Greek word · G3841

παντοκράτωρ

pantokratōr

almighty

Literally 'all-holder' or 'all-ruler': the one who holds power over everything. BDAG gives 'the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One).' The emphasis is on actual sovereign control rather than on abstract capacity.

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

παντοκράτωρ, -ορος, ὁ

(πᾶς, κρατέω), [in LXX: frequently in Job 5:8, 17, al. (שַׁדַּי), and for צָבָא, in the phrase θεός (κυρίος) π., 2 Samuel 5:10, al., and frequently in Am, Za, Ma; also in Wisdom of Solomon 7:25, Sirach 42:17 50:14, 17 and frequently in Jth 2, 3Mac ;]

almighty: 2 Corinthians 6:18, Revelation 1:8 4:8 11:17 15:3 16:7, 14 9:6, 15 21:22.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 15:3

Range of meaning: Literally 'all-holder' or 'all-ruler': the one who holds power over everything. BDAG gives 'the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One).' The emphasis is on actual sovereign control rather than on abstract capacity.
Against the English: 'Almighty' is a fair rendering. Modern readers, though, tend to hear a philosophical idea: a God able to do anything at all. The Greek title stresses reigning: commanding the heavenly armies and governing all things.
How it drifted: In the Greek Old Testament, παντοκράτωρ usually translates YHWH Sabaoth, 'LORD of hosts (armies),' and in Job translates Shaddai. Latin rendered it omnipotens, which gave English 'almighty/omnipotent.' Later philosophical theology gave those words their abstract sense.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Greek Old Testament it is common in the prophets: Amos 4:13 'κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ,' and Zechariah and Malachi. In the New Testament it appears in 2 Cor 6:18 and nine times in Revelation (1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22). Greek inscriptions also use it of gods. The idea of 'world ruler' was claimed in the language of empire.

From the study of Revelation 1:8

Range of meaning: The word is built from πᾶς (“all”) and κρατέω (“to hold, rule, prevail”). It means “the one who holds sway over all,” the All-Ruler, Sovereign over everything. It describes control and rule over all things and all powers, not only power held in reserve.
Against the English: “Almighty” (all English versions) is not wrong. Modern English, though, hears it as “omnipotent, able to do anything,” which is a statement about capacity. The Greek points to actual rule: God is the one who in fact commands every army and authority. “All-Ruler” or “Sovereign over all” captures it better.
How it drifted: Latin translations rendered it omnipotens (“all-powerful”). English “Almighty” followed the Latin, and later theology used “omnipotence” for God's abstract ability to do anything. Both moved the word from rule toward raw capacity.
Used elsewhere in the period: The Greek Old Testament uses it more than 100 times, mainly for Hebrew YHWH Sabaoth, “the LORD of hosts,” the God who commands heaven's armies (e.g. 2 Sam 7:8; Amos, Zechariah, Malachi passim). In Job it often translates Shaddai. It is common in Jewish prayer language of the period (2 Macc 1:25; 3 Macc 2:2; 6:2; Letter of Aristeas 185). In the New Testament it appears outside Revelation only at 2 Cor 6:18, in a quotation. Revelation uses it nine times (1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22).

From the study of Revelation 11:17

Range of meaning: Literally 'all-ruler' (panta, 'all things', plus kratos, 'might, rule'). The emphasis falls on actually holding sway and being in control over everything, not on an abstract ability to do anything. In the Greek Old Testament it almost always translates the Hebrew YHWH tsevaot, 'LORD of hosts' (the commander of heaven's armies). In Job it translates Shaddai.
Against the English: Every major English version has 'Almighty', a word that came through the Latin Vulgate's omnipotens ('all-powerful'). 'Almighty' is not wrong. But modern readers tend to hear the philosophers' 'omnipotence', the idea that God can do anything. The Greek title is about God's rule in practice, over every power that exists, the way a supreme commander rules.
How it drifted: Latin omnipotens moved the stress from ruling to having power, and later theology's discussion of omnipotence as an abstract attribute strengthened that shift.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Greek Old Testament it appears often in the prophets as kyrios ho theos ho pantokratōr ('Lord God All-Ruler'), for example Amos 4:13 and Hosea 12:6 in Greek. It is common in Jewish writings of the period (e.g. 2 Maccabees, 3 Maccabees) and in Jewish prayer. In the New Testament it appears 9 times in Revelation (1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22) and once elsewhere (2 Corinthians 6:18, quoting the Old Testament).

Where it appears

2 Corinthians · 1

2 Corinthians 6:18 παντοκράτωρ.¶ Almighty.

And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Here: 'Ruler of all'. It is the Septuagint's usual rendering of 'LORD of hosts', meaning the God who commands the armies of heaven. The phrase 'says the Lord Almighty' appears word for word in 2 Samuel 7:8 (Greek), the chapter Paul is quoting.

Revelation · 9

Revelation 1:8 παντοκράτωρ.¶ Almighty.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.

Here: “The one who holds power over all,” the All-Ruler. The Greek Old Testament uses it to translate “LORD of hosts” (YHWH Sabaoth, the commander of heaven's armies) and “Shaddai.” It is about God's actual rule over every power, not only his ability to do anything.
Revelation 4:8 παντοκράτωρ, Almighty,

And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Here: "The All-Ruler", who holds sway over everything. It stands where Isaiah has "Sabaoth" ("of hosts", meaning heaven's armies). The Greek Old Testament often translates that title this way.
Revelation 11:17 παντοκράτωρ, Almighty,

saying: “We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.

Here: 'The All-Ruler', the one who actually holds sway over everything. The Greek Old Testament uses it to translate 'LORD of hosts'. It fits a hymn about God taking up his rule.
Revelation 15:3 παντοκράτωρ. Almighty!

and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!

Here: 'The one who holds power over everything.' In the Greek Old Testament it usually translates 'LORD of hosts' (YHWH Sabaoth). Revelation uses it nine times. It is a title of actual rule, set against the beast's claim to rule the world.
Revelation 16:7 παντοκράτωρ, Almighty,

And I heard the altar reply: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.”

Here: 'The All-Ruler': the one who actually holds power over everything. The Greek Old Testament uses it for 'LORD of hosts', the commander of heaven's armies. Here it stresses that the plagues come from the throne that really rules the world, not from chance or the beast.
Revelation 16:14 παντοκράτορος. Almighty.

These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

Here: God as the one who rules over everything. This is the Greek Old Testament's word for 'LORD of hosts' (LORD of armies), which fits a war that is really his.
Revelation 19:6 παντοκράτωρ. Almighty.

And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

Here: Literally 'ruler over all', the Greek Bible's usual rendering of 'LORD of hosts' (God as commander of heaven's armies). It names God as the one actually holding sway over everything, which fits the verb 'has begun to reign'.
Revelation 19:15 παντοκράτορος. Almighty.

And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Here: 'Ruler over all.' This is the Greek Old Testament's rendering of 'LORD of hosts', the God who commands armies. It fits a scene where heaven's armies ride behind the rider.
Revelation 21:22 παντοκράτωρ Almighty

But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Here: 'The one who holds power over everything.' In the Greek Old Testament it translates 'YHWH of hosts' (the LORD who commands heaven's armies). It is Revelation's favourite title for God, used nine times.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.