ἔκγονος

descended, a descendant

Definition

The adjective ἔκγονος (ekgonos) literally means 'born from' or 'descended from,' describing someone who is a direct offspring or descendant. In its only New Testament occurrence in 1 Timothy 5:4, it functions as a substantive (a noun) to refer specifically to 'descendants' or 'children/grandchildren.' The context emphasizes the familial obligation of these descendants to provide for their own household, particularly their widowed mother or grandmother. The word carries a sense of direct lineage and the responsibilities that naturally flow from that biological and social connection.

Biblical Usage

ἔκγονος is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 5:4. Here, it is used in a very practical, ethical context concerning family duties. The Apostle Paul instructs that if a widow has children or grandchildren (ἔκγονα), these descendants should learn to show godliness first in their own household by repaying their parents. The usage is entirely familial and focuses on the obligations of the younger generation toward the older, setting a principle for the church's care for widows.

Etymology

The word is a compound adjective formed from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of' or 'from,' and the root γονή (gonē), related to γίνομαι (ginomai, 'to become') and meaning 'birth,' 'offspring,' or 'generation.' Thus, its core meaning is 'born out of' or 'sprung from.' This transparent etymology directly informs its meaning of direct descent.

Semantic Range

While not a theologically dense term, ἔκγονος supports the biblical theme of honoring parents and the integrity of the family as the primary sphere for practicing godliness (Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:2). In 1 Timothy 5:4, it grounds the church's social ethics in the natural order of family responsibility. Understanding this Greek term highlights that the command to care for widows begins not with the church institution, but with the natural, God-ordained family unit, enriching our reading by clarifying the sequence of responsibility.

In the Greco-Roman world, the family (οἶκος, oikos) was the fundamental social and economic unit. Adult children had a strong cultural and often legal obligation (under Roman pietas) to care for aging parents. Paul's instruction in 1 Timothy 5:4 aligns with this widespread cultural expectation while Christianizing it, framing it as an act of 'godliness' and 'repayment' owed to one's progenitors. The term assumes this understood web of familial duty.

τέκνον (teknon, G5043) — A more general term for 'child,' focusing on the relationship rather than the fact of descent. σπέρμα (sperma, G4690) — Often 'seed' or 'offspring,' can have a collective or metaphorical sense (e.g., Abraham's seed).

Word Details

Scripture References