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τέκνον

téknon

G5043 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Child—one who is born of or closely related to a parent or ancestor. Primarily denotes a biological or legal offspring, but also extends metaphorically to members of a family, group, or category (such as disciples, followers, or those sharing characteristics with a progenitor). In some contexts, used for younger members (children in age or status), or in an affectionate or diminutive sense. Possesses both literal and metaphorical reference to descent, relationship, or nature sharing.

Semantic Range

child, offspring, descendant, member of a group (metaphorical child), disciple, spiritual follower, term of affection or endearment

Root / Etymology

From the root τίκτω (to beget, to give birth), with the nominal suffix -νον; thus, 'that which is begotten,' 'offspring.' The root is a primary Greek verb signifying the act of bearing or producing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, τέκνον is the neuter term for 'child,' flexible for both male and female offspring and often contrasted with υἱός (son, particularly in legal or genealogical contexts). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, τέκνον retains its core meaning of 'child' but acquires rich metaphorical usage, identifying not only literal children but also adherents, disciples, or spiritual offspring (e.g., 'children of God,' 'children of light'). Unlike υἱός, which can stress legal status, lineage, or inheritance, τέκνον emphasizes the natural relationship and can signal affection, dependence, or membership in a group or characteristic trait (e.g., 'children of wrath'). English Bible translations typically render τέκνον as 'child' or 'children,' but sometimes as 'son' or 'daughter' in specific contexts, though it is generally not gender-specific. The term is characteristic of familial or communal relationships, lacking the exclusive legal or inherited nuance sometimes found in υἱός or θυγάτηρ. Metaphorically, τέκνον can describe close relationships between teachers and disciples or signal spiritual kinship, as especially seen in Pauline usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "child" 11 occurrences

τέκνον primarily denotes a child or offspring in both literal and metaphorical uses (e.g., children of God, disciples called sons/children). "Child" is the most natural, common English rendering and easily yields the necessary inflected/plural forms (children, child’s, children’s) while covering affectionate and group-member senses better than the more formal "offspring."

Alternatives (39 occurrences):
"children" (39x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of τίκτω; a child (as produced):--child, daughter, son.

Root Family

τεκ- (téknon) — to give birth, to beget, to produce

Root τεκ- to give birth, to beget, to produce

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5043-01 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children 63
G5043-04 τέκνον teknon N VOC N SG child O child O child 24
G5043-03 τέκνοις teknois N DAT N PL children to the offspring to the children 8
G5043-02 τέκνῳ tekno N DAT N SG child to a child to a child 3
G5043-05 τέκνου teknou N GEN N SG a child of a child child 2

Occurrences in Scripture

100 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5043-01 Matthew 2:18 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Matthew 3:9 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-03 Matthew 7:11 τέκνοις teknois N DAT N PL children to the offspring to the children
G5043-04 Matthew 9:2 τέκνον teknon N VOC N SG son O child O child
G5043-04 Matthew 10:21 τέκνον teknon N ACC N SG child O child O child
G5043-01 Matthew 10:21 τέκνα tekna N NOM N PL children offspring children
G5043-04 Matthew 11:19 τέκνων teknon N GEN N PL children O child children
G5043-04 Matthew 15:26 τέκνων teknon N GEN N PL children O child children
G5043-01 Matthew 18:25 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Matthew 19:29 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Matthew 21:28 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-04 Matthew 21:28 τέκνον teknon N VOC N SG child O child O child
G5043-01 Matthew 22:24 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Matthew 23:37 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Matthew 27:25 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-04 Mark 2:5 τέκνον teknon N VOC N SG child O child O child
G5043-01 Mark 7:27 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-04 Mark 7:27 τέκνων teknon N GEN N PL children's O child children
G5043-01 Mark 10:24 τέκνα tekna N VOC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Mark 10:29 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Mark 10:30 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-04 Mark 12:19 τέκνον teknon N ACC N SG child O child O child
G5043-04 Mark 13:12 τέκνον teknon N ACC N SG child O child a child
G5043-01 Mark 13:12 τέκνα tekna N NOM N PL children offspring children
G5043-04 Luke 1:7 τέκνον teknon N NOM N SG child O child O child
G5043-01 Luke 1:17 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL to offspring children
G5043-04 Luke 2:48 τέκνον teknon N VOC N SG Son O child O child
G5043-01 Luke 3:8 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-04 Luke 7:35 τέκνων teknon N GEN N PL children O child children
G5043-03 Luke 11:13 τέκνοις teknois N DAT N PL children to the offspring to the children
G5043-01 Luke 13:34 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Luke 14:26 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-04 Luke 15:31 τέκνον teknon N VOC N SG Son O child O child
G5043-04 Luke 16:25 τέκνον teknon N VOC N SG child O child O child
G5043-01 Luke 18:29 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Luke 19:44 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Luke 20:31 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Luke 23:28 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 John 1:12 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 John 8:39 τέκνα tekna N NOM N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 John 11:52 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-03 Acts 2:39 τέκνοις teknois N DAT N PL children to the offspring to the children
G5043-05 Acts 7:5 τέκνου teknou N GEN N SG a child of a child of a child
G5043-03 Acts 13:33 τέκνοις teknois N DAT N PL children to the offspring to the children
G5043-03 Acts 21:5 τέκνοις teknois N DAT N PL children to the offspring to the children
G5043-01 Acts 21:21 τέκνα tekna N ACC N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Romans 8:16 τέκνα tekna N NOM N PL children offspring children
G5043-01 Romans 8:17 τέκνα tekna N NOM N PL children offspring children
G5043-04 Romans 8:21 τέκνων teknon N GEN N PL children O child children
G5043-01 Romans 9:7 τέκνα tekna N NOM N PL children offspring children
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