverb) ποιεῖν, 1 Corinthians 7:38; κρεῖττον ἐστιν, it is more advantageous, followed by an infinitive, 1 Corinthians 7:9; 2 Peter 2:21 (cf. Buttmann, 217 (188); Winers Grammar, § 41 a. 2 a).

b. more excellent: Hebrews 1:4; Hebrews 6:9; Hebrews 7:7, 19, 22; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:23; Hebrews 10:34; Hebrews 11:16, 35; κρεῖττον, followed by an infinitive, 1 Peter 3:17.

Topical Lexicon
The Theological Idea of κρείττων

Strong’s Greek 2909 communicates the notion of what is “better,” “more excellent,” or “superior.” In Scripture it never describes mere incremental improvement; it points to a decisive, God-ordained superiority that demands a response of faith and obedience.

Distribution in the New Testament

κρείττων appears fifteen times, concentrated in Hebrews (twelve uses), with single occurrences in 1 Corinthians, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter. Hebrews employs the term to set forth the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ, His priesthood, His covenant, and the believer’s promised inheritance. The Petrine and Pauline uses turn the spotlight on ethical decisions in light of that supremacy.

Christological Superiority (Hebrews 1:4)

“Thus He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.” The opening affirmation of Hebrews frames every subsequent use of κρείττων: Jesus is the benchmark of all that is better. His person and work transcend every created mediator, validating the finality of His revelation.

A Better Priesthood and Covenant (Hebrews 7–9)

Hebrews 7:19: “(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:22: “Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.”
Hebrews 8:6: “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.”
Hebrews 9:23: “So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be cleansed with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”

The Mosaic system, though divinely instituted, functioned as a temporary copy. κρείττων marks the New Covenant as qualitatively superior, grounded in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice and His indestructible life. For ministry today, this demands that preaching and pastoral care center on the sufficiency of Christ’s mediation rather than ritualism or moralism.

A Superior Inheritance and Country (Hebrews 10–11)

Hebrews 10:34: Believers “accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.”
Hebrews 11:16: “Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.”
Hebrews 11:35: Some were “tortured, refusing release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.”
Hebrews 11:40: “God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.”

The term anchors hope beyond earthly loss. The Christian’s willingness to forfeit temporal security is sustained by confidence in an unshakeable, better inheritance. The preacher must therefore remind congregations that present trials are interpreted through the lens of the coming kingdom.

Ethical Choices: What Is Better Now?

1 Corinthians 7:9 contrasts celibacy and marriage: “If they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” Rightly ordered creation ordinances are superior to ascetic self-reliance.
1 Peter 3:17: “For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” Suffering retains moral value only when aligned with righteousness.
2 Peter 2:21: “It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away.” Apostasy carries a fearful accountability; knowledge intensifies responsibility.

These uses press believers to prioritize God’s evaluative standard over cultural opinion. Ministry application includes counseling toward godly marriage, preparing saints for righteous suffering, and warning against the peril of willful defection.

Progressive Revelation and Redemptive History

κρείττων illustrates how biblical revelation advances without contradiction. Each step—from shadow to substance—unfolds a redemptive storyline culminating in Christ. The comparative word underscores continuity (God’s unchanging purpose) and escalation (a new, definitive era). Conservative interpretation finds here a safeguard against both Marcionite dismissal of the Old Testament and modern attempts to relativize New Testament claims.

Pastoral and Missional Implications

1. Exalt Christ’s incomparable excellence; do not place Him alongside religious options.
2. Ground assurance in the better covenant: secure access, better promises, eternal inheritance.
3. Equip believers to evaluate every ethical dilemma by asking, “Which choice does God declare better?”
4. Sustain missionary endurance by the prospect of a better resurrection and a better country.

Conclusion

κρείττων gathers the fullness of the gospel into a single comparative: Jesus Christ and all He brings are infinitely better. The term calls the Church to unwavering confidence, clear proclamation, and joyful obedience until faith becomes sight.

