What does γίνομαι (gínomai) mean in the Bible?
Ginomai is one of the New Testament's broad verbs for becoming, happening, coming to be, taking place, or entering a state. Because it is so common, it must be handled with special care.
Greek · G1096
γίνομαι
To be
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γίνομαι G1096
Pronunciation gínomai
What does γίνομαι (gínomai) mean in the Bible?
Ginomai is one of the New Testament's broad verbs for becoming, happening, coming to be, taking place, or entering a state. Because it is so common, it must be handled with special care.
Reader summary
Full entry for γίνομαι (G1096) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1096?
The BSB source-word alignment has 669 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (43), vvv (40), - (36), came (32), became (22).
Where does γίνομαι (gínomai) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 1:22. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (131), Acts (125), Matthew (75), Mark (55).
Are there verse guides for γίνομαι (gínomai)?
This entry includes 22 verse guides that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
Ginomai is one of the New Testament's broad verbs for becoming, happening, coming to be, taking place, or entering a state. Because it is so common, it must be handled with special care. The verb can describe creation through the Word, the incarnation of the Word, Christ becoming a curse for His people, believers becoming the righteousness of God in Him, or God's final declaration that His purpose is done.
The word marks event, transition, result, or realized condition, but it does not define the doctrine by itself. The subject, complement, tense, and passage context decide whether the text is speaking about creation, incarnation, substitution, identity, providence, or fulfilled promise. Ginomai helps readers trace what has happened without letting the verb replace the sentence.
How the Bible Uses It
Ginomai ranges across happening, becoming, coming into being, and resulting. Its theological weight is high because major passages use it for creation through the Word, the Word becoming flesh, Christ's redemptive identification with sinners, and the completion of God's purpose.
- John.1.3
Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
John uses ginomai for all things being made through the Word, establishing creation as dependent on Him and not independent from Him.
- John.1.14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Word became flesh, so the verb serves John's incarnation claim without implying that the eternal Word began to exist at that moment.
- 2Cor.5.21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Paul uses becoming language for both Christ's sin-bearing identification and the believer's becoming the righteousness of God in Him.
- Gal.3.13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
Christ becomes a curse for us within Paul's argument about redemption from the curse of the law.
- 1Cor.1.30
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
Christ has become wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption for His people because God has placed them in Him.
- Rev.21.6
And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.
The declaration 'It is done' uses completion language at the threshold of new-creation promise.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It . . . 43× Matthew 11:1, Matthew 14:6, Matthew 24:21, Mark 1:32
vvv 40× Matthew 7:28, Matthew 26:1, Mark 2:23, Mark 4:22
- 36× Matthew 13:53, Matthew 19:1, Mark 1:9, Mark 1:17
came 32× Matthew 8:16, Matthew 14:15, Matthew 14:23, Matthew 20:8
became 22× Matthew 17:2, Matthew 28:4, Mark 9:3, Luke 6:16
be 21× Matthew 6:16, Matthew 10:16, Matthew 10:25, Luke 6:36
was 18× Matthew 11:26, Matthew 26:6, Mark 6:26, Mark 6:35
had happened 16× Matthew 18:31, Matthew 27:54, Matthew 28:11, Mark 5:14
Certainly not 12× Romans 3:4, Romans 3:6, Romans 3:31, Romans 6:2
has become 10× Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11
become 9× Matthew 18:3, Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28, Luke 4:3
