Gennaō
Zodhiates
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, compiled and edited by Spiros Zodhiates, may be a good choice for those who cannot read Greek. All words are transliterated; all entries are coded to Strong's numbering system. The 1505-page book was published in 1992 by AMG and World Bible Publishers.
Here's the entry on page 364:
| 3 Greek-English lexicons usually list verbs by the first person singular present active indicative form (e.g., "I am doing"). The first person singular present active indicative of this word, as it would be used in written Greek, is gennō, with the a and ō contracted into an ō. Lexicons list the noncontracted form so readers will know how the verb is conjugated into other forms. |
"1080. genná
ō; contracted gennō,3 future gennēsō, from genos (1085), generation, kind, offspring. To beget as spoken of men; to bear as spoken of women; passive, to be begotten or be born."(I) In the active sense:
"(A) Spoken of men, to beget (Matthew 1:2-16; Acts 7:8, 29; Septuagint: Genesis 5:3ff.). Metaphorically, to generate, to occasion, e.g., strifes (2 Timothy 2:23).
"(B) Spoken in the Jewish manner of the relation between a teacher and his disciples, to beget in a spiritual sense, to be the spiritual father of someone, that is, the instrument of his conversion to a new spiritual life (1 Corinthians 4:15; Philemon 1:10).
"(C) Spoken of God begetting in a spiritual sense which consists in regenerating, sanctifying, quickening anew, and ennobling the powers of the natural man by imparting to him a new life and a new spirit in Christ (1 John 5:1). Hence, Christians are said to be born of God and to be the sons of God (Romans 8:14; Galatians 3:26; 4:6). Spoken of the relationship between God and the Messiah, called His Son. The designation of this relationship by words with a temporal notion has troubled theologians, who have proferred various explanations. Origen understood this as referring to the Son's relationship within the Trinity and was the first to propose the concept of eternal generation. The Son is said to be eternally begotten by the Father. Others have viewed the language more figuratively and connected it with Christ's role as Messiah. Upon Christ's exaltation to the Father's right hand, God is said to have appointed, declared or officially installed Christ as a king (Acts 13:33; Romans 1:4; Hebrews 1:5; 5:5; Septuagint: Psalm 2:6-8 [cf. huios {5207}, son]).
"(D) Spoken of women, to bear, bring forth (Luke 1:13, 57; 23:29; John 16:21; figuratively Galatians 4:24; Septuagint: Genesis 46:15; Exodus 6:20; Ezra 10:44).
"(II) In the passive sense gennaomai, contracted
gennōmai."(A) To be begotten (Matthew 1:20, `that which is conceived in her' or begotten, i.e., in her womb, the fetus; Hebrews 11:12).
"(B) To be born as used generally (Matthew 2:1, 4; 19:12; 26:24; Mark 14:21; John 3:4, blind; 9:2, 19, 20, 32; 16:21, `into the world'; Acts 7:20; 22:28, I have been born a Roman; Romans 9:11; Hebrews 11:23; Galatians 4:23, 29, `after the flesh,' in the course of nature). With eis (1510), unto, denoting finality, destination (John 18:37; 2 Peter 2:12). In Matthew 1:16, `of whom (feminine gender)' meaning of the mother. See Luke 1:35. In John 3:6, with ek (1537), `out of the flesh' (a.t.), indicating the source. See also John 8:41. With en (1722), in, and the dative of place (Acts 22:3). With the dative of state or condition (John 9:34, in the state of sinfulness or sins). In Acts 2:8, `wherein we were born,' meaning the dialect, the native tongue. Metaphorically, ek (1537), out of God or of the Spirit, only in the writings of John, meaning to be born of God or of the Spirit, in a spiritual sense, to have received from God a new spiritual life. See also John 1:13; 3:5, 6, 8; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18, and to be `born again' or from above which is equivalent to be born of God (John 3:3, 7); also
anōthen (509), from above."Derivatives:
anagennaō (313), to give new birth; gennēma (1081), offspring; gennēsis (1083), birth; gennētos (1084), born."Synonyms:
apokueō (616), to give birth to, bring forth. Used in a spiritual sense: tiktō (5088), to bring forth, give birth to a child, also used metaphorically in regard to sin in James 1:15."Summary of Zodhiates
Zodhiates gives a short essay about how
gennaō is used in its various meanings. He gives a little history and theology by noting that Origen and others discussed in what way Christ, who existed eternally, could be said to have been begotten or born. He notes that other theologians think the word gennaō is used figuratively in such cases. He does not argue for either view, but he does bring the historical controversy to our attention. In meaning IIB, he also gives us a few theological conclusions that he does not have space to explain.Matthew 1:20 is presented as a literal use, meaning conceived: the fetus that is conceived in her. John 3:3-8 is included as a metaphorical sense, meaning new spiritual life.