τεκνογονία (G5042) — Greek Lexicon

τεκνογονία

teknogonía

G5042 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Act of bearing or begetting children; specifically, the state or condition of childbirth or childbearing, including the process of bringing forth offspring and, by extension, maternity or the capacity for parenthood. In certain contexts, can denote the fact or event of giving birth, the experience of motherhood, or the fulfillment of maternal responsibilities. In figurative or extended use, may refer to the sphere of motherhood as a role or function.

Semantic Range

childbearing, act of giving birth, maternity, fulfilling maternal duties, parentage, state or office of motherhood

Root / Etymology

Derived from the compound of τέκνον ('child') and the verb γί(γ)νομαι ('to become, to be born'), via the cognate verb τεκνογονέω ('to bear children, to beget children'). Thus, τεκνογονία literally denotes 'child-begetting' or 'child-bearing.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

τεκνογονία is a rare noun, not attested in classical Greek and with primary documentation in Koine Greek, where it appears in pastoral epistolary contexts (notably 1 Timothy 2:15). Its usage suggests the act or process of childbearing but may also carry layered connotations relating to the social role or station of motherhood in Greco-Roman society, encompassing the responsibilities, experiences, or status associated with raising children. Compared to terms like γέννησις ('birth, begetting'), τεκνογονία centers more on the maternal aspect of producing offspring, rather than the medical or momentary event of birth itself. English translations often simplify τεκνογονία as 'childbearing,' but this can obscure nuances of maternity and the broader societal dimension of the word in the ancient context. The term is structurally paralleled by related compounds such as πολυτεκνία ('the condition of having many children').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as τεκνογονέω; childbirth (parentage), i.e. (by implication) maternity (the performance of maternal duties):--childbearing.

Root Family

τεκνογονία (teknogonia) — childbearing, begetting children, maternity, parentage

Root τεκνογον- to beget children, to bear children, to become a parent

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5042-01`	τεκνογονίας	teknogonias	`N GEN F SG`	childbearing	of childbearing	childbearing	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5042-01`	1 Timothy 2:15	τεκνογονίας	teknogonias	`N GEN F SG`	childbearing	of childbearing	childbearing

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