"to beget, generate, Mt. 1:2-16, et al.; of women, to bring forth, bear, give birth to, Lk. 1:13, 57, et al.; pass. to be born, produced, Mt. 2:1, 4, et al.; met. to produce, excite, give occasion to, effect, 2 Tim. 2:23; from the Hebrew, to constitute as son, to constitute as kin..."
Definition and meaning
to beget, generate, Mt. 1:2-16, et al.; of women, to bring forth, bear, give birth to, Lk. 1:13, 57, et al.; pass. to be born, produced, Mt. 2:1, 4, et al.; met. to produce, excite, give occasion to, effect, 2 Tim. 2:23; from the Hebrew, to constitute as son, to constitute as king, or as the representative or viceregent of God, Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5; by impl. to be a parent to any one; pass. to be a son or child to any one, Jn. 1:13; 1 Cor. 4:15, et al.
In the original Greek the word is written: γεννάω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 gennao (G1080) across the King James Bible.
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
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Common questions
Strong's G1080 (gennao) is a Greek word that means: to beget, generate, Mt. 1:2-16, et al.; of women, to bring forth, bear, give birth to, Lk. 1:13, 57, et al.; pass. to be born, produced, Mt. 2:1, 4, et al.; met. to produce, excite, give occasion to, ... It appears 65 times in the King James Bible.
The word gennao (G1080) appears 65 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1080 is gennao, a Greek word defined as: to beget, generate, Mt. 1:2-16, et al.; of women, to bring forth, bear, give birth to, Lk. 1:13, 57, et al.; pass. to be born, produced, Mt. 2:1, 4, e. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
gennao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.