happen 8× Matthew 24:6, Matthew 26:54, Mark 13:7, Luke 21:9
is 8× Matthew 12:45, Matthew 21:42, Matthew 26:2, Mark 12:11
there was 8× Matthew 28:2, Luke 1:5, John 7:43, John 10:19
it was 7× Matthew 8:26, Matthew 27:57, Mark 4:39, Mark 15:42
happened 6× Matthew 26:56, John 1:28, John 19:36, Acts 10:16
took place 6× Matthew 1:22, Matthew 21:4, Luke 24:21, John 2:1
as 5× Matthew 9:10, Luke 9:29, Luke 17:14, Luke 24:15
be done 5× Matthew 6:10, Matthew 26:42, Luke 22:42, Acts 21:14
to become 5× Matthew 4:3, Matthew 20:26, Mark 10:43, John 1:12
were 5× Luke 13:2, Luke 13:4, Romans 16:7, Revelation 11:13
will be 5× Luke 14:12, Luke 20:14, 1 Corinthians 3:13, 1 Corinthians 14:25
arose 4× Mark 6:21, Luke 22:24, John 3:25, Acts 23:9
broke out 4× Acts 8:1, Acts 23:7, Revelation 12:7, Revelation 16:2
comes 4× Matthew 13:21, Matthew 16:2, Mark 4:17, 2 Peter 1:20
had been performed 4× Matthew 11:20, Matthew 11:21, Matthew 11:23, Luke 10:13
I became 4× 1 Corinthians 9:20, 1 Corinthians 9:22, 1 Corinthians 13:11, Ephesians 3:7
I was 4× Acts 26:19, Revelation 1:10, Revelation 1:18, Revelation 4:2
may become 4× Matthew 23:26, John 9:39, Acts 26:29, Philemon 1:6
there were 4× 2 Peter 2:1, Revelation 8:5, Revelation 11:19, Revelation 16:18
was made 4× Mark 2:27, John 1:3, John 1:10, John 5:9
appeared 3× Mark 1:4, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34
has 3× Matthew 18:12, John 1:15, John 1:30
has come 3× Luke 19:9, Romans 11:25, 2 Corinthians 5:17
have been 3× Acts 19:21, Colossians 4:11, Hebrews 7:23
have happened 3× Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:32
he became 3× Luke 18:23, Acts 10:10, Hebrews 5:9
might become 3× Romans 7:13, Romans 15:16, 2 Corinthians 5:21
there is 3× Luke 15:10, Romans 11:5, Hebrews 9:22
They were 3× Luke 24:22, Acts 19:28, Acts 27:36
to be 3× Mark 4:32, Acts 10:40, 1 Corinthians 10:20
were performed 3× Matthew 11:21, Matthew 11:23, Luke 10:13
When 3× Luke 1:41, Luke 1:59, Luke 2:15
[As] 2× Acts 9:3, Acts 22:6
[This] became 2× Acts 1:19, Acts 9:42
being 2× James 1:25, 1 Peter 5:3
born 2× Galatians 4:4
came up 2× Matthew 8:24, Mark 4:37
fell 2× Acts 10:10, Acts 22:17
happening 2× Mark 13:29, Luke 21:31
has been 2× Romans 11:34, Romans 16:2
has happened 2× Luke 2:15, Acts 7:40
have become 2× Colossians 1:23, 1 Thessalonians 1:7
He was 2× Luke 2:42, Acts 12:23
I have become 2× 1 Corinthians 9:22, 2 Corinthians 12:11
it becomes 2× Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:19
it happens 2× John 13:19, John 14:29
It is done 2× Revelation 16:17, Revelation 21:6
it will be done 2× Matthew 18:19, John 15:7
may 2× Galatians 6:14, Colossians 1:18
must be 2× Matthew 24:44, Luke 12:40
must be done 2× 1 Corinthians 14:26, 1 Corinthians 14:40
performed 2× Acts 2:43, Acts 5:12
rang out 2× Matthew 25:6, Acts 2:6
reached 2× Luke 1:44, John 6:21
swept 2× Luke 4:25, Luke 15:14
there will be 2× John 10:16, 2 Corinthians 8:14
to be [seen again] 2× Matthew 24:21, Mark 13:19
to happen 2× Luke 21:28, Luke 21:36
turned 2× Revelation 6:12, Revelation 8:11
was happening 2× Luke 9:7, Acts 5:24
We have become 2× 1 Corinthians 4:9, 1 Corinthians 4:13
we were 2× 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 2 Peter 1:16
will happen 2× Mark 11:23, Luke 23:31
will not be 2× Luke 8:17, 1 Corinthians 9:27
will result 2× Matthew 9:16, Mark 2:21
you are 2× Hebrews 5:11, 1 Peter 3:13
you have become 2× 1 Thessalonians 2:8, James 2:11
you have been 2× Luke 19:17, John 5:14
you have not been 2× Luke 16:11, Luke 16:12
you may be 2× Matthew 5:45, Philippians 2:15
you may become 2× John 12:36, 2 Peter 1:4
[all] was 1× Luke 8:24
[and] became 1× Philippians 2:8
[and] fell 1× 1 Timothy 2:14
[And] you are 1× 1 Peter 3:6
[if she marries] 1× Romans 7:3
[it] was 1× Matthew 19:8
[Jesus] was 1× Mark 4:10
[of this] 1× Matthew 18:31
[One day] 1× Luke 9:18
[Paul] reached 1× Acts 21:35
[perform] 1× Acts 4:30
[proving] yourselves to be 1× John 15:8
[So] He became 1× Hebrews 1:4
[so] will it be done 1× Matthew 8:13
[The boy] became 1× Mark 9:26
[the disobedient] do 1× Ephesians 5:12
[we] will be set 1× John 8:33
