γέρων (gerōn)
gerōn
an old man
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun gerōn refers simply to an elderly man, specifically one who has reached a significant age. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in John 3:4, where it serves as the subject of a question from Nicodemus.
Its usage here highlights the physical reality of aging rather than spiritual status. Nicodemus asks how someone can enter a mother's womb a second time, implying that gerōn denotes a person advanced in years, distinct from a mere youth or young adult.
The term is straightforward and lacks complex theological nuance. It functions as a basic descriptor for an old man, emphasizing the natural progression of life stages without adding metaphorical weight beyond its literal meaning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word gerōn simply describes an elderly man, one who has lived many years. In John 3:4, Nicodemus uses it to express his confusion about Jesus’ teaching on being born again. He asks how a person can enter their mother’s womb a second time, highlighting the physical limits of age.
This word reminds us that spiritual renewal is not bound by our physical stage in life. Whether you feel young or old, the invitation to new life remains open. Aging does not close the door to transformation; it often deepens our need for it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- old1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- γέρων1×
Key Verses
-
John 3:4
Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Nicodemus uses gerōn to emphasize the physical impossibility he perceives in Jesus' statement, anchoring his question in the reality of advanced age.