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υἱός

huiós

G5207 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A male offspring, son, in both literal and figurative senses; primarily denotes a male child in relation to parents, but may also indicate a descendant, member of a group, or follower; used metaphorically to refer to those characterized by a particular quality or bound to a particular relationship.

Semantic Range

male child; son; descendant; member of a group; follower or adherent; foal or young animal; member characterized by a quality; figurative: person who shares a distinctive relationship or characteristic

Root / Etymology

The word is believed to be of Indo-European origin, possibly ancient and primary in the Greek language with no clear derivation from another Greek root; related forms are not straightforwardly attested, thus etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, υἱός predominantly denotes a biological son, with occasional use for descendants or members of a household. In the Septuagint (LXX), it is the standard rendering for Hebrew 'ben' (בֵּן), which covers a similarly broad range including son, descendant, or member of a social group (e.g., 'sons of Israel'). In the New Testament, υἱός maintains its use for sons and descendants but acquires important metaphorical meanings — such as indicating relationship (e.g., 'son of man,' 'sons of God'), spiritual status or characterization by qualities (e.g., 'sons of light', i.e., those who belong to or exemplify light), or legal/social standing (adoption, inheritance). In non-Jewish Greek, the term can also indicate a member of a group or school (e.g., 'sons of the philosophers'). English 'son' typically translates the literal meaning but does not always capture metaphorical or special group uses, nor the broader sense seen in Hebrew or Greek usage. In religion-related contexts, later translations sometimes use 'child' or 'descendant.' The NT’s highly metaphorical and theological use sometimes demands contextual explanation to avoid anachronism or narrowing of meaning.

Translation Consistency

primary "son" 378 occurrences

υἱός most commonly and naturally translates as "son." This single, simple noun covers the literal male offspring sense as well as descendant, member, follower, and figurative uses (e.g., one characterized by a quality). Frequency data ("son" 290x) and natural English usage make "son" the best consistent base form for all forms of G5207.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:--child, foal, son.

Root Family

υἱός (huios) — male offspring, son, descendant

Root υἱο- male offspring, son, descendant

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5207-06 υἱὸς uios N NOM M SG Son son son 161
G5207-05 υἱὸν uion N ACC M SG Son son son 103
G5207-07 υἱοῦ uiou N GEN M SG Son of a son of a son 36
G5207-03 υἱοὶ uioi N NOM M PL sons sons sons 33
G5207-02 Υἱῷ uio N DAT M SG Son to a son to a son 15
G5207-08 υἱοὺς uious N ACC M PL sons sons sons 13
G5207-01 Υἱὲ uie N VOC M SG Son O son O son 10
G5207-04 υἱοῖς uiois N DAT M PL sons to sons to sons 7

Occurrences in Scripture

378 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5207-07 Matthew 1:1 υἱοῦ uiou N GEN M SG son of a son of a son
G5207-07 Matthew 1:1 υἱοῦ uiou-2 N GEN M SG son of a son of a son
G5207-06 Matthew 1:20 υἱὸς uios N NOM M SG son son son
G5207-05 Matthew 1:21 υἱὸν uion N ACC M SG a son son son
G5207-05 Matthew 1:23 υἱόν uion N ACC M SG a son son son
G5207-05 Matthew 1:25 υἱόν uion N ACC M SG a son son a son
G5207-05 Matthew 2:15 Υἱόν uion N ACC M SG son son son
G5207-06 Matthew 3:17 Υἱός uios N NOM M SG Son son son
G5207-06 Matthew 4:3 Υἱὸς uios N NOM M SG Son son son
G5207-06 Matthew 4:6 Υἱὸς uios N NOM M SG Son son son
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