Tag Archives: meaning of gennao

The Greek word “gennao”

Found 97 times in the New Testament, the Greek verb “gennao” meant “produce,” “beget,” “give birth to.” Matthew used this term several times in his genealogy (Mt. 1:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20). In fact, 40 of the 97 places this term occurs in the New Testament are found in Mt. 1:2-16.

This verb is also found in Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, First Corinthians, Galatians, Second Timothy, Philemon, Hebrews, Second Peter, and First John. In some places this verb describes a literal birth and other passages such as Jn. 3:3, 5 use this term figuratively (i.e. there is also a “spiritual birth”). Have you been born anew?