γεννητός

From the study of Matthew 11:11

Range of meaning

'Born ones of women': a Hebrew-style expression meaning a human being, a mortal, often with overtones of weakness, impurity or short life in contrast to God.

Against the English

Most versions keep 'born of women'. NLT turns it into a paraphrase about everyone who has ever lived, which keeps the scope but loses the idiom's note of mortal frailty.

Used elsewhere in the period

Job 14:1 (LXX: brotos gennētos gynaikos, 'mortal born of woman, short of days and full of trouble'); Job 15:14; 25:4; Sirach 10:18. In the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Community Rule (1QS 11:21) and the Thanksgiving Hymns use 'born of a woman' for frail humanity before God. Paul's 'born of a woman' (Gal 4:4) means fully human.

From the study of Luke 7:28

Range of meaning

Literally 'ones born of women'. A fixed Hebrew-style phrase (Hebrew yelud ishshah) for human beings as mortals, often with a note of weakness and impermanence. It does not single out a group. It sums up the whole human race.

Against the English

Most English versions keep 'born of women', which is accurate but can sound odd or poetic today. The NLT turns it into 'of all who have ever lived', which gets the scope right but loses the old echo of human frailty.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Job 14:1: 'a mortal born of woman (gennētos gunaikos) is few of days and full of wrath'; also Job 15:14 and 25:4 ('how can one born of woman be pure?'). Sirach 10:18 uses 'offspring of women'. The Dead Sea Scrolls use the Hebrew phrase for frail humanity before God (Community Rule 1QS 11.21; Thanksgiving Hymns). Paul's 'born of a woman' (Gal 4:4) stresses real humanity.