γέννησις
génnēsis
G1083
SILEX Entry
Definition
Act or process of being born; coming into existence by physical birth. The word primarily denotes the event of someone being born, with a particular focus on generation or the circumstances of one's origination. In context, it can also refer to lineage or ancestry as derived from one's birth.
Semantic Range
birth, act of being born, nativity, origin by physical generation, lineage, ancestry
Root / Etymology
From the verb γεννάω (to beget, to give birth), itself ultimately derived from the noun γένος (race, kind, descent). Built upon the stem γενν- indicating generation, begetting, or birth.
Historical & Contextual Notes
γένεσις and γέννησις are closely related but distinguished in classical Greek: γένεσις can mean origin, coming into being generally, while γέννησις more specifically emphasizes physical birth or generation. In Hellenistic and Koine contexts, γέννησις is rare and tends to be used in more specialized or genealogical contexts, as in references to one's physical lineage. In the New Testament (Matt 1:18), γέννησις is used in the context of the birth and origination of Jesus, focusing concretely on the circumstances or event of his nativity. Standard English translations ("birth", "nativity") capture the immediate sense but do not always reflect the potential nuance of ancestry or generative process. In Jewish and Greco-Roman texts, γέννησις can also serve in genealogical lists or discussions of origin, though γένεσις is more common for broader meanings. The English "genesis" is related but has a wider sense than the more specific γέννησις.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from γεννάω; nativity:--birth.
Root Family
γενν- (génnēma) — to beget, to produce, to bring forth
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.