τίκτω (tiktō)
tiktō
to give birth to
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb tiktō describes the physical act of giving birth, specifically focusing on the mother’s role in bringing a child into the world. While it can technically refer to begetting, the New Testament usage consistently highlights the woman who bears the child. This distinction appears clearly in narratives like Luke 2:6–7, where Mary gives birth to Jesus, and in Revelation 12:5, which depicts a woman about to deliver a male child destined to rule.
Beyond literal childbirth, the word carries significant metaphorical weight. It illustrates how internal states produce external realities. James 1:15 uses it to show that desire gives birth to sin, and sin ultimately leads to death. Similarly, Hebrews 6:7 notes that earth yields vegetation, using the same language of natural production. This usage connects human experience with the broader created order.
The term appears eighteen times across the New Testament, with notable concentration in Luke’s Gospel and Revelation. Its presence in Matthew 1 links the prophecy of Immanuel to the actual event of birth. By grounding spiritual truths in the universal experience of childbirth, the word emphasizes tangible outcomes from hidden origins.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word tiktō anchors us in the raw reality of bringing new life into the world. In the Gospels, it describes Mary’s experience with Jesus and Elizabeth’s joy with John. These moments remind us that God often works through ordinary human experiences to accomplish extraordinary things. The physical act of birth becomes a bridge between heaven and earth, showing how divine promises take tangible shape in our history.
Beyond literal childbirth, this word helps us understand the hidden origins of our inner lives. James uses it to show how unchecked desires eventually produce actions that lead away from God. This connection between internal thoughts and external results invites us to pay attention to what is growing within us. Just as a seed requires care before it yields fruit, our hearts need vigilance to ensure we are nurturing life rather than decay.
When you face seasons of waiting or uncertainty, remember that new beginnings often follow periods of preparation. The same God who orchestrated the births in Scripture is present in your current circumstances. You can trust that He is working even when the outcome is not yet visible, bringing hope and renewal to those who wait on Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- she brought forth3×
- will bring forth1×
- to give birth1×
- to bring forth.1×
- to bring forth,1×
- she will bear1×
- she may bring forth1×
- she may be giving birth1×
- she had brought forth1×
- producing1×
- it gives birth to1×
- having been born1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔτεκεν4×
- τέξεται2×
- τεκεῖν2×
- ἔτεκεν,1×
- ἐτέχθη1×
- τίκτῃ1×
- τίκτουσα,1×
- τίκτουσα1×
- τίκτει1×
- τέξῃ1×
- τέκῃ1×
- τεχθεὶς1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 2:7
She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
This verse captures the humble reality of Jesus' birth, emphasizing that the divine entered the world through ordinary human vulnerability.
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James 1:15
Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death.
Here the word shifts from physical to spiritual, illustrating how internal desires eventually manifest as external actions with serious consequences.
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Revelation of John 12:5
She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
The passage uses birth imagery to highlight the cosmic conflict between good and evil, culminating in the victory of the Messiah.
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John 16:21
A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.
Jesus compares His disciples' sorrow to a woman's labor pains to show that temporary suffering leads to lasting joy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tiktō mean in the New Testament?
How is tiktō different from other words for 'birth'?
Why does James use this word for sin?
Every Occurrence (18 verses across 7 books)
Matthew 4 verses
She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is,…
Matthew 1:25and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
Matthew 2:2“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”