← G5087 G5089 →

τίκτω

tíktō

G5088 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bring forth from within oneself, to give birth, to produce offspring; used of a female or of the earth bearing or bringing forth (children, fruit, produce). Also used metaphorically for the production or emergence of something (e.g., emotions, results, ideas) from within a source.

Semantic Range

to give birth (of human or animal), to bear (offspring), to bring forth (fruit, produce), to produce, to generate, to cause to emerge (figuratively)

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root τικτ-, probably related to the Proto-Indo-European root *teḱ- ('to give birth, beget'). Cognate with Latin 'tegere' (to cover, protect; possibly by extension birth/protect), though exact relationship is uncertain. The verb is native to Greek and is not a borrowing from a Semitic language.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Classical Greek: τίκτω is the standard verb for 'to give birth' or 'to bring forth', most often used of women bearing children or animals bearing young but also applied to the earth or plants producing fruit (Homer, Herodotus, medical writers). Hellenistic & Koine: The verb maintains its basic sense in the Hellenistic and Koine periods. In the Septuagint, τίκτω commonly translates Hebrew ילד (yalad), meaning 'to give birth, bear' and is used for both humans and animals; it also describes the earth or plants yielding produce. In the New Testament, τίκτω appears almost exclusively in reference to childbirth, specifically to the act of a woman giving birth (e.g., Matthew 1:21, 'she will bear a son'). It can also carry a figurative sense, such as producing or generating in the abstract, although this is less common than the literal usage. Translation Note: While often rendered as 'bear', 'bring forth', 'be delivered (of a child)', or 'give birth' in English, the word's scope in Greek (and thus in translation) can be slightly broader, encompassing the idea of producing anything from within, including in non-human or figurative contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "bear" 8 occurrences

τίκτω primarily means to bring forth or give birth (of a woman, animal, or the earth) and is commonly expressed in English with the verb "bear" (e.g., bear a child, bear fruit). "Bear" is a single natural verb that covers both literal childbirth and figurative production, so it provides consistent, natural-sounding renderings across all forms.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):
"brought" (4x) "gave birth to" (1x) "having been born" (1x) "give birth" (1x) "gives birth" (1x) "brings" (1x) "bring" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a strengthened form of a primary (which is used only as alternate in certain tenses); to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth, etc.), literally or figuratively:--bear, be born, bring forth, be delivered, be in travail.

Root Family

τίκτω (tiktō) — to bring forth, to give birth, to produce

Root τικτ- to bring forth, to give birth, to produce

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5088-05 τεκεῖν tekein V AOR ACT INF to give birth to bring forth to bear 4
G5088-02 ἔτεκεν eteken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG she gave birth brought forth brought forth 4
G5088-07 τέξεται texetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG shall bear she will bring forth from herself she will bear from herself 2
G5088-10 τίκτουσα tiktousa V PRS ACT PTCP VOC F SG do not bear giving birth bearing 2
G5088-08 τίκτῃ tikte V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG she gives birth may bring forth gives birth 1
G5088-04 τέκῃ teke V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG she gave birth may bring forth she may bring forth 1
G5088-01 ἐτέχθη etechthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG has been born was brought forth was brought forth 1
G5088-03 τεχθεὶς techtheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG who has been born having been brought forth having been born 1
G5088-09 τίκτει tiktei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG it gives birth brings forth brings forth 1
G5088-06 τέξῃ texe V FUT MID IND 2P SG you will bear you will give birth you will give birth 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5088-07 Matthew 1:21 τέξεται texetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG she will bear she will bring forth from herself she will bear from herself
G5088-07 Matthew 1:23 τέξεται texetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG shall bear she will bring forth from herself she will bear from herself
G5088-02 Matthew 1:25 ἔτεκεν eteken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG she had brought forth brought forth gave birth to
G5088-03 Matthew 2:2 τεχθεὶς techtheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG who has been born having been brought forth having been born
G5088-06 Luke 1:31 τέξῃ texe V FUT MID IND 2P SG you will bear you will give birth you will give birth
G5088-05 Luke 1:57 τεκεῖν tekein V AOR ACT INF to give birth to bring forth to bear
G5088-05 Luke 2:6 τεκεῖν tekein V AOR ACT INF to give birth to bring forth to bear
G5088-02 Luke 2:7 ἔτεκεν eteken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG she gave birth brought forth brought forth
G5088-01 Luke 2:11 ἐτέχθη etechthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG has been born was brought forth was brought forth
G5088-08 John 16:21 τίκτῃ tikte V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG she gives birth may bring forth gives birth
← G5087 Greek Lexicon G5089 →