Septuagint
To see some of the lexical background to gennaō, we can study how it is used in the Septuagint, Philo and Josephus. Concordances exist for all three, but for our purposes the LXX is sufficient. The best concordance is Concordance to the Septuagint and the Other Greek Versions of the Old Testament (Including the Apocryphal Books) by Edwin Hatch and Henry A. Redpath. The two volumes, originally published in 1897, are published by Baker.
Hatch-Redpath first lists the corresponding Hebrew words (without transliteration) and assigns each a number, with an additional letter to distinguish some verbal forms from others. All occurrences of gennaō are listed, and a few words of context (Greek letters only) is given for each. The corresponding Hebrew number, if any, is also given. Textual variants are noted. In some verses of some texts, for example, a form of tiktō is used instead of gennaō. I have omitted most of these notes.
Although Hatch-Redpath lists verses in the order they come in the text, I have chosen to group them by the corresponding Hebrew word, starting with the most common. I quote, with minor alterations, a small portion of context from Lancelot C.L. Brenton's translation, The Septuagint With Apocrypha: Greek and English. This work, originally published in 1851, is reprinted by Hendrickson.
Gennaō is used about 270 times in the LXX. Of those occurrences, about 230 correspond to the Hebrew word yâladh, which means to become the father of, to give birth, or (passive) to be born. Most of these occurrences are in genealogical lists. To minimize monotony, I've put some lists in separate boxes. I have retained Brenton's spelling of the names even though we know them better by the Hebrew-based spellings.
yâladh
Gen 4:18 to Enoch was born Gaidad; and Gaidad begot Maleleel; and Maleleel begot Mathusala; and Mathusala begot Lamech.
Gen 5:3 Adam...begot a son after his own form
Gen 5:4 He lived after his begetting Seth...and he begot sons and daughters.
Gen 5:6 Seth lived 205 years, and begot Enos.
Gen 5:7 Seth lived after his begetting Enos and he begot sons and daughters.
Gen 5:9 Enos lived 190 years, and begot Cainan.
Gen 5:10 Enos lived after his begetting Cainan and he begot sons and daughters.
Gen 5:12 Cainan...begot Maleleel.
Gen 5:13 Cainan lived after his begetting Maleleel and he begot sons and daughters.
Gen 5:15 Maleleel...begot Jared.
Gen 5:16 Maleleel lived after his begetting Jared and he begot sons and daughters.
Gen 5:18 Jared lived 162 years, and begot Enoch.
Gen 5:19 Jared lived after his begetting Enoch and he begot sons and daughters.
Gen 5:21 Enoch...begot Mathusala.
Gen 5:22 after his begetting Mathusala, 200 years, and he begot sons and daughters.
Gen 5:25 Mathusala...begot Lamech.
Gen 5:26 he lived after his begetting Lamech 802 years, and begot sons and daughters.
Gen 5:28 Lamech lived 188 years, and begot a son.
Gen 5:30 Lamech lived after his begetting Noe 565 years, and begot sons and daughters.
Gen 6:1 Noe...begot three sons.
Gen 6:2 and daughters were born to [the men]
Gen 6:5 daughters of men...bore children
Gen 6:11 Noe begot three sons.
Gen 10:1 sons were born to them after the flood.
Gen 10:8 Chus begot Nebrod...a giant.
Gen 10:13 Mesrain begot the Ludiim...
Gen 10:15 Chanaan begot Sidon his first-born.
Gen 10:21 to Sem himself also were children born.
Gen 10:24 Arphaxad begot Cainan, and Cainan begot Sala. [no Hebrew word] And Sala begot Heber.
Gen 10:25 To Heber were born two sons.
Gen 10:26 Jektan begot Elmodad and Saleth.
From Shem to Abram
Gen 11:10 Sem was 100...he begot Arphaxad.
