τέκνον (G5043) — Greek Lexicon

τέκνον

téknon

G5043 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Child—one who is born of or closely related to a parent or ancestor. Primarily denotes a biological or legal offspring, but also extends metaphorically to members of a family, group, or category (such as disciples, followers, or those sharing characteristics with a progenitor). In some contexts, used for younger members (children in age or status), or in an affectionate or diminutive sense. Possesses both literal and metaphorical reference to descent, relationship, or nature sharing.

Semantic Range

child, offspring, descendant, member of a group (metaphorical child), disciple, spiritual follower, term of affection or endearment

Root / Etymology

From the root τίκτω (to beget, to give birth), with the nominal suffix -νον; thus, 'that which is begotten,' 'offspring.' The root is a primary Greek verb signifying the act of bearing or producing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, τέκνον is the neuter term for 'child,' flexible for both male and female offspring and often contrasted with υἱός (son, particularly in legal or genealogical contexts). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, τέκνον retains its core meaning of 'child' but acquires rich metaphorical usage, identifying not only literal children but also adherents, disciples, or spiritual offspring (e.g., 'children of God,' 'children of light'). Unlike υἱός, which can stress legal status, lineage, or inheritance, τέκνον emphasizes the natural relationship and can signal affection, dependence, or membership in a group or characteristic trait (e.g., 'children of wrath'). English Bible translations typically render τέκνον as 'child' or 'children,' but sometimes as 'son' or 'daughter' in specific contexts, though it is generally not gender-specific. The term is characteristic of familial or communal relationships, lacking the exclusive legal or inherited nuance sometimes found in υἱός or θυγάτηρ. Metaphorically, τέκνον can describe close relationships between teachers and disciples or signal spiritual kinship, as especially seen in Pauline usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "child" 21 occurrences

τέκνον primarily denotes a child or offspring in both literal and metaphorical uses (e.g., children of God, disciples called sons/children). "Child" is the most natural, common English rendering and easily yields the necessary inflected/plural forms (children, child’s, children’s) while covering affectionate and group-member senses better than the more formal "offspring."

Alternatives (79 occurrences):

"children" (79x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of τίκτω; a child (as produced):--child, daughter, son.

Root Family

τέκνον (teknon) — child, offspring, descendant, that which is begotten

Root τεκ- to give birth, to beget, to produce

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5043-01`	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children	63
`G5043-04`	τέκνον	teknon	`N VOC N SG`	child	O child	O child	24
`G5043-03`	τέκνοις	teknois	`N DAT N PL`	children	to the offspring	to the children	8
`G5043-02`	τέκνῳ	tekno	`N DAT N SG`	child	to a child	to a child	3
`G5043-05`	τέκνου	teknou	`N GEN N SG`	a child	of a child	child	2