[who] have shared 1× Hebrews 6:4
After 1× Acts 15:7
And after 1× Acts 15:2
approaching 1× John 6:19
are 1× Acts 7:52
arrived 1× Acts 21:17
avoid 1× Acts 20:16
be met 1× Luke 23:24
becomes 1× Matthew 13:32
been 1× Mark 9:21
began 1× Acts 6:1
being made 1× Philippians 2:7
by becoming 1× Galatians 3:13
came [to him] 1× Acts 7:31
came over 1× Acts 2:43
came over [the crowd] 1× Acts 21:40
came upon 1× 2 Timothy 3:11
come 1× 1 Timothy 6:4
come to pass 1× Revelation 1:1
comes to pass 1× Luke 1:20
continued 1× Acts 19:10
did You get 1× John 6:25
died 1× Revelation 2:8
Do 1× 1 Corinthians 16:14
Do not be 1× 1 Corinthians 10:7
Do not become a stumbling block 1× 1 Corinthians 10:32
does not become 1× 1 Corinthians 8:9
encountered 1× 2 Corinthians 1:8
exalted 1× Hebrews 7:26
formed 1× Acts 20:3
gain 1× 1 Corinthians 7:21
grew 1× Acts 23:10
grew to 1× Acts 4:4
had become 1× Mark 6:14
had become [of] 1× Acts 12:18
had come 1× Luke 22:14
had not occurred 1× Revelation 16:18
had spoken 1× Luke 9:36
happens 1× Luke 12:54
has already occurred 1× 2 Timothy 2:18
has become [a priest] 1× Hebrews 7:16
has been done 1× Luke 14:22
has been made 1× John 1:3
has brought 1× Acts 24:2
has occurred 1× Acts 4:16
has proved to be 1× 2 Corinthians 7:14
have appeared 1× 1 John 2:18
have been brought 1× Ephesians 2:13
have been finished 1× Hebrews 4:3
have been made 1× James 3:9
have come 1× Revelation 12:10
Have I now become 1× Galatians 4:16
he 1× Matthew 18:13
he becomes [one] 1× Matthew 23:15
He came 1× Luke 22:40
he fell 1× Acts 1:18
he has 1× 1 Corinthians 16:10
He has become 1× Hebrews 6:20
he is taken 1× 2 Thessalonians 2:7
he lived as 1× Acts 7:29
he may become 1× 1 Corinthians 3:18
He might become 1× Hebrews 2:17
He perform 1× Mark 6:2
he should become 1× 1 Corinthians 3:18
he spent 1× Acts 9:19
He was doing 1× Luke 13:17
I am 1× 1 Corinthians 13:1
I lived 1× Acts 20:18
I may share 1× 1 Corinthians 9:23
if she is 1× 1 Timothy 5:9
is accomplished 1× Matthew 5:18
is expressed 1× Mark 4:11
it all came 1× Acts 5:36
it comes to pass 1× John 13:19
it does happen 1× John 14:29
it had 1× John 12:29
it has always been 1× 2 Corinthians 1:19
it has become 1× Philippians 1:13
it has come to pass 1× 1 Thessalonians 3:4
it is 1× Luke 12:55
it may go 1× Ephesians 6:3
it turned to 1× Revelation 16:3
it will happen 1× Matthew 21:21
Let it be done 1× Matthew 15:28
Let us not become 1× Galatians 5:26
loses 1× Mark 9:50
made 1× Acts 26:6
man-made [gods] 1× Acts 19:26
may be 1× Romans 15:31
may happen 1× John 5:14
May it happen 1× Luke 1:38
May such a thing never happen 1× Luke 20:16
May you never bear 1× Matthew 21:19
might belong 1× Romans 7:4
might have been 1× 1 Thessalonians 3:5
must become 1× Acts 1:22
Never 1× 1 Corinthians 6:15
of becoming 1× Hebrews 5:5
our conduct was 1× 1 Thessalonians 2:10
perform 1× Luke 23:8
said 1× Acts 10:13
set 1× 1 Timothy 4:12
shall [have authority] 1× Luke 19:19
She has become 1× Revelation 18:2
she is [joined] 1× Romans 7:3
should be 1× Luke 22:26
should become 1× James 3:1
Soon afterward 1× Luke 7:11
take place 1× Revelation 22:6
that began 1× Acts 11:19
that came 1× Galatians 3:17
that had been turned into 1× John 2:9
that has come 1× 1 Peter 4:12
that have come 1× Hebrews 9:11
that have happened 1× Luke 24:18
there appeared 1× Luke 2:13
there arose 1× Acts 19:23
There came 1× John 1:6
there may be 1× Matthew 26:5
they arrived 1× Acts 13:5
they turned to 1× Revelation 16:4
they were all 1× Mark 9:6
they would be 1× John 12:42
this will not occur 1× Mark 13:18
to 1× Acts 7:39
to come 1× 2 John 1:12
to get 1× John 5:6
to perform 1× Acts 14:3
to reach 1× Acts 20:16
to secure 1× Acts 27:16
to take place 1× Luke 21:7
to take place [while] 1× Luke 2:2
turned to 1× Revelation 8:8
was [born] 1× John 8:58
was [split] 1× Revelation 16:19
was a descendant 1× Romans 1:3
was about 1× Acts 10:25
was breaking out 1× Matthew 27:24
was doing 1× Acts 12:9
was not 1× 1 Corinthians 15:10
was not made 1× Hebrews 11:3
was underway 1× John 13:2
we arrived 1× Acts 27:7
we have been 1× Romans 6:5
We have come 1× Hebrews 3:14
we lived 1× 1 Thessalonians 1:5