Gen 11:11 after Sem had begotten Arphaxad, ...500 years, and begot sons and daughters
Gen 11:12 Arphaxad lived 135 years, and begot Cainan. [no corresponding Hebrew word; Cainan is not in the Hebrew text]
Gen 11:13 after Arphaxad had begotten Cainan...400 years, and begot sons and daughters... Cainan lived 130 years and begot Sala; Cainan lived after he had begotten Sala, 330 years, and begot sons and daughters
Gen 11:14 Sala lived 130 years, and begot Heber.
Gen 11:15 Sala lived after he had begotten Heber, 330 years, and begot sons and daughters
Gen 11:16 Heber lived 134 years, and begot Phaleg.
Gen 11:17 after Heber had begotten Phaleg,... 270 years, and begot sons and daughters
Gen 11:18 Phaleg lived 135 years, and begot Ragau.
Gen 11:19 after Phaleg had begotten Ragau,...209 years, and begot sons and daughters
Gen 11:20 Ragau...132 years, and begot Seruch.
Gen 11:21 after Ragau had begotten Seruch,...207 years, and begot sons and daughters
Gen 11:22 Seruch...130 years, and begot Nachor.
Gen 11:23 after Seruch had begotten Nachor,...200 years, and begot sons and daughters
Gen 11:24 Nachor...179 years, and begot Tharrha.
Gen 11:25 after Nachor had begotten Tharrha,...125 years, and begot sons and daughters
Gen 11:26 Tharrha...70 years, and begot Abram
Gen 11:27 Tharrha begot Abram and...Arrhan; and Arrhan begot Lot.
Gen 17:20 Twelve nations shall [Ismail] beget.
Gen 22:23 eight sons Melcha bore to Nachor.
Gen 25:3 Jezan begot Saba and Dedan.
Gen 25:20 Abraam begot Isaac.
Gen 25:26 Isaac was 60 when Rebecca bore them.
Gen 46:20 Machir begot Galaad.
Gen 46:21 Gera begot Arad.
Gen 46:22 sons of Rachel, which she bore to Jacob.
Gen 48:6 children which thou shalt beget hereafter
Ex 6:20 She bore to him both Aaron and Moses
Nm 26:29 Machir begot Galaad. [v. 33 in LXX]
Nm 26:58 Caath begot Amran.
Dt 4:25 When thou shalt have begotten sons, and...sons' sons
Dt 23:8 If sons be born to them, in the third generation they
Dt 28:41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters
Dt 32:18 Thou hast forgotten God that begot thee
Jud 11:1 a harlot, who bore Jephthae to Galaad.
Ruth 4:13 the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.
Ruth 4:18 Phares begot Esrom:
Ruth 4:19 Esrom begot Aram; and Aram begot Aminadab.
Ruth 4:20 Aminadab begot Naasson; and Naasson begot Salmon.
Ruth 4:21 Salmon begot Booz; and Booz begot Obed.
Ruth 4:22 Obed begot Jessæ; and Jessæ begot David.
Various Nations
1Ch 1:10 Chus begot Nebrod...a mighty hunter
1Ch 1:11 Mizraim begat the Ludim, and...
1Ch 1:13 Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn
1Ch 1:18 Arphaxad begat Cainan and Cainan begat Salah. and Salah begat Eber.
1Ch 1:19 to Eber have been born two sons
1Ch 1:20 Joktan begat Almodad. [Vv. 11-20 are in some LXX texts, but not in Brenton's. These verses are quoted from Young's Literal Translation. Cainan (v. 18) is not in the Hebrew text, but it is in some LXX texts as well as in Luke 3:36.]
1Ch 1:34 Abraam begot Isaac.
Descendants of Three Sons of Hezron
1Ch 2:10 Aram begot Aminadab, and Aminadab begot Naasson
1Ch 2:11 And Naasson begot Salmon, and Salmon begot Booz.
1Ch 2:12 Booz begot Obed and Obed begot Jessæ.
1Ch 2:13 Jessæ begot his first-born Eliab
1Ch 2:17 Abigaia bore Amessab
1Ch 2:18 Chaleb begot Gazuba
1Ch 2:20 Or begot Uri, and Uri begot Beseleel
1Ch 2:22 Seruch begot Jair
1Ch 2:36 Ethi begot Nathan, and Nathan begot Zabed.
