ἔγκυος

with child, pregnant

Definition

The adjective ἔγκυος (egkyos) means 'with child' or 'pregnant.' It specifically describes a woman in the state of carrying an unborn child. In the New Testament, it is used in its literal, physical sense, with no attested figurative or extended meanings. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Luke 2:5, where it describes Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, traveling with Joseph to Bethlehem.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:5). It appears in the historical narrative of the census and Jesus's birth, functioning in a straightforward, descriptive manner to clarify Mary's condition during the journey. There are no patterns of special rhetorical or theological usage beyond this literal context.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek preposition ἐν (en, 'in') and κῦμα (kyma, 'swelling' or 'wave'), the word literally conveys the sense of having a 'swelling within.' It is a straightforward compound adjective formed to describe pregnancy.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a common biological term, its single biblical use is theologically significant. In Luke 2:5, it directly identifies Mary as the pregnant mother of the incarnate Son of God. This underscores the historical reality and humanity of Jesus's conception and birth, a foundational element of the Christmas narrative and the doctrine of the Incarnation.

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman and Jewish world, pregnancy and childbirth were common yet perilous events. A long journey while 'with child,' as described in Luke 2:5, would have been understood as particularly arduous and risky, highlighting Mary and Joseph's obedience and the humble circumstances of the Messiah's birth.

συλλαβοῦσα (syllabousa, G4815) — a participle meaning 'having conceived'; often used for the initial stage of pregnancy (e.g., Luke 1:24, 31).

Word Details

Scripture References