← G5452 G5454 →

φύω

phýō

G5453 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To grow, produce, or cause to spring up; primarily refers to the process of natural growth in plants, including germination, sprouting, or coming into being. In extension, can mean to be born, come forth, or arise—used of both plants, people, and abstract things. Contextually, the term may refer to both literal biological growth and the figurative development of ideas, movements, or generations.

Semantic Range

to germinate, to sprout, to spring up, to grow (of plants); to be born, to arise or come into being (of people, generations, things); to produce or cause to grow (transitive); to develop or emerge (figurative, of qualities or movements)

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root φύω (phýō), an old Indo-European verb strongly attested in archaic and classical Greek meaning 'to grow' or 'to arise.' It is not derived from another word but is a primary root in the Greek verbal system with cognates in other Indo-European languages (cf. Latin 'fui'—I was, Old English 'beon'—to be, grow, exist).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φύω is widely used to describe natural processes—plants sprouting, children being born, or characteristics emerging. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, it usually refers to germination, plant growth, or the arising of new entities and is used both literally (plants springing up from the earth) and metaphorically (righteousness arising, or people coming forth). The verb can also be employed for genealogical or existential emergence (e.g., a generation arising). English translations often use 'spring up,' 'grow,' or 'produce,' but these may not capture the broader metaphoric or existential senses present in Greek usage. There is sometimes overlap with γεννάω (to beget, to generate), but φύω is more naturally attached to organic, spontaneous growth rather than conscious act of generation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; probably originally, to "puff" or blow, i.e. to swell up; but only used in the implied sense, to germinate or grow (sprout, produce), literally or figuratively:--spring (up).

Root Family

φύω (phyō) — to grow, to spring up, to arise, to produce

Root φύω to grow, to produce, to arise, to spring up

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5453-01 φυὲν phuen V AOR PASS PTCP NOM N SG having sprung up having sprung up having sprung up 2
G5453-02 φύουσα phuousa V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG springing growing growing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5453-01 Luke 8:6 φυὲν phuen V AOR PASS PTCP NOM N SG having sprung up having sprung up having sprung up
G5453-01 Luke 8:8 φυὲν phuen V AOR PASS PTCP NOM N SG having sprung up having sprung up having sprung up
G5453-02 Hebrews 12:15 φύουσα phuousa V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG springing growing growing
← G5452 Greek Lexicon G5454 →