ἔγκυος
énkyos
G1471 predicate adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
pregnant; in the state of carrying a developing offspring within the body. The primary sense refers specifically to being with child (most often female, but not exclusively so in form), denoting a person who is experiencing pregnancy. Used literally for humans and sometimes, though rarely, for animals. Contextually emphasizes the physical state of pregnancy, sometimes with connotations of being 'full-term' or visibly pregnant, especially in narratives related to childbirth.
Semantic Range
pregnant, with child, in a state of pregnancy, (rarely) gravid (of animals), swelling (metaphorical, very rare)
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐν ('in') and the root of κύω ('to conceive, be pregnant, bear in the womb'); the adjective form ἔγκυος is formed with a compound structure meaning 'having within (a pregnancy)'. Root: ἐν- + κυ-.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term ἔγκυος appears chiefly in Hellenistic and Koine Greek to describe someone (usually a woman) who is pregnant. In medical, philosophical, and narrative contexts, it refers to the biological or social state of pregnancy. It occurs infrequently in the Septuagint and the New Testament (e.g., Luke 2:5: "to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was ἔγκυος"). The term's usage does not specify stage of pregnancy unless the context makes it explicit; sometimes used in conjunction with adjectives indicating fullness or proximity to childbirth. Equivalent terms in English—'pregnant,' 'with child,' or 'great with child'—may narrow the sense to humans or to visible pregnancy, but ἔγκυος itself is more neutral and anatomical. In contrast to other ancient Greek words like κυοφορέω (to carry offspring, to gestate), ἔγκυος functions as an adjective with a direct focus on the condition of pregnancy itself. Standard English translations like 'with child' or 'pregnant' capture the general sense but sometimes overlook nuances of immediacy or physical status present in certain contexts. The Greek scientific and medical tradition (e.g., Hippocratic corpus) employs related vocabulary, establishing the connection to physiological processes, but NT/Septuagint usage is more narrowly narrative or genealogical.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐν and the base of κῦμα; swelling inside, i.e. pregnant:--great with child.
Root Family
κυ- (from κύω) (énkyos) — to conceive, to be pregnant
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1471-01 |
ἐνκύῳ | enkuo | ADJ.P DAT F SG |
with child | to a pregnant woman | pregnant | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1471-01 |
Luke 2:5 | ἐνκύῳ | enkuo | ADJ.P DAT F SG |
with child | to a pregnant woman | pregnant |