1Ch 2:37 Zabed begot Aphamel, and Aphamel begot Obed.
1Ch 2:38 Obed begot Jeu, and Jeu begot Azarias
1Ch 2:39 Azarias begot Chelles, and Chelles begot Eleasa.
1Ch 2:40 Eleasa begot Sosomai, and Sosomai begot Salum.
1Ch 2:41 Salum begot Jechemias and Jechemias begot Elisama, and Elisama begot Ismael.
1Ch 2:44 Samaa begot Raem the father of Jeclan: and Jeclan begot Samai.
1Ch 2:46 the concubine of Chaleb bore Aram. Aram begot Gezue. [some texts omit]
1Ch 2:48 Chaleb's concubine Mocha bore Saber.
1Ch 2:49 She bore Sagae, father of Madmena.
Jewish Clans
1Ch 4:2 Subal begot Jeth; and Jeth begot Achimai, and Laad...
1Ch 4:8 Coe begot Enob, and Sabatha...
1Ch 4:11 Chaleb...begot Machir.
1Ch 4:12 He begot Bathraias, and Besseë...
1Ch 4:14 Manathi begot Gophora; and Saraia begot Jobab.
Genealogy of Priests
1Ch 6:4 Eleazar begot Phinees, Phinees begot Abisu.
1Ch 6:5 Abisu begot Bokki, and Bokki begot Ozi;
1Ch 6:6 Ozi begot Zaraia, Zaraia begot Mariel;
1Ch 6:7 and Mariel begot Amaria, and Amaria begot Achitob;
1Ch 6:8 and Achitob begot Sadoc, and Sadoc begot Achimaas;
1Ch 6:9 and Achimaas begot Azarias, and Azarias begot Joanan;
1Ch 6:10 and Joanan begot Azarias.
1Ch 6:11 And Azarias begot Amaria, and Amaria begot Achitob,
1Ch 6:12 and Achitob begot Sadoc, and Sadoc begot Salom;
1Ch 6:13 and Salom begot Chelcias, and Chelcias begot Azarias;
1Ch 6:14 and Azarias begot Saraias, and Saraias begot Josadac.
Saul and Other Benjaminites
1Ch 8:1 Benjamin begot Bale his first-born...
1Ch 8:7 and he begot Aza and Jachicho.
1Ch 8:8 Saarin begot children in...Moab.
1Ch 8:9 He begot of his wife Ada, Jolab and...
1Ch 8:11 Of Osin he begot Abitol and Alphaad.
1Ch 8:32 Makeloth begot Samaa. = 9:38
1Ch 8:33 Ner begot Kis, = 9:39 and Kis begot Saul, = 9:39 and Saul begot Jonathan... = 9:39
1Ch 8:34 Meribaal begot Micha. = 9:40
1Ch 8:36 Achaz begot Jada, and = 9:42 Jada begot Salæmath... = 9:42 and Zambri begot Mæsa; = 9:42
1Ch 8:37 and Mæsa begot Baana. = 9:43
4K 20:18 sons...which thou shalt beget [4 Kings is what we usually call 2 Kings.]
1Ch 2:3 Three were born to him of her
1Ch 3:4 Six were born to him in Chebron.
1Ch 7:32 Chaber begot Japhlet and Samer...
2Ch 11:21 Roboam...begot 28 sons, 60 daughters.
2Ch 13:21 Abia...begot 22 sons and 16 daughters.
2Ch 24:3 two wives...bore sons and daughters.
Ezr 10:3 put away the wives, and their offspring* [*Vaticanus has a different Greek word]
Neh 12:10 Jesus begot Joakim, and Joakim begot Eliasib, Neh 12:11 Jodæ begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jadu.
Job 3:3 Let the day perish in which I was born
Job 5:7 Man is born to labor.
Job 15:7 Art thou the first man that was born?
Job 38:21 thou wert born at that time
Ps 2:7 today I have begotten thee
Ps 86:4 the Ethiopians: these were born there.
Pro 17:17 on this account [friends] are born.
