γεννάω (G1080) — Greek Lexicon

γεννάω

gennáō

G1080 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To beget, produce, or engender offspring; to generate new life. In most contexts in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, γεννάω refers to the male act of begetting children, typically the fathering of descendants. By extension, it is also used passively of the mother to indicate giving birth, and more generally of origins or being brought into being. The sense may range from literal biological procreation to metaphorical or symbolic origin, such as being the source or initiator of a group, event, or new reality.

Semantic Range

to father (beget), to give birth to, to produce, to cause to arise, to bring into being; to originate or found (figurative); to be born (passive); to bring forth or engender (metaphorical)

Root / Etymology

From the root γεν- (as in γένος, meaning 'kin, kind, race') with the verb-forming ending -νάω. Related to classical Greek words signifying birth, kin, and origin. Underlying sense is the act of producing offspring or instigating the beginning of something.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, γεννάω referred primarily to the paternal act of begetting, while the corresponding term for the mother's act of giving birth was τίκτω. In later Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, γεννάω appears both for the active (begetting, usually by the father) and the passive (being born, including the mother's role—though this is less typical in classical usage). The shift reflects broader semantic use in Jewish-Greek texts. In genealogical lists, especially in the Gospels (e.g., Matthew 1), it conveys the ancestral transmission of lineage, closely paralleling Hebrew יָלַד (yalad). Figurative uses (e.g., 'to be born of God') develop in Hellenistic Jewish and early Christian literature, indicating spiritual or covenantal origin, but the base meaning always relates to bringing into existence. English translations often obscure the nuance by rendering it simply as 'born' rather than 'begot' or 'fathered,' thus potentially masking gendered and source nuances significant in Greek and in the original social contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "father" 40 occurrences

Covers the primary, typical sense of γεννάω — the male act of begetting (common in genealogies) while also naturally extending to 'produce' or 'originate' in figurative uses. 'Father' is modern and natural English (less archaic than 'beget') and will render most occurrences clearly and consistently.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):

"begotten" (3x) "born" (2x) "having been begotten" (1x) "having been born" (1x) "bear" (1x) "gave birth" (1x) "bore" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a variation of γένος; to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate:--bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.

Root Family

γεν- (geneá) — to beget, produce, originate, bear offspring

Root γεν- to generate, to beget, to produce

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G1074	γενεά	generation
G1077	γενέσια	at birthday festivals
G1078	γένεσις	in origin
G1079	γενετή	of birth
G1084	γεννητός	to the born ones
G1103	γνήσιος	O genuine one
G1920	ἐπιγίνομαι	having come upon
G2104	εὐγενής	well-born ones
G36	ἀγενής	ignoble things
G3824	παλιγγενεσία	in rebirth
G4772	συγγένεια	kinship
G4773	συγγενής	a blood relative
G581	ἀπογενόμενος	having become separated

