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ζωογονέω

zōogonéō

G2225 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To keep alive, to cause to live, to preserve in life. The primary sense is to act so as to bring or maintain someone or something in a living state, especially in contexts where death is imminent or possible. In extended or metaphorical usage, it can mean to spare or rescue from death, to save or preserve life, or to grant continued existence.

Semantic Range

to keep alive, to preserve life, to maintain in a living state, to save from death, to spare from destruction, to grant continued existence

Root / Etymology

From ζῶον (living being, animal) and γονή (birth, origin), built with γονεύω ('to beget'), plus the verbal ending -έω. The construction draws on the elements for 'living/animal' and 'give birth/beget,' thus literally 'to bring forth alive' or 'to keep in a living state.' Related to verbs of life/being alive such as ζάω and φύω. Etymology reflects creation or maintenance of life, not necessarily rescue or salvation as a primary sense.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ζωογονέω is a rare verb in classical and Hellenistic Greek, almost exclusively found in the Septuagint and early Christian contexts. In the Septuagint, it commonly translates Hebrew terms meaning 'to keep alive,' especially in narratives about preservation in famine, danger, or warfare (e.g., Gen 6:19, 1 Sam 2:6). The focus is concrete: sparing lives, not abstract 'salvation.' In the New Testament (Acts 7:19; 1 Pet 3:20), it carries the sense of being preserved alive amid threat, such as survival in the ark or preservation of the infants in Egypt. English translations sometimes render it as 'preserve' or 'save alive,' but the underlying Greek refers specifically to sustaining biological life, distinct from more general terms for rescue (e.g., σώζω) or for abstract/spiritual salvation. Contrast with γεννάω (to beget, to produce), which emphasizes bringing into existence, not maintaining life.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as ζῶον and a derivative of γίνομαι; to engender alive, i.e. (by analogy) to rescue (passively, be saved) from death:--live, preserve.

Root Family

ζωογον- (zōogonéō) — to keep alive, to preserve life, to sustain existence

Root ζωογον- to keep alive, to preserve life, to sustain existence

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2225-01 ζῳογονεῖσθαι zoogoneisthai V PRS PASS INF live to be kept alive to be kept alive 1
G2225-02 ζῳογονήσει zoogonesei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will preserve will keep alive will keep alive 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2225-02 Luke 17:33 ζῳογονήσει zoogonesei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will preserve will keep alive will keep alive
G2225-01 Acts 7:19 ζῳογονεῖσθαι zoogoneisthai V PRS PASS INF live to be kept alive to be kept alive
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