Pro 23:22 Hearken to thy father which begot thee.
Ecc 5:13 He begets a son, and there is nothing
Ecc 6:3 If a man beget a hundred children
Hos 5:7 strange children have been born to them
Hos 9:16 even if they beget children, I will kill
Zac 13:3 father & mother who gave birth to him
Isa 9:6 A child is born to us, a son given
Isa 39:7 children whom thou shalt beget
Isa 45:10 say to father, What wilt thou beget?
Isa 49:21 Who has begotten these for me?
Isa 66:9 I made the bearing and barren woman
Jer 2:27 to a stone, Thou hast begotten me
Jer 16:3 the fathers that have begotten them
Eze 16:20 sons and daughters whom thou borest
Eze 18:10 if he beget a mischievous son
Eze 18:14 if he beget a son
Eze 23:37 children which they bore to me
Eze 31:6 the wild beasts of the field bred
Eze 47:22 strangers who have begotten sons
Words related to yâladh
môledheth, kindred, relatives
Gen 11:28 died in the land in which he was born.
Gen 24:4 go to my country, where I was born.
Gen 24:7 out of the land whence I sprang.
Lv 18:9 thy sister...born at home or abroad
yaldhûth, youth, childhood
Ps 109:3 I have begotten thee from the womb
yillôdh, born
2K 5:14 the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem [In the LXX, 2 Kings is what we usually call 2 Samuel.]
Jer 16:3 the daughters born in this place
hayâh, be, become, exist, happen
Ex 19:16 as the morning drew nigh* [*The Vaticanus has a different Greek word]
Nu 4:48 they that were numbered were 8,580.*
Jos 5:7 They were uncircumcised, having been born by the way.
4K 23:25 There was no king like him.*
1Ch 7:15 and to Sapphaad were born daughters.
Job 12:4 he has become a subject for mockery.*
Job 42:13 there were born to him seven sons
Ps 44:16 Instead of fathers sons are born to thee*
Ecc 3:15 That which has been is now*
Isa 1:9 we would have been made as Sodom*
Jer 16:2 there shall be no son born to thee
Eze 22:13 blood that has been shed in thee*
Eze 31:7 his roots were admist much water*
Miscellaneous Hebrew words
qânâh, get, acquire, create
Zec 13:5 a man brought me up from my youth*
sîm, put, place, appoint, make
Ezr 10:44 They had begotten sons of [the wives].
bârâ', create
Eze 21:30 in this place wherein thou wert born
gâdhal, grow up, become strong
Isa 1:2 I [God] have begotten and reared sons
hârâh, to conceive, be with child, bear
1Ch 4:17 Jether begot Maron...
chûl, travail, be pained, dance, tremble, fear
Prov 8:25 before all hills, he begets me [wisdom]
No corresponding Hebrew word
1Es 4:15 Women have borne the king
Tob 1:9 of Anna I begat Tobias.
Tob 10:13 as if they had begotten you [not in Brenton's text; my translation]
Jdt 12:20 more in one day than since he was born
Job 42:18 [Job] begot a son named Ennon
Prov 11:19 A righteous son is born for life.
Wis 2:2 We are born at all adventure [chance]
Wis 4:6 Children begotten of unlawful beds
Wis 5:13 As soon as we were born, we began to
Wis 15:8 he which was made [was born] of earth
Sir 3:7 his parents [the ones who begot him]
Sir 7:28 thou wast begotten of [mother & father]
Sir 14:18 one comes to an end, another is born.
Sir 22:4 is heaviness to her father [begetter]
Sir 23:14 wish that thou had not been born.
Sir 41:9 And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse.
Sir 49:15 Nor was a man born like unto Joseph
Bar 3:26 There were the giants
Eze 36:12 I will increase men upon [the land]
1Mac 2:7 why was I born to see this
1Mac 2:11 she has become a bondslave*
1Mac 4:35 made his army greater than it was*
2Mac 5:27 Judas with nine others*
4Mac 10:2 their father begat me also
4Ma 11:15 having been born and reared for this
4Ma 13:19 engendered [charm] through the womb
4Ma 14:14 animals have love for their offspring
4Ma 15:4 sympathy with those born of them
Analysis of LXX usage
It is clear that the Hebrew word that is closest in meaning to gennaō is yâladh. It is less clear whether that sheds any light on how gennaō is used or what it means. The genealogical lists are particularly uninformative. Such stereotyped uses of a word may be distinctly different from the uses of the word in other contexts. (We will learn more about genealogical lists in our New Testament section.)
