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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Greek: 2903. κράτιστος (kratistos) -- Most excellent, most noble</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/2903.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/hebrews/6-18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/greek/2903.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Greek</a> > 2903</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../greek/2902.htm" title="2902">◄</a> 2903. kratistos <a href="../greek/2904.htm" title="2904">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">kratistos: Most excellent, most noble</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">κράτιστος</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Adjective<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>kratistos<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>KRAH-tis-tos<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(krat'-is-tos)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Most excellent, most noble<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>most excellent, an official epithet, used in addressing a Roman of high rank, and in the second century one of equestrian (as distinguished from senatorial) rank.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>Superlative form of the Greek word "kratys," meaning strong or mighty.<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span>While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "kratistos," the concept of addressing someone with honor and respect can be seen in Hebrew terms like "אֲדֹנִי" (adonai, meaning "my lord") or "נָשִׂיא" (nasi, meaning "prince" or "leader").<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The term "kratistos" is used as a title of respect and honor, often addressing individuals of high social or political standing. It conveys a sense of nobility, excellence, or superiority in rank or character.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In the Greco-Roman world, titles such as "kratistos" were commonly used to address officials, dignitaries, or individuals of high status. This reflects the hierarchical nature of ancient societies, where social rank and honorific titles were significant. The use of such titles in the New Testament indicates the early Christians' awareness of and engagement with the cultural norms of their time.<div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>superl. from kratus (strong)<br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>strongest, noblest<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>most excellent (4).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Thayer's Greek Lexicon</div><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 2903: κράτιστος</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">κράτιστος</span></span>, <span class="greek2">κρατίστη</span>, <span class="greek2">κράτιστον</span>, superlative of the adjective <span class="greek2">κρατύς</span> (<span class="greek2">κράτος</span>) (from (<span class="abbreviation">Homer</span>) <span class="abbreviation">Pindar</span> down), <span class="accented">mightiest, strongest, noblest, most illustrious, best, most excellent</span>: vocative <span class="greek2">κράτιστε</span> used in addressing men of conspicuous rank or office, <a href="/interlinear/acts/23-26.htm">Acts 23:26</a>; <a href="/interlinear/acts/24-3.htm">Acts 24:3</a>; <a href="/interlinear/acts/26-25.htm">Acts 26:25</a>, (Otto, De ep. ad Diognetum etc. Jena 1845, p. 79ff, and in his Epist. ad Diognet. Leips. edition, p. 53f, has brought together examples from later writings). Perhaps also it served simply to express friendship in <a href="/interlinear/luke/1-3.htm">Luke 1:3</a> (as in <span class="abbreviation">Theophrastus</span>, char. 5; <span class="abbreviation">Dionysius Halicarnassus</span>, de oratt. 1; <span class="abbreviation">Josephus</span>, Antiquities 4, 6, 8), because in <a href="/interlinear/acts/1-1.htm">Acts 1:1</a> it is omitted in addressing the same person. Cf. Grimm in Jahrbb. f. deutsche Theol. for 1871, p. 50f.<FOOTNOTE:1> <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>most excellent, noble. <p>Superlative of a derivative of <a href="/greek/2904.htm">kratos</a>; strongest, i.e. (in dignity) very honorable -- most excellent (noble). <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/2904.htm">kratos</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>κράτιστα κρατίστας κρατιστε κράτιστε κρατίστη κρατίστοις κράτιστον κρατιστω κρατίστω κρατίστῳ kratiste krátiste kratisto kratistō kratístoi kratístōi<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/luke/1-3.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Luke 1:3</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Vocative Masculine Singular">Adj-VMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/luke/1.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">σοι γράψαι <b>κράτιστε</b> Θεόφιλε </span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/luke/1.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> [it] out for you in consecutive order, <span class="itali">most excellent</span> Theophilus;<br><a href="/kjvs/luke/1.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> in order, <span class="itali">most excellent</span> Theophilus,<br><a href="/interlinear/luke/1-3.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> to you to write <span class="itali">most excellent</span> Theophilus<p><b><a href="/text/acts/23-26.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Acts 23:26</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular">Adj-DMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/acts/23.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">Λυσίας τῷ <b>κρατίστῳ</b> ἡγεμόνι Φήλικι</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/acts/23.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> Lysias, <span class="itali">to the most excellent</span> governor<br><a href="/kjvs/acts/23.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> Lysias <span class="itali">unto the most excellent</span> governor<br><a href="/interlinear/acts/23-26.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> Lysias to the <span class="itali">most excellent</span> governor Felix<p><b><a href="/text/acts/24-3.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Acts 24:3</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Vocative Masculine Singular">Adj-VMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/acts/24.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">πανταχοῦ ἀποδεχόμεθα <b>κράτιστε</b> Φῆλιξ μετὰ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/acts/24.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> and everywhere, <span class="itali">most excellent</span> Felix,<br><a href="/kjvs/acts/24.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> in all places, <span class="itali">most noble</span> Felix,<br><a href="/interlinear/acts/24-3.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> everywhere we gladly accept [it] <span class="itali">most excellent</span> Felix with<p><b><a href="/text/acts/26-25.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Acts 26:25</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Vocative Masculine Singular">Adj-VMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/acts/26.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">μαίνομαι φησίν <b>κράτιστε</b> Φῆστε ἀλλὰ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/acts/26.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> I am not out of my mind, <span class="itali">most excellent</span> Festus,<br><a href="/kjvs/acts/26.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> not mad, <span class="itali">most noble</span> Festus; but<br><a href="/interlinear/acts/26-25.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> I am insane says <span class="itali">most noble</span> Festus but<p><b><a href="/greek/2903.htm">Strong's Greek 2903</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_2903.htm">4 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/kratiste_2903.htm">κράτιστε — 3 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/kratisto__2903.htm">κρατίστῳ — 1 Occ.</a><br><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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