τεκνογονέω

I bear children

Definition

τεκνογονέω means 'to bear children' or 'to bring forth children.' In its sole New Testament occurrence, it specifically refers to younger widows being encouraged to remarry, bear children, and manage their households (1 Timothy 5:14). The term encompasses the entire process of childbearing and rearing within the context of family life. It implies not just biological reproduction but also the associated domestic responsibilities and social stability that come with raising a family.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 5:14. It appears in a pastoral instruction from Paul to Timothy regarding the care and conduct of younger widows within the church. The context is practical and social, advising them to remarry, bear children, and manage their homes to avoid idleness and gossip. There is no other usage pattern, as it is a hapax legomenon (word occurring only once).

Etymology

τεκνογονέω is a compound verb from τέκνον (teknon, G5043), meaning 'child,' and the root of γίνομαι (ginomai, G1096), meaning 'to become' or 'to be born.' Literally, it means 'to become a child-bearer' or 'to produce children.' It is related to τεκνογονία (teknogonia), meaning 'childbearing.' The formation emphasizes the action of bringing children into the world and, by extension, the family life that follows.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is practical, its use in 1 Timothy 5:14 connects to broader biblical themes of God's design for family, marriage, and social order. It underscores the value of the domestic sphere as a place for godly living and witness. Understanding this Greek term highlights how the New Testament addresses specific community issues with instructions that promote dignity, productivity, and the prevention of sin, aligning with the creation mandate to 'be fruitful and multiply' (Genesis 1:28).

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, a woman's primary social role and security were often tied to marriage and childbearing. For a widow, remarriage and having children provided economic stability and social standing, preventing dependency or vulnerability. Paul's instruction reflects this cultural reality, steering younger widows toward a path that ensured their well-being and positive contribution to the community, contrasting with potential idleness that could harm the church's reputation.

τίκτω (tiktō, G5088) — emphasizes the physical act of giving birth; γεννάω (gennaō, G1080) — a broader term for begetting or fathering, often used metaphorically for spiritual birth; τεκνοτροφέω (teknotropheō, G5044) — means 'to bring up children,' focusing on rearing rather than bearing.

Word Details

Scripture References