In some cases, gennaō refers to a specific, dateable event, as shown in the chronologies of Genesis 5 and 11. Whether that event is conception or birth is not easily demonstrable from these lists. The date of conception is sometimes unknown, but birth date and place is almost always known, so birth lends itself as a better point of reference for such lists. Several verses refer to gennaō3 at a particular location; these seem to refer to birth and are so translated.
At other times, gennaō is a nonspecific reference to descendants. Ishmael was predicted to beget entire nations (Genesis 17:20; cf. 1 Chronicles 1:11). Grandchildren could also be begotten (Deuteronomy 4:25; 23:8); perhaps these are figurative uses of the word. Particularly noteworthy is the omission of Cainan from the Hebrew geneaologies (Genesis 10:24; 11:12; 1 Chronicles 1:18; cf. Luke 3:36); this suggests that most of the lists are general tables of descent, not biologically precise.
In a clearly figurative use, God is said to have begotten the Israelite nation (Deuteronomy 32:18; Isaiah 1:2). He produced or created it, just as he did wisdom (Proverbs 8:25). God is also said to have begotten "the charm of brotherhood" in all children, even from their mothers' wombs (4 Maccabees 13:18).
In another figurative sense, an idolater claims that a pagan god begat him (Jeremiah 2:27). Abraham even said he was begotten from the land (Genesis 24:7). That seems to be an idiom for his place of birth. Wisdom of Solomon 15:8 refers to someone who was begotten of earth. The thought there is that the man was made of clay.
Gennaō could be used to translate hayâh, "to become." A particular circumstance was begotten — it was produced, it came about. In many of these uses, some versions of the LXX used a different (albeit similar in spelling) word, such as egeneto, to convey the thought of coming about.
God begot the anointed king of Israel (Psalm 2:7). This enthronement psalm has Messianic applications, but it was also applied to the human rulers. God was the real King, but he authorized humans to rule in his stead. The source of the king's authority is pictured by his anointing and expressed metaphorically by adoption into the divine royal family. The human king is fully conscious and usually a mature adult; there is no suggestion here of embryonic sonship.
Psalm 109:3 refers to begettal "from the womb," but this is coupled with "before the morning," which makes the meaning of the whole phrase unclear. Although we know that the Messiah was God's begotten Son even in the womb, it is not clear that this verse is describing that. A figurative meaning may be more appropriate. The Hebrew of this psalm (110 in the Hebrew numeration) does not clarify the LXX meaning.
Some verses could be interpreted to mean conception, but a more natural sense would be birth: A child is born to us, a son is given to us (Isaiah 9:6). Joshua 5:7, referring to uncircumcised babies, seems to refer to birth rather than conception. The Apocryphal books of Judith 12:20, Wisdom of Solomon 5:13 and 1 Maccabees 2:7 also seem to clearly refer to birth.
However, conception seems to be clearly indicated in Wisdom of Solomon 4:6, which refers to children begotten of unlawful beds. Although even today we may refer to an illegitimate birth, the moral law is not broken at birth but near the time of conception.
Despite this specific use, it seems that gennaō in most verses is not precise — it seems to refer to production in general without specific reference to birth, conception, copulation or any of the other sexual details normally included in births. An example that illustrates this is Genesis 4:17: "Cain knew his wife, and having conceived [syllabousa] she bore [eteke] Enoch." When a distinction between conception and birth is desired, specific Greek words can be used. When general descent is all that is meant, gennaō can be used, as it is in the very next verse (see the short genealogy of verse 18 above).
My analysis of LXX usage has been brief, and I may have overlooked a few things. But I've included all the verses above.