What does γεννάω · ἐκ · θεός mean in the Bible?
γεννάω · ἐκ · θεός: Biological generation or spiritual rebirth; emphasizes causative origin of new life in father or mother
Greek · G1080, G1537, G2316
γεννάω
To beget · literal or figurative; direct or remote) · God
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
γεννάωG1080to beget
Pronunciationgennáō
Open lexicon entry →ἐκG1537literal or figurative; direct or remote)
Pronunciationek
Open lexicon entry →θεόςG2316God
Pronunciationtheós
The definite article marks God as the one true God; anarthrous form emphasizes His divine nature or character.
Open lexicon entry →What does γεννάω (gennáō) mean in the Bible?
γεννάω · ἐκ · θεός: Biological generation or spiritual rebirth; emphasizes causative origin of new life in father or mother
Full entry for γεννάω (G1080, G1537, G2316) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G1080, G1537, G2316?
G1080, G1537, G2316 is connected to 97 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
FaithJustice
Greek phrase. Biological generation or spiritual rebirth; emphasizes causative origin of new life in father or mother
Strong'sG1080, G1537, G2316
Lexical occurrences97 versesWord forms4 forms97 referencesStudy link1 John 2:28-29Source Gloss
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
Extended definition
Biological generation or spiritual rebirth; emphasizes causative origin of new life in father or mother
:--bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms97TensesAorist, Perfect, Present, FutureVoicesActive, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality71×
Aorist ActiveMatt 1:2 · Matt 1:3 · Matt 1:4 · Matt 1:5 · Matt 1:6 · Matt 1:7 · Matt 1:8 · Matt 1:9 · Matt 1:10 · Matt 1:11 · Matt 1:12 · Matt 1:13 · Matt 1:14 · Matt 1:15 · Matt 1:16 · Luke 1:5745×
Aorist PassiveMatt 1:16 · Matt 26:24 · Mark 14:21 · John 9:19 · John 9:20 · John 16:21 · Acts 7:20 · Matt 19:12 · John 1:13 · Heb 11:12 · John 9:34 · Acts 2:812×
Perfect PassiveGal 4:23 · 1 John 2:29 · 1 John 3:9 · 1 John 4:7 · 1 John 5:1 · John 18:37 · Acts 22:28 · John 8:418×
Perfect ActiveActs 13:33 · Heb 1:5 · Heb 5:53×
Present PassiveMatt 2:41×
Future ActiveLuke 1:131×
Present Active2 Tim 2:231×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality19×
Perfect PassiveJohn 3:8 · Acts 22:3 · 1 John 3:9 · 1 John 5:18 · John 3:6 · 1 John 5:4 · John 9:32 · 2 Pet 2:12 · 1 John 5:110×
Aorist PassiveGal 4:29 · Heb 11:23 · 1 John 5:18 · Matt 1:20 · Matt 2:1 · Rom 9:116×
Present PassiveLuke 1:351×
Present ActiveGal 4:241×
Aorist Active1 John 5:11×
Subjunctivepossibility, probability, or purpose4×
Aorist PassiveJohn 3:3 · John 3:5 · John 9:23×
Aorist ActiveJohn 16:211×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract3×
Aorist PassiveJohn 3:4 · John 3:73×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 97 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist71perfect21present4future1
Voice
active53passive44
Mood
indicative71participle19subjunctive4infinitive3
NT Occurrences
Matthew 1:10ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:10ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:10ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:11ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:12ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:12ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:13ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:13ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:13ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:14ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:14ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:14ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:15ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:15ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:15ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:16ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:16ἐγεννήθηaorist passive indicativecompletedMatthew 1:2ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:2ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:2ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:20γεννηθὲνaorist passive participleparticipleMatthew 1:3ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:3ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:3ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:4ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:4ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:4ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:5ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:5ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:5ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:6ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:6ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:7ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:7ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:7ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:8ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:8ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:8ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:9ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 1:9ἐγέννησενaorist active indicativecompleted+57 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Sampled Scripture Occurrences
Representative Scripture witnesses for this entry: passage, original form, and sense in context.
New Testament Witnesses
To receive new spiritual life from God.
Regenerated by divine initiative and granted new spiritual life.
Regenerated through divine initiative.
Regenerated by divine initiative.
Regenerated by divine initiative and granted new spiritual life.
Additional Occurrences
1-johnBorn of Godgennáō · ek · theós
to be begotten from God
1-johnBorn of Godgennáō · ek · theós
regenerated by divine initiative
1-johnBorngennáō · ek · theós
to be begotten or brought forth
Word Origins
γεννάω is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Introduces the theme of new birth as the source of righteous practice.1 John 2:28-29
Describes spiritual regeneration as the source of faith and transformed life.1 John 3:4-10
Describes the transformed identity that resists habitual sin.1 John 4:7-12
Righteous living flows from divine regeneration, not mere moral effort.1 John 5:1-5
New birth explains the break with habitual sin and the emergence of righteous practice.1 John 5:18-21
Love is evidence of new birth, not merely moral refinement.
New birth explains the transformation of love, obedience, and faith.
New birth defines identity and explains freedom from sin’s dominion.
Canonical Themes
FaithJustice