ἄτεκνος

childless

Definition

The adjective ἄτεκνος (ateknos) means 'childless' or 'without children.' It describes a person, typically a woman or a married couple, who has no living offspring. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively in the context of the Sadducees' hypothetical scenario about a woman who had seven husbands, all of whom died childless (Luke 20:28-30). The term emphasizes the absence of progeny, which in the ancient world carried significant social and legal implications, particularly regarding inheritance and lineage.

Biblical Usage

This word appears three times in the New Testament, all within the same passage in Luke 20:28-30. It is used by the Sadducees as they present a question to Jesus about the resurrection, constructing a story based on the levirate marriage law (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). Each usage describes a successive husband who dies 'childless,' highlighting the woman's ongoing state of being without children through multiple marriages. No other New Testament books use this term.

Etymology

ἄτεκνος is a compound adjective formed from the Greek prefix ἀ- (a-), meaning 'not' or 'without,' and the noun τέκνον (teknon, G5043), meaning 'child.' Thus, it literally translates to 'without a child.' The root τέκνον is common in Greek and appears frequently in the New Testament to refer to children, both literally and metaphorically (e.g., as 'children of God').

Semantic Range

While the word itself is descriptive, its theological significance emerges from its narrative context in Luke 20. The Sadducees use the scenario of a childless woman to challenge the concept of resurrection, attempting to show its absurdity under Mosaic law. Jesus' response redirects the discussion to the nature of the resurrection life, where marriage and procreation are transcended (Luke 20:34-36). Thus, understanding ἄτεκνος enriches the reading by highlighting the contrast between earthly concerns (like lineage and inheritance) and the transformed existence in the age to come.

In the ancient Jewish world, being childless was often viewed as a misfortune or even a divine judgment (e.g., 1 Samuel 1:5-8), as children ensured the continuation of a family line and provided economic security. The levirate marriage law (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) specifically aimed to provide an heir for a man who died childless, preserving his name and inheritance. The repeated use of 'childless' in Luke 20 underscores the cultural weight of this condition, making the Sadducees' hypothetical case seem particularly compelling and tragic to their audience.

στείρα (steira, G4723) — specifically means 'barren' or 'infertile,' often referring to a woman's physiological inability to bear children, whereas ἄτεκνος is a broader state of having no children, regardless of cause.

Word Details

Scripture References