"a child; whether unborn, an embryo, fetus, Lk. 1:41, 44; or just born, an infant, Lk. 2:12, 16; Acts 7:19; or partly grown, Lk. 18:15; 2 Tim. 3:15; met. a babe in simplicity of faith, 1 Pet. 2:2*"
Definition and meaning
a child; whether unborn, an embryo, fetus, Lk. 1:41, 44; or just born, an infant, Lk. 2:12, 16; Acts 7:19; or partly grown, Lk. 18:15; 2 Tim. 3:15; met. a babe in simplicity of faith, 1 Pet. 2:2*
In the original Greek the word is written: βρέφος
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of brephos (G1025) across the King James Bible.
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
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Common questions
Strong's G1025 (brephos) is a Greek word that means: a child; whether unborn, an embryo, fetus, Lk. 1:41, 44; or just born, an infant, Lk. 2:12, 16; Acts 7:19; or partly grown, Lk. 18:15; 2 Tim. 3:15; met. a babe in simplicity of faith, 1 Pet. 2:2* It appears 8 times in the King James Bible.
The word brephos (G1025) appears 8 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1025 is brephos, a Greek word defined as: a child; whether unborn, an embryo, fetus, Lk. 1:41, 44; or just born, an infant, Lk. 2:12, 16; Acts 7:19; or partly grown, Lk. 18:15; 2 Tim. 3:15; me. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
brephos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.