"(1) pr. a framing, founding; (2) in NT creation, the act of creating, Rom. 1:20; creation, the material universe, Mk. 10:6; 13:19; Heb. 9:11; 2 Pet. 3:4; a created thing, a creature, Rom. 1:25; 8:39; Col. 1:15; Heb. 4:13; the human creation, Mk. 16:15; Rom. 8:19, 20, 21, 22; Col...."
Definition and meaning
(1) pr. a framing, founding; (2) in NT creation, the act of creating, Rom. 1:20; creation, the material universe, Mk. 10:6; 13:19; Heb. 9:11; 2 Pet. 3:4; a created thing, a creature, Rom. 1:25; 8:39; Col. 1:15; Heb. 4:13; the human creation, Mk. 16:15; Rom. 8:19, 20, 21, 22; Col. 1:23; a spiritual creation, 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; (3) an institution, ordinance, 1 Pet. 2:13
In the original Greek the word is written: κτίσις
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of ktisis (G2937) across the King James Bible.
But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Common questions
Strong's G2937 (ktisis) is a Greek word that means: (1) pr. a framing, founding; (2) in NT creation, the act of creating, Rom. 1:20; creation, the material universe, Mk. 10:6; 13:19; Heb. 9:11; 2 Pet. 3:4; a created thing, a creature, Rom. 1:25; 8:39; ... It appears 19 times in the King James Bible.
The word ktisis (G2937) appears 19 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2937 is ktisis, a Greek word defined as: (1) pr. a framing, founding; (2) in NT creation, the act of creating, Rom. 1:20; creation, the material universe, Mk. 10:6; 13:19; Heb. 9:11; 2 Pet. 3. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
ktisis is a Greek word found in the New Testament.