ἀποκυέω

apokyéō

G616 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bring forth, to give birth to, to beget. Primarily, to cause something to come into existence as offspring, either literally (as a mother giving birth) or figuratively (as a metaphor for producing or engendering certain outcomes, such as virtues or consequences). In Koine Greek, especially in metaphorical contexts, can describe the production or manifestation of moral qualities or actions (e.g., sin, death, righteousness).

Semantic Range

to bring forth (offspring), to give birth, to beget, to produce (figuratively: to bring about, to give rise to as a result or consequence)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἀπό (from, away from) and a root cognate to κύω (to conceive, to be pregnant); thus, literally 'to bring forth from (the womb)'. Related to the base κῦμα (wave), but here κύω is the important lexical ancestor meaning 'to conceive.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested in Hellenistic and Koine Greek literature, often used in medical and philosophical discourse for childbirth or the generation of outcomes. In the New Testament, appears notably in James (e.g., 1:15, 'sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death'), with a distinctly metaphorical force, illustrating processes of moral or spiritual consequence. In the Septuagint, rare; standard Greek for bearing children was τίκτω or γεννάω, while ἀποκυέω emphasizes the process of bringing forth from conception to birth. English translations often use 'give birth to', 'bear', 'bring forth', or, figuratively, 'produce'. The metaphorical use in later Jewish and Christian texts allowed for expansion of the sense into moral, ethical, or spiritual 'generation.' The term is distinct from γεννάω, which is more commonly used for begetting or fathering.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀπό and the base of κῦμα; to breed forth, i.e. (by transference) to generate (figuratively):--beget, produce.

Root Family

ἀποκυέω (apokyeō) — to bring forth, to give birth, to beget, to produce

Root κυε- to bring forth, to conceive, to give birth

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G616-02 ἀποκύει apokuei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG brings forth brings forth brings forth 1
G616-01 ἀπεκύησεν apekuesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG He brought forth he/she brought forth he brought forth 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G616-02 James 1:15 ἀποκύει apokuei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG brings forth brings forth brings forth
G616-01 James 1:18 ἀπεκύησεν apekuesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG He brought forth he/she brought forth he brought forth