Greek word · G1064

γαστήρ

gastēr

belly

“She will have (it) in the belly.” This was the standard Greek idiom for pregnancy, used in Herodotus, the Hippocratic medical writers, the Septuagint and the New Testament (Matthew 24:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Revelation 12:2).

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

γαστήρͅ, -τρός, ἡ,

[in LXX for בֶּטֶן, ἐν γ. ἔχειν for הרה, ἐν γ. λαμβάνειν for חרה ;]

1. the belly: metaphorically, a glutton, Titus 1:12.

2. the womb: ἐν γ. ἔχειν, to be with child, Matthew 1:18, 23" (LXX) 24:19, Mark 13:17, Luke 21:23, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 12:2; εν γ. συλλαμβ., to conceive, Luke 1:31.

† (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 1:23

Range of meaning

“She will have (it) in the belly.” This was the standard Greek idiom for pregnancy, used in Herodotus, the Hippocratic medical writers, the Septuagint and the New Testament (Matthew 24:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Revelation 12:2).

Against the English

“Be with child” (KJV, BSB, WEB) is a good match. “Conceive” (NIV, ESV, NASB, YLT) points to the moment pregnancy begins. The Greek describes being pregnant.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah's Hebrew has hārāh, an adjective meaning “pregnant,” followed by a participle, yōledet, “bearing.” Taken strictly, the Hebrew can be read as “the young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth.” The Septuagint turned it into a future: “will have in the belly.” Some Septuagint manuscripts, reportedly including Codex Vaticanus, read lēmpsetai, “will conceive.”

From the study of Matthew 1:18

Range of meaning

Literally 'having in the belly'. The standard Greek idiom for being pregnant, used from Herodotus onward and throughout the Greek Old Testament.

Against the English

'With child' (KJV, BSB, ESV, NASB), 'pregnant' (WEB, NIV, NLT). Both are accurate. YLT's 'to have conceived' is fine.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Genesis 16:4–5 (Hagar) and 38:24–25 (Tamar, reported to Judah as pregnant 'from harlotry'). Isaiah 7:14 in the Greek Old Testament: 'Behold, the virgin shall have in the belly (en gastri hexei) and bear a son', which Matthew quotes in 1:23.

From the study of Luke 1:31

Range of meaning

Belly or stomach. In idioms it means the womb, as in "to have in the belly" = to be pregnant (Matt 1:18, 23; 24:19; 1 Thess 5:3). It can also mean gluttony ("lazy bellies," Titus 1:12).

Against the English

KJV "in thy womb," YLT "in the womb," WEB "in your womb" keep the phrase. BSB and NIV leave it out as redundant in English, which is natural but loses the echo.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament uses "have in the belly" for pregnancy: Gen 16:11 (Hagar), Judg 13:5 (Samson's mother), Isa 7:14 ("the virgin will have in the belly"). Pairing "conceive" with "in the belly" is unusual Greek. It looks like Luke blending the ordinary verb with the familiar scriptural phrase.

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 1:18 γαστρὶ womb [pregnancy]

    This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

    Here: 'Belly/womb.' Together with 'having' it forms the ordinary Greek idiom for being pregnant. It is the same wording Matthew will quote from Isaiah 7:14 in 1:23.

  2. Matthew 1:23 γαστρὶ womb [pregnancy]

    “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

    Here: The belly or womb. In the phrase en gastri echein it is the ordinary Greek way of saying a woman is pregnant. It echoes 1:18, where Mary “was found to be with child” (en gastri echousa).

  3. Matthew 24:19 γαστρὶ womb [pregnancy]

    How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!

    Here: "Belly" or "womb". In this expression it is the ordinary, plain Greek way of saying a woman is carrying a child. It is neither crude nor medical.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 13:17 γαστρὶ womb [pregnancy]

    How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 1:31 γαστρὶ womb

    Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.

    Here: Literally "belly." Strictly the phrase is not needed after "conceive," but it echoes the stock biblical phrase "to have in the belly" (= to be pregnant) and makes the announcement physical and concrete.

  2. Luke 21:23 γαστρὶ womb [pregnancy]

    How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.

    Here: The belly or womb. In this standard idiom it simply means pregnancy.

1 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 γαστρὶ womb [pregnancy]

    While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

    Here: Womb. With “having” it forms the ordinary Greek idiom for being pregnant (as in Matthew 1:18).

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 1:12 γαστέρες gluttons

    As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 12:2 γαστρὶ womb

    She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.