we may be 1× 3 John 1:8
we never used 1× 1 Thessalonians 2:5
we would become 1× Titus 3:7
we would have become 1× Romans 9:29
were filled with 1× Luke 1:65
were made 1× John 1:3
were overcome 1× Luke 4:36
When daylight came 1× Acts 23:12
when he arrived 1× 2 Timothy 1:17
when he has 1× James 1:12
when he was 1× Hebrews 11:24
While 1× Luke 2:6
While [Jesus] was 1× Mark 9:33
who had been 1× Mark 16:10
will 1× 2 Corinthians 8:14
will be needed 1× 1 Corinthians 16:2
will become 1× John 4:14
will come to pass 1× 1 Corinthians 15:54
will it be done 1× Matthew 9:29
will not occur 1× Matthew 24:20
will receive 1× 1 Corinthians 4:5
will she be 1× Luke 20:33
will turn 1× John 16:20
would be 1× John 9:22
would come 1× Galatians 3:14
would happen 1× Acts 4:28
You are to 1× 1 Corinthians 11:1
You did 1× Luke 4:23
you were 1× Hebrews 10:33
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 1:22 γέγονεν to took place Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 4:3 γένωνται to to become Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Plural Matthew 5:18 γένηται to is accomplished Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 5:45 γένησθε to you may be Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 2nd Person Plural Matthew 6:10 Γενηθήτω to be done Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 6:16 γίνεσθε to be Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural Matthew 7:28 ἐγένετο to vvv Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 8:13 γενηθήτω to [so] will it be done Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 8:16 γενομένης to came Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Feminine Singular Matthew 8:24 ἐγένετο to came up Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 1:22
Aligned rows 669
Books represented 26
Matthew 75 Mark 55 Luke 131 John 51 Acts 125 Romans 35 1 Corinthians 41 2 Corinthians 11 Galatians 12 Ephesians 8 Philippians 6 Colossians 5 1 Thessalonians 12 2 Thessalonians 1 1 Timothy 4 2 Timothy 4 Titus 1 Philemon 1 Hebrews 29 James 10 1 Peter 6 2 Peter 5 1 John 1 2 John 1 3 John 1 Revelation 38
Source forms
ἐγένετο 163x egeneto Matthew 7:28, Matthew 8:24, Matthew 8:26, Matthew 9:10
γένηται 45x genētai Matthew 5:18, Matthew 10:25, Matthew 18:13, Matthew 21:19
Ἐγένετο 39x Egeneto Mark 1:4, Luke 1:5, Luke 1:8, Luke 2:1
γενέσθαι 37x genesthai Matthew 20:26, Matthew 24:6, Matthew 26:54, Mark 1:17
γέγονεν 30x gegonen Matthew 1:22, Matthew 19:8, Matthew 21:4, Matthew 24:21
γενομένης 29x genomenēs Matthew 8:16, Matthew 13:21, Matthew 14:15, Matthew 14:23
γίνεται 26x ginetai Matthew 9:16, Matthew 12:45, Matthew 13:22, Matthew 13:32
γενόμενος 25x genomenos Mark 6:26, Mark 9:33, Luke 22:40, Luke 22:44
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular 202x Matthew 7:28, Matthew 8:24, Matthew 8:26, Matthew 9:10
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular 46x Matthew 5:18, Matthew 10:25, Matthew 18:12, Matthew 18:13
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle 36x Matthew 20:26, Matthew 24:6, Matthew 26:54, Mark 1:17
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Feminine Singular 32x Matthew 8:16, Matthew 13:21, Matthew 14:15, Matthew 14:23
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 31x Matthew 1:22, Matthew 19:8, Matthew 21:4, Matthew 24:21
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular 26x Mark 6:26, Mark 9:33, Luke 10:32, Luke 22:40
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular 26x Matthew 9:16, Matthew 12:45, Matthew 13:22, Matthew 13:32
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural 24x Matthew 6:16, Matthew 10:16, Matthew 24:44, Luke 6:36
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not use ginomai in John 1:14 to suggest the Word began to exist. John has already distinguished the eternal Word from all things that were made.
- Do not flatten Paul's becoming language into moral confusion. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Galatians 3:13, Christ's identification is redemptive and substitutionary, not a denial of His sinlessness.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim ginomai always means created or brought into existence. Many uses simply mark happening, becoming, result, or completion.