Word Forms

28 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1080-03`	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered	42
`G1080-04`	ἐγεννήθη	egennethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	was born	was begotten	was fathered	7
`G1080-15`	γεγέννηται	gegennetai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	has been born	has been begotten	has been begotten	5
`G1080-11`	γεγεννημένον	gegennemenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM N SG`	is born	having been begotten	having been fathered	4
`G1080-12`	γεγεννημένος	gegennemenos	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	born	having been begotten	having been begotten	4
`G1080-07`	ἐγεννήθησαν	egennethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	were born	were begotten	were begotten	3
`G1080-08`	γεγέννηκά	gegenneka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	have begotten	I have begotten	I have fathered	3
`G1080-20`	γεννηθῇ	gennethe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	is born	may be begotten	he may be fathered	3
`G1080-21`	γεννηθεὶς	gennetheis	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	who was born	having been begotten	having been born	3
`G1080-23`	γεννηθῆναι	gennethenai	`V AOR PASS INF`	be born	to be begotten	to be born	3
`G1080-01`	ἐγέννησα	egennesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	begotten	I begot	I begot	2
`G1080-09`	γεγέννημαι	gegennemai	`V PRF PASS IND 1P SG`	was born	I have been begotten	was born	2
`G1080-02`	ἐγέννησαν	egennesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	bore	they begot	bore	1
`G1080-05`	ἐγεννήθημεν	egennethemen	`V AOR PASS IND 1P PL`	we were born	we were begotten	we were born	1
`G1080-06`	ἐγεννήθης	egennethes	`V AOR PASS IND 2P SG`	were born	you were begotten	you were born	1
`G1080-10`	γεγεννημένα	gegennemena	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM N PL`	born	having been begotten	having been born	1
`G1080-13`	γεγεννημένου	gegennemenou	`V PRF PASS PTCP GEN M SG`	born	of the one having been begotten	having been born	1
`G1080-14`	γεγεννήμεθα	gegennemetha	`V PRF PASS IND 1P PL`	have been born	we have been begotten	we have been born	1
`G1080-16`	γεννᾶται	gennatai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is born	is being begotten	is born	1
`G1080-17`	γεννήσαντα	gennesanta	`V AOR ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	who begat	having begotten	having begotten	1
`G1080-18`	γεννήσῃ	gennese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	she gives birth	may beget	gives birth	1
`G1080-19`	γεννήσει	gennesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will bear	will beget	will bear	1
`G1080-22`	γεννηθὲν	gennethen	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM N SG`	is conceived	having been begotten	having been begotten	1
`G1080-24`	γεννηθέντων	gennethenton	`V AOR PASS PTCP GEN M PL`	having been born	of those begotten	of those begotten	1
`G1080-25`	γεννηθέντος	gennethentos	`V AOR PASS PTCP GEN M SG`	was born	of having been begotten	having been born	1
`G1080-26`	γεννώμενον	gennomenon	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG`	being born	being begotten	being begotten	1
`G1080-27`	γεννῶσα	gennosa	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	bearing	begetting (feminine singular)	bearing	1
`G1080-28`	γεννῶσι	gennosi	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	they breed	they beget	they beget	1

Occurrences in Scripture

97 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:2	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:2	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:2	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:3	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:3	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:3	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:4	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:4	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:4	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:5	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:5	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:5	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:6	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:6	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:7	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:7	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:7	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:8	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:8	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:8	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:9	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:9	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:9	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:10	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:10	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:10	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:11	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:12	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:12	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:13	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:13	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:13	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:14	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:14	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:14	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:15	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:15	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:15	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen-3	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-03`	Matthew 1:16	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	begat	he begot	he fathered
`G1080-04`	Matthew 1:16	ἐγεννήθη	egennethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	was born	was begotten	was begotten
`G1080-22`	Matthew 1:20	γεννηθὲν	gennethen	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM N SG`	is conceived	having been begotten	having been begotten
`G1080-25`	Matthew 2:1	γεννηθέντος	gennethentos	`V AOR PASS PTCP GEN M SG`	was born	of having been begotten	having been born
`G1080-16`	Matthew 2:4	γεννᾶται	gennatai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is born	is being begotten	is born
`G1080-07`	Matthew 19:12	ἐγεννήθησαν	egennethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	were born	were begotten	were begotten
`G1080-04`	Matthew 26:24	ἐγεννήθη	egennethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	he-had-been-born	was begotten	was fathered
`G1080-04`	Mark 14:21	ἐγεννήθη	egennethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	he had been born	was begotten	he had been born
`G1080-19`	Luke 1:13	γεννήσει	gennesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will bear	will beget	will bear
`G1080-26`	Luke 1:35	γεννώμενον	gennomenon	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG`	being born	being begotten	being begotten
`G1080-03`	Luke 1:57	ἐγέννησεν	egennesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	she gave birth	he begot	she gave birth
`G1080-02`	Luke 23:29	ἐγέννησαν	egennesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	bore	they begot	bore

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