κτάομαι (ktaomai)
ktaomai
to posses
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ktaomai describes the act of acquiring or procuring something for oneself. In the New Testament, it appears in only seven verses, primarily within the Gospels and Acts. The word carries a strong sense of effort or transaction, whether one is gaining property, securing citizenship, or obtaining spiritual rewards. It is not merely receiving a gift but actively coming into possession of what was previously unowned.
Its usage reveals a range of contexts that highlight this active acquisition. In Luke 18:12, the Pharisee boasts about his religious discipline as if it were a personal asset he has secured. Conversely, in Acts 1:18, the phrase "acquired a field" refers to Judas using his ill-gotten gains to buy land, showing how the word can apply to material transactions with moral ambiguity. The sources also note its use in 1 Thessalonians 4:4, where it relates to controlling one’s body or marrying a wife, emphasizing personal stewardship over what one has acquired.
A key distinction lies in its grammatical forms. While the present and future tenses focus on the process of getting, the perfect tense shifts to the state of having acquired. This nuance allows translators to render it as "possess" when the emphasis is on ownership rather than the act of buying. The word’s root connects to the Hebrew qanah in the Septuagint, linking it to concepts of purchase and creation, though in the New Testament it remains grounded in human agency and legal or social acquisition.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ktaomai reminds us that faith involves active participation. It is not just about receiving a gift, but about the effort we put into securing what matters most. In Luke 21:19, Jesus links endurance to winning our lives. This suggests that spiritual growth requires persistence and intentional choice.
We see this in how we handle our resources and relationships. Acts 1:18 shows a tragic misuse of acquisition, where money bought guilt instead of peace. Conversely, 1 Thessalonians 4:4 calls us to control our bodies with honor. This is a positive stewardship of what God has given us.
Consider the Pharisee in Luke 18:12, who boasted of his tithes as if they were personal assets. True possession is not about hoarding religious merit. It is about aligning our lives with God’s will. When we seek to acquire righteousness through obedience, we find lasting security.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to control1×
- to be obtained!1×
- may take along1×
- do you gain yourselves1×
- bought.1×
- acquired1×
- I gain.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκτήσατο1×
- ἐκτησάμην.1×
- κτῶμαι.¶1×
- κτᾶσθαι.1×
- κτᾶσθαι1×
- κτήσησθε1×
- κτήσασθε1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 21:19
“By your endurance you will win your lives.
This verse uniquely connects the active endurance of believers with the ultimate possession of their lives, showing spiritual acquisition through perseverance.
-
Acts 1:18
Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness; and falling headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines gushed out.
Here the word describes Judas using ill-gotten gains to buy a field, highlighting the moral danger of acquiring material wealth without integrity.
-
I Thessalonians 4:4
that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor,
Paul uses this term to instruct believers on how to possess their own bodies in sanctification, emphasizing personal responsibility and honor.
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Luke 18:12
I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’
The Pharisee lists his tithes as something he has acquired, revealing a heart that treats religious duties as personal assets for boasting.