- Do not claim the verb alone proves a doctrine. The subject, complement, and passage argument must carry the theological claim.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Colossians 1:18 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Subjunctive
γένηται genetai to be The form makes the final clause purpose-driven: the descriptions of Christ lead to the stated result that he might be preeminent in all things. Read verse guide John 1:3 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο, egeneto to be The verb form makes the verse read as a settled statement about what happened to all things through him. Read verse guide John 1:3 Verb Third Person Singular Second Perfect Active Indicative
γέγονεν. gegonen to be The perfect indicative gives the clause a settled, completed feel, which sharpens the verse's claim without replacing the surrounding syntax or theology. Read verse guide John 1:6 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο egeneto to be The form helps communicate an event of appearing or coming into being, which makes the verse read as an introduction of John into the narrative. Read verse guide John 1:10 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο, egeneto to be The form gives the verse a direct origin assertion: the world came into being through him, which makes the following failure to know him more pointed. Read verse guide John 1:12 Verb Second Aorist Middle Deponent Infinitive
γενέσθαι, genesthai to be The form supports a reading of bestowed access or permission to enter a new identity, while leaving the surrounding context to define the full meaning. Read verse guide John 1:14 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο, egeneto to be The form strengthens the verse's plain, event-shaped assertion that the Word became flesh, while leaving the broader theological interpretation to the whole passage. Read verse guide John 1:15 Verb Third Person Singular Second Perfect Active Indicative
γέγονεν· gegonen to be The form strengthens the idea that the reported preeminence is already established and remains effective in the present hearing of the witness. Read verse guide John 1:17 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο. egeneto to be The grammar gives the sentence a completed-event force, helping the reader hear grace and truth as having come in relation to Jesus Christ rather than as an ongoing undefined process. Read verse guide John 1:27 Verb Third Person Singular Second Perfect Active Indicative
γέγονεν· gegonen to be The verb strengthens the verse's emphasis on recognized prior status, making John's statement about the coming one sound settled and authoritative. Read verse guide John 1:28 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο egeneto to be The grammar makes the verse read as a concise report of what occurred in a specific place, while the context supplies the focus. Read verse guide John 1:30 Verb Third Person Singular Second Perfect Active Indicative
γέγονεν, gegonen to be The form helps the sentence communicate that the person spoken of already stands in a prior relation to John, reinforcing the contrast between outward sequence and deeper priority. Read verse guide Show 10 more verse guides
Matthew 1:22 Verb Third Person Singular Second Perfect Active Indicative
γέγονεν, gegonen to be Read verse guide Matthew 27:45 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο egeneto to be Read verse guide Philippians 2:7 Verb Second Aorist Middle Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
γενόμενος· genomenos to be Read verse guide Philippians 2:8 Verb Second Aorist Middle Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
γενόμενος genomenos to be Read verse guide Revelation 22:6 Verb Second Aorist Middle Deponent Infinitive
γενέσθαι genesthai to be Read verse guide Romans 3:4 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Optative