Occurrences in Scripture

100 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5043-01`	Matthew 2:18	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Matthew 3:9	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-03`	Matthew 7:11	τέκνοις	teknois	`N DAT N PL`	children	to the offspring	to the children
`G5043-04`	Matthew 9:2	τέκνον	teknon	`N VOC N SG`	son	O child	O child
`G5043-04`	Matthew 10:21	τέκνον	teknon	`N ACC N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-01`	Matthew 10:21	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Matthew 11:19	τέκνων	teknon	`N GEN N PL`	children	O child	children
`G5043-04`	Matthew 15:26	τέκνων	teknon	`N GEN N PL`	children	O child	children
`G5043-01`	Matthew 18:25	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Matthew 19:29	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Matthew 21:28	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Matthew 21:28	τέκνον	teknon	`N VOC N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-01`	Matthew 22:24	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Matthew 23:37	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Matthew 27:25	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Mark 2:5	τέκνον	teknon	`N VOC N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-01`	Mark 7:27	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Mark 7:27	τέκνων	teknon	`N GEN N PL`	children's	O child	children
`G5043-01`	Mark 10:24	τέκνα	tekna	`N VOC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Mark 10:29	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Mark 10:30	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Mark 12:19	τέκνον	teknon	`N ACC N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-04`	Mark 13:12	τέκνον	teknon	`N ACC N SG`	child	O child	a child
`G5043-01`	Mark 13:12	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Luke 1:7	τέκνον	teknon	`N NOM N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-01`	Luke 1:17	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	to	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Luke 2:48	τέκνον	teknon	`N VOC N SG`	Son	O child	O child
`G5043-01`	Luke 3:8	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Luke 7:35	τέκνων	teknon	`N GEN N PL`	children	O child	children
`G5043-03`	Luke 11:13	τέκνοις	teknois	`N DAT N PL`	children	to the offspring	to the children
`G5043-01`	Luke 13:34	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Luke 14:26	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Luke 15:31	τέκνον	teknon	`N VOC N SG`	Son	O child	O child
`G5043-04`	Luke 16:25	τέκνον	teknon	`N VOC N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-01`	Luke 18:29	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Luke 19:44	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Luke 20:31	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Luke 23:28	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	John 1:12	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	John 8:39	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	John 11:52	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-03`	Acts 2:39	τέκνοις	teknois	`N DAT N PL`	children	to the offspring	to the children
`G5043-05`	Acts 7:5	τέκνου	teknou	`N GEN N SG`	a child	of a child	of a child
`G5043-03`	Acts 13:33	τέκνοις	teknois	`N DAT N PL`	children	to the offspring	to the children
`G5043-03`	Acts 21:5	τέκνοις	teknois	`N DAT N PL`	children	to the offspring	to the children
`G5043-01`	Acts 21:21	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Romans 8:16	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Romans 8:17	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Romans 8:21	τέκνων	teknon	`N GEN N PL`	children	O child	children
`G5043-01`	Romans 9:7	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Romans 9:8	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Romans 9:8	τέκνα	tekna-2	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Romans 9:8	τέκνα	tekna-3	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	1 Corinthians 4:14	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	1 Corinthians 4:17	τέκνον	teknon	`N NOM N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-01`	1 Corinthians 7:14	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-03`	2 Corinthians 6:13	τέκνοις	teknois	`N DAT N PL`	to children	to the offspring	to the children
`G5043-01`	2 Corinthians 12:14	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-03`	2 Corinthians 12:14	τέκνοις	teknois	`N DAT N PL`	children	to the offspring	to the children
`G5043-01`	Galatians 4:19	τέκνα	tekna	`N VOC N PL`	my children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Galatians 4:25	τέκνων	teknon	`N GEN N PL`	children	O child	children
`G5043-01`	Galatians 4:27	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Galatians 4:28	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Galatians 4:31	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Ephesians 2:3	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Ephesians 5:1	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Ephesians 5:8	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Ephesians 6:1	τέκνα	tekna	`N VOC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Ephesians 6:4	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Philippians 2:15	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Philippians 2:22	τέκνον	teknon	`N NOM N SG`	a son	O child	a child
`G5043-01`	Colossians 3:20	τέκνα	tekna	`N VOC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Colossians 3:21	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	1 Thessalonians 2:7	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	1 Thessalonians 2:11	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	his children	offspring	children
`G5043-02`	1 Timothy 1:2	τέκνῳ	tekno	`N DAT N SG`	child	to a child	to a child
`G5043-04`	1 Timothy 1:18	τέκνον	teknon	`N VOC N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-01`	1 Timothy 3:4	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	1 Timothy 3:12	τέκνων	teknon	`N GEN N PL`	of children	O child	children
`G5043-01`	1 Timothy 5:4	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-02`	2 Timothy 1:2	τέκνῳ	tekno	`N DAT N SG`	son	to a child	to a child
`G5043-04`	2 Timothy 2:1	τέκνον	teknon	`N VOC N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-02`	Titus 1:4	τέκνῳ	tekno	`N DAT N SG`	child	to a child	to a child
`G5043-01`	Titus 1:6	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-05`	Philemon 1:10	τέκνου	teknou	`N GEN N SG`	child	of a child	child
`G5043-01`	1 Peter 1:14	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	1 Peter 3:6	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	2 Peter 2:14	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	1 John 3:1	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	1 John 3:2	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	1 John 3:10	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	1 John 3:10	τέκνα	tekna-2	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	1 John 5:2	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-03`	2 John 1:1	τέκνοις	teknois	`N DAT N PL`	children	to the offspring	to the children
`G5043-04`	2 John 1:4	τέκνων	teknon	`N GEN N PL`	children	O child	children
`G5043-01`	2 John 1:13	τέκνα	tekna	`N NOM N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	3 John 1:4	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-01`	Revelation 2:23	τέκνα	tekna	`N ACC N PL`	children	offspring	children
`G5043-04`	Revelation 12:4	τέκνον	teknon	`N ACC N SG`	child	O child	O child
`G5043-04`	Revelation 12:5	τέκνον	teknon	`N NOM N SG`	child	O child	O child

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