παλιγγενεσία
palingenesía
G3824 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Rebirth, renewal, the process or state of being brought into a new or renewed existence. The primary sense is a new birth or creation, focusing on restoration to an original state or a new beginning. In Hellenistic philosophical contexts, it can refer to the cyclical renewal of the cosmos. In specific New Testament contexts, the word may indicate personal moral or spiritual renewal, or (collectively) a future cosmic restoration.
Semantic Range
rebirth, renewal, recreation, restoration (of individuals or the cosmos), restoration to an original state, spiritual or moral renewal, eschatological renewal, cyclical regeneration
Root / Etymology
From the adverb πάλιν ('again') and the noun γένεσις ('birth', 'origin'), thus literally 'birth again' or 'renewal of origin'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, παλιγγενεσία refers to renewal, re-birth, or the recreation of something that had previously existed, including cosmic cycles in Stoic philosophy where it denotes the periodic regeneration of the cosmos. In the New Testament, the term appears only twice (Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5). In Matthew 19:28 it likely refers to an eschatological renewal, the restoration of the created order in connection with the reign of the 'Son of Man.' In Titus 3:5 it points to personal renewal effected by God, typically understood as moral or spiritual transformation. The traditional English translation 'regeneration' may obscure the word's broader context of restoration and cosmic renewal—especially its background in Hellenistic cosmology and philosophical usages. The term does not intrinsically carry exclusively spiritual or religious meaning but blends the ideas of cosmic, national, and personal renewal. English 'rebirth' best reflects its broad semantic range, but note the narrower scope of 'regeneration' in many translations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πάλιν and γένεσις; (spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), i.e. (figuratively) spiritual renovation; specially, Messianic restoration:--regeneration.
Root Family
παλιγγενεσία (palingenesia) — rebirth, renewal, becoming new again, restoration of origin
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3824-02 |
παλινγενεσίας | palingenesias | N GEN F SG |
of regeneration | of rebirth | of rebirth | 1 |
G3824-01 |
παλιγγενεσίᾳ | paliggenesia | N DAT F SG |
regeneration | in rebirth | rebirth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3824-01 |
Matthew 19:28 | παλιγγενεσίᾳ | paliggenesia | N DAT F SG |
regeneration | in rebirth | rebirth |
G3824-02 |
Titus 3:5 | παλινγενεσίας | palingenesias | N GEN F SG |
of regeneration | of rebirth | of rebirth |