γένοιτο· genoito to be Read verse guide Romans 3:4 Verb Third Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Imperative
γινέσθω ginestho to be Read verse guide Romans 3:6 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Optative
γένοιτο· genoito to be Read verse guide Romans 3:19 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Subjunctive
γένηται genetai to be Read verse guide Romans 3:31 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Optative
γένοιτο· genoito to be Read verse guide Evidence Summary
Greek word. Denotes coming into being or becoming, not static existence; emphasizes transition and change rather than mere state.
Source Gloss
to be
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 677 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
gegonen
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 4:3 Verb Third Person Plural Second Aorist Middle Deponent Subjunctive
γένωνται. genwntai
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 5:18 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Subjunctive
γένηται. genhtai
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 5:45 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Middle Deponent Subjunctive
γένησθε genhsqe
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 6:10 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Deponent Imperative
γενηθήτω genhqhtw
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 6:16 Verb Second Person Plural Present Middle or Passive Deponent Imperative
γίνεσθε ginesqe
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 7:28 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο egeneto
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 8:13 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Deponent Imperative
γενηθήτω genhqhtw
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 8:16 Verb Second Aorist Middle Deponent Participle Genitive Singular Feminine
γενομένης genomenhv
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 8:24 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο egeneto
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 8:26 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο egeneto
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 9:10 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐγένετο egeneto
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 9:16 Verb Third Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
γίνεται. ginetai
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 9:29 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Deponent Imperative
γενηθήτω genhqhtw
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 10:16 Verb Second Person Plural Present Middle or Passive Deponent Imperative
γίνεσθε ginesqe
I come into being, am born
Read verse Matthew 10:25 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Middle Deponent Subjunctive
γένηται genhtai
I come into being, am born
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
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 groups 6 Aligned forms 667 Tenses Aorist, Perfect, Present, Future, Imperfect, Pluperfect Voices Middle, Active, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 353×
Aorist Middle Matt 7:28 · Matt 8:24 · Matt 8:26 · Matt 9:10 · Matt 11:1 · Matt 11:26 · Matt 13:53 · Matt 17:2 · Matt 19:1 · Matt 21:42 · Matt 26:1 · Matt 27:45 · Matt 28:2 · Mark 1:4 · Mark 1:9 · Mark 1:11 233×
Perfect Active Matt 1:22 · Matt 19:8 · Matt 21:4 · Matt 24:21 · Matt 25:6 · Matt 26:56 · Mark 5:33 · Mark 9:21 · Mark 13:19 · Mark 14:4 · Luke 14:22 · John 1:3 · John 1:15 · John 1:30 · John 12:30 · John 14:22 47×
Aorist Passive Matt 21:42 · Mark 12:10 · Luke 18:23 · Luke 20:17 · Acts 4:4 · Rom 16:2 · 1 Cor 1:30 · 1 Cor 15:10 · 2 Cor 3:7 · 2 Cor 7:14 · 1 Thess 1:5 · 1 Pet 2:7 · Rom 9:29 · 1 Cor 4:9 · 1 Cor 4:13 · 1 Thess 2:5 31×
Present Middle Matt 9:16 · Matt 12:45 · Matt 13:22 · Matt 13:32 · Matt 26:2 · Matt 27:24 · Mark 2:15 · Mark 2:21 · Mark 4:11 · Mark 4:19 · Mark 4:32 · Mark 4:37 · Mark 11:23 · Luke 11:26 · Luke 12:54 · Luke 12:55 26×