Forms and Transliterations
κρειττον κρεῖττον κρεῖττόν κρειττονος κρείττονος κρείττονός κρειττοσιν κρείττοσιν κρειττων κρείττων κρεμαστόν kreitton kreittōn kreítton kreíttōn kreîtton kreîttón kreittonos kreíttonos kreíttonós kreittosin kreíttosin
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Englishman's Concordance
1 Corinthians 7:9 Adj-NNS
GRK: ἐγκρατεύονται γαμησάτωσαν κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν
NAS: let them marry; for it is better to marry
KJV: for it is better to marry than
INT: they have self-control let them marry better indeed it is

Hebrews 1:4 Adj-NMS
GRK: τοσούτῳ κρείττων γενόμενος τῶν
NAS: as much better than the angels,
KJV: so much better than the angels,
INT: by so much better having become than the

Hebrews 7:7 Adj-GMS
GRK: ὑπὸ τοῦ κρείττονος εὐλογεῖται
NAS: the lesser is blessed by the greater.
KJV: is blessed of the better.
INT: by the superior is blessed

Hebrews 7:19 Adj-GFS
GRK: ἐπεισαγωγὴ δὲ κρείττονος ἐλπίδος δι'
NAS: there is a bringing in of a better hope,
KJV: the bringing in of a better hope
INT: [the] introduction however of a better hope by

Hebrews 7:22 Adj-GFS
GRK: τοσοῦτο καὶ κρείττονος διαθήκης γέγονεν
NAS: the guarantee of a better covenant.
KJV: made a surety of a better testament.
INT: so much also of a better covenant has become

Hebrews 8:6 Adj-GFS
GRK: ὅσῳ καὶ κρείττονός ἐστιν διαθήκης
NAS: the mediator of a better covenant,
KJV: the mediator of a better covenant,
INT: by so much as also of a better he is covenant

Hebrews 8:6 Adj-DFP
GRK: ἥτις ἐπὶ κρείττοσιν ἐπαγγελίαις νενομοθέτηται
NAS: has been enacted on better promises.
KJV: was established upon better promises.
INT: which upon better promises has been enacted

Hebrews 9:23 Adj-DFP
GRK: τὰ ἐπουράνια κρείττοσιν θυσίαις παρὰ
NAS: themselves with better sacrifices
KJV: themselves with better sacrifices
INT: the heavenly places with better sacrifices than

Hebrews 10:34 Adj-AFS
GRK: ἔχειν ἑαυτοὺς κρείττονα ὕπαρξιν καὶ
INT: to have yourselves a better possession and

Hebrews 11:16 Adj-GFS
GRK: νῦν δὲ κρείττονος ὀρέγονται τοῦτ'
NAS: But as it is, they desire a better [country], that is, a heavenly one.
KJV: they desire a better [country], that is,
INT: now moreover a better they stretch forward to this

Hebrews 11:35 Adj-GFS
GRK: ἀπολύτρωσιν ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν
NAS: that they might obtain a better resurrection;
KJV: they might obtain a better resurrection:
INT: redemption that a better resurrection they might obtain

Hebrews 11:40 Adj-ANS
GRK: περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου
NAS: something better for us, so
KJV: having provided some better thing for
INT: for us better something having foreseen

Hebrews 12:24 Adj-ANS
GRK: αἵματι ῥαντισμοῦ κρεῖττον λαλοῦντι παρὰ
NAS: which speaks better than
KJV: that speaketh better things than
INT: to [the] blood of sprinkling better things speaking than

1 Peter 3:17 Adj-NNS
GRK: κρεῖττον γὰρ ἀγαθοποιοῦντας
NAS: For it is better, if God
KJV: For [it is] better, if the will
INT: [it is] better indeed [for you] doing good

2 Peter 2:21 Adj-NNS
GRK: κρεῖττον γὰρ ἦν
NAS: For it would be better for them not to have known
KJV: For it had been better for them not
INT: Better indeed it were

Strong's Greek 2909
15 Occurrences


κρείττων — 1 Occ.
κρεῖττον — 5 Occ.
κρείττονα — 1 Occ.
κρείττονος — 6 Occ.
κρείττοσιν — 2 Occ.

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