κληρόω (klēroō)
klēroō
to obtain
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb klēroō means to assign something as a portion or inheritance by casting lots. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Ephesians 1:11, where Paul describes how believers have obtained an inheritance. Here, the passive form suggests that God is the one who assigns this share, determining the believer’s place within His plan.
Its root relates to the lot used for decision-making, a practice common in ancient times to discern divine will. While often translated as "inherit" or "obtain," the underlying imagery emphasizes allocation by divine choice rather than human effort. This usage highlights that the believer’s spiritual heritage is not earned but granted through God’s sovereign purpose.
Translators typically render this word as "obtained an inheritance" or "were allotted a heritage." The focus remains on the certainty of God’s assignment, assuring readers that their place in Christ is fixed by His decree. This single occurrence underscores the stability of Christian hope, rooted not in chance but in deliberate divine action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read that we have obtained an inheritance, it is easy to feel a sense of personal achievement. Yet this word carries a different weight. It speaks of being assigned a portion by someone else. In Ephesians 1:11, Paul reminds us that this allocation comes from the one who works all things according to His will. Your place in God’s family is not a matter of luck or your own striving.
This truth offers deep comfort. You do not need to earn your standing through constant effort or worry about whether you belong. The assignment is fixed by divine choice. It rests on the certainty of God’s purpose rather than the shifting sands of human performance. This stability allows us to rest in the knowledge that we are valued and placed with intention.
Let this assurance shape how you view your life today. You are not wandering without direction or purpose. Instead, you hold a share that has been carefully given to you. This gift invites you to live with confidence, knowing that your heritage is secure in the hands of the One who holds all things together.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- we have obtained an inheritance1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκληρώθημεν1×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 1:11
We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will,
This verse uses the passive voice to show that God actively assigns the believer's inheritance according to His sovereign purpose, removing any sense of human effort from the equation.