Future Middle Matt 18:19 · Matt 21:21 · Luke 8:17 · John 4:14 · John 15:7 · John 16:20 · 1 Cor 3:13 · 1 Cor 4:5 · 1 Cor 15:54 · John 8:33 · John 10:16 11×
Imperfect Middle Acts 2:43 · Acts 5:12 3×
Pluperfect Active John 6:17 · Acts 4:22 2×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 65×
Aorist Middle Matt 5:18 · Matt 10:25 · Matt 18:12 · Matt 18:13 · Matt 21:19 · Matt 23:15 · Matt 23:26 · Matt 24:20 · Matt 24:21 · Matt 24:32 · Matt 24:34 · Matt 26:5 · Mark 9:50 · Mark 13:18 · Mark 13:19 · Mark 13:28 61×
Present Middle Gal 5:26 · 3 John 1:8 · 1 Cor 16:2 3×
Aorist Passive Titus 3:7 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 53×
Aorist Middle Matt 20:26 · Matt 24:6 · Matt 26:54 · Mark 1:17 · Mark 10:43 · Mark 13:7 · Luke 3:22 · Luke 9:36 · Luke 21:9 · Luke 23:24 · John 1:12 · John 3:9 · John 5:6 · John 8:58 · John 9:27 · John 13:19 36×
Present Middle Luke 21:7 · Luke 21:28 · Luke 21:36 · Acts 4:30 · Acts 14:3 · Acts 26:22 · Acts 27:33 · 1 Cor 7:36 · 1 Cor 10:20 · Jas 3:10 · Rev 1:19 11×
Perfect Active Luke 10:36 · John 12:29 · 2 Tim 2:18 · Heb 11:3 4×
Perfect Passive Rom 15:8 1×
Aorist Passive Heb 5:5 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 134×
Aorist Middle Matt 8:16 · Matt 13:21 · Matt 14:15 · Matt 14:23 · Matt 16:2 · Matt 20:8 · Matt 26:20 · Matt 27:1 · Matt 27:57 · Mark 1:32 · Mark 4:17 · Mark 4:35 · Mark 6:21 · Mark 6:35 · Mark 6:47 · Mark 14:17 96×
Present Middle Mark 13:29 · Luke 9:7 · Luke 21:31 · Eph 5:12 · Luke 23:8 · Acts 28:6 · Acts 19:26 · 1 Pet 5:3 · Mark 6:2 · Luke 13:17 · John 6:19 · John 13:2 · Acts 8:13 · Acts 12:5 · Acts 12:9 · Acts 23:10 18×
Perfect Active Luke 2:15 · Luke 8:34 · Luke 8:35 · Luke 8:56 · Luke 24:12 · Acts 5:7 · Acts 13:12 · Heb 7:20 · Heb 7:23 · Mark 5:14 · Acts 4:21 · Gal 3:17 · 1 Tim 5:9 · Jas 3:9 14×
Aorist Passive Heb 10:33 · 2 Pet 1:16 · Heb 4:3 · Heb 6:4 4×
Perfect Passive John 2:9 1×
Future Middle 1 Cor 15:37 1×
Imperative command or strong request 45×
Present Middle Matt 6:16 · Matt 10:16 · Matt 24:44 · Luke 6:36 · Luke 12:40 · Rom 12:16 · 1 Cor 4:16 · 1 Cor 7:23 · 1 Cor 10:7 · 1 Cor 10:32 · 1 Cor 11:1 · 1 Cor 14:20 · 1 Cor 15:58 · 2 Cor 6:14 · Gal 4:12 · Eph 4:32 36×
Aorist Passive Matt 6:10 · Matt 8:13 · Matt 9:29 · Matt 15:28 · Matt 26:42 · Acts 1:20 · Rom 11:9 · 1 Pet 1:15 8×
Aorist Middle 1 Cor 3:18 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 389 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 296 present 45 perfect 37 future 6 imperfect 3 pluperfect 2
Voice
middle 336 active 39 passive 14
Mood
indicative 222 participle 88 infinitive 29 subjunctive 25 optative 16 imperative 9
NT Occurrences
Matthew 1:22 γέγονεν perfect active indicative resultant Matthew 5:18 γένηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 6:10 γενηθήτω aorist passive imperative imperative Matthew 7:28 ἐγένετο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 8:13 γενηθήτω aorist passive imperative imperative Matthew 8:16 γενομένης aorist middle participle participle Matthew 8:24 ἐγένετο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 8:26 ἐγένετο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 9:10 ἐγένετο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 9:16 γίνεται present middle indicative ongoing Matthew 9:29 γενηθήτω aorist passive imperative imperative Matthew 11:1 ἐγένετο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 11:20 ἐγένοντο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 11:21 ἐγένοντο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 11:21 γενόμεναι aorist middle participle participle Matthew 11:23 ἐγενήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 11:23 γενόμεναι aorist middle participle participle Matthew 13:21 γενομένης aorist middle participle participle Matthew 13:53 ἐγένετο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 14:15 γενομένης aorist middle participle participle Matthew 14:23 γενομένης aorist middle participle participle Matthew 14:6 γενομένοις aorist middle participle participle Matthew 15:28 γενηθήτω aorist passive imperative imperative Matthew 16:2 γενομένης aorist middle participle participle Matthew 18:13 γένηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 18:19 γενήσεται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 18:31 γενόμενα aorist middle participle participle Matthew 18:31 γενόμενα aorist middle participle participle Matthew 19:1 ἐγένετο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 19:8 γέγονεν perfect active indicative resultant Matthew 20:8 γενομένης aorist middle participle participle Matthew 21:19 γένηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 21:21 γενήσεται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 21:4 γέγονεν perfect active indicative resultant Matthew 21:42 ἐγενήθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 21:42 ἐγένετο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 23:15 γένηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 24:20 γένηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 24:21 γέγονεν perfect active indicative resultant Matthew 24:21 γένηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive
+349 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)
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
to become or come to be in a transformed state or condition
to be made or transformed into a different moral or spiritual state
to come to pass or happen as an event in salvation history
to come into being or arise as a result of divine action or instruction
to come to pass or occur as an expected future event
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 667 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
γίνομαι is a primary verb - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Ginomai teaches careful reading because its range is broad enough to appear in simple event reports and in the heaviest doctrines of the New Testament. John can say all things were made through the Word and then say the Word became flesh. Paul can say Christ became a curse and that believers become the righteousness of God in Him. Those claims are not interchangeable uses of a magic theological verb.
In each case, ginomai marks a movement or realized state while the passage supplies the doctrine. The incarnation does not mean the Word began to be God; John has already said the Word was God. Atonement language does not mean Christ became morally sinful; the sentence says God made the sinless One to be sin on our behalf. The word opens major truth only when the reader lets context govern the kind of becoming in view.
Anchor passage
John.1.14
Doctrinal connections
- John.1.3 connects ginomai to creation through the Word, distinguishing created things from the eternal Word Himself.
- John.1.14 ties becoming language to the incarnation, where the eternal Word truly takes flesh without ceasing to be who He is.
- 2Cor.5.21 uses becoming language inside union-with-Christ and righteousness language, so the exchange must be read covenantally and carefully.
- Gal.3.13 connects Christ becoming a curse with redemption from the law's curse and the Scripture Paul quotes.
- 1Cor.1.30 shows that Christ becomes wisdom and righteousness for believers because their life is in Him, not because they produce these realities.
- Rev.21.6 uses completed-event language near the promise of living water, joining fulfilled purpose with new-creation gift.
Ginomai can function as happen, become, come into being, take place, or be done. Its sense depends heavily on the complement and the discourse setting. Teachers should read the verb with the subject and predicate together, especially in incarnation, substitution, and completion texts where a thin English gloss can mislead.
From Old to New Testament
The canon begins with God calling creation into being and moves toward new creation, but ginomai is not merely a creation verb. In the New Testament it can mark what God brings about in history: the Word becomes flesh, Christ bears the curse, the crucified and risen Lord becomes God's wisdom for His people, and the end is declared done. The movement is from God's effective speech and action to God's finished work in Christ and final renewal.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain