ἀποκυέω

I bring forth, give birth to

Definition

ἀποκυέω is a verb meaning 'to bring forth' or 'to give birth to,' specifically referring to the physical act of childbirth that concludes a pregnancy. In the New Testament, it is used both literally and metaphorically. In James 1:15, it describes the metaphorical 'birth' of sin, which, when fully grown, 'gives birth to' death. In James 1:18, it is used in a positive spiritual sense, stating that God 'gave us birth' by the word of truth, making us a kind of firstfruits of his creation.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only twice in the New Testament, both in the Epistle of James. Its usage demonstrates a pattern of metaphorical application to spiritual realities. In James 1:15, it describes the deadly consequence of sin's maturation. In James 1:18, it describes the life-giving creative act of God in regeneration. The context shifts from a negative, internal process of temptation to a positive, divine act of salvation.

Etymology

Derived from ἀπό (apo, 'away from') and κυέω (kyeō, 'to be pregnant' or 'to conceive'). The prefix ἀπό can emphasize the completion or result of the action. Thus, ἀποκυέω specifically denotes the act of bringing forth or giving birth as the culmination of pregnancy. It is related to κύημα (kyēma, 'that which is born') and shares a root with words involving conception and birth.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant for its connection to the doctrines of sin and regeneration. In James 1:15, it vividly personifies sin as giving birth to death, illustrating the organic and fatal progression of temptation. In James 1:18, it describes the new birth, paralleling concepts in John 3 and 1 Peter 1:23, where believers are born again by God's word. Understanding this Greek term enriches the contrast between spiritual death and life, both portrayed as the result of a 'birth' event.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, the language of childbirth was a powerful metaphor for the origin or culmination of a process. The term's medical/physical precision would have been readily understood. Its application to abstract concepts like sin and spiritual life leveraged this common understanding to make profound theological points about cause, effect, and origin.

γεννάω (gennaō, G1080) — A more general term for begetting or fathering; often used for spiritual birth. τίκτω (tiktō, G5088) — Also means to bear or bring forth a child; used literally and metaphorically, sometimes interchangeably with ἀποκυέω.

Word Details

Scripture References