Greek word · G4269

πρόγονος

progonos

parent/ancestor

"One born before": a forebear, ancestor or progenitor. It is normally used of earlier generations, often dead ones, but it can mean living parents and grandparents. Plato uses it of living parents and grandparents (Laws 717–718, 931).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πρό-γονος, -ον

(προγίνομαι), [in LXX: Esther 4:17, Sirach 8:4, al. ;]

1. born before.

2. As subst., in pl., οἱ π., ancestors, forefathers: 2 Timothy 1:3; of living parents (so Plat.), 1 Timothy 5:4.†

(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 1 Timothy 5:4

Range of meaning

"One born before": a forebear, ancestor or progenitor. It is normally used of earlier generations, often dead ones, but it can mean living parents and grandparents. Plato uses it of living parents and grandparents (Laws 717–718, 931).

Against the English

Most English versions have "parents." That fits, but it hides the fact that the word covers more than one generation. NIV's "parents and grandparents" makes the range explicit.

Used elsewhere in the period

In 2 Timothy 1:3 it means forefathers in faith ("whom I serve, as did my forefathers"). Plato's Laws 931 compares aged parents and grandparents at home to living shrines. Honoring them is pleasing to the gods. This is a striking parallel to "acceptable before God."

From the study of 2 Timothy 1:3

Range of meaning

Πρόγονος means 'one born before': ancestor, forefather. It can mean remote ancestors (the patriarchs, earlier generations of Israel) or immediate forebears such as parents and grandparents. In 1 Tim 5:4 the plural plainly means living parents and grandparents to whom children owe a return.

Against the English

BSB, NIV and ESV render this as a comparison ('as my forefathers did'). The Greek ἀπό, 'from', points more to origin and continuity: a worship received from them and carried on unbroken. KJV and YLT keep 'from'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in Greek writers for ancestors, especially in appeals to ancestral piety. Josephus and other Jewish writers stress loyalty to 'ancestral' customs and laws (τὰ πάτρια). Paul makes a similar appeal in Acts 22:3; 24:14 ('the God of our fathers'); 23:1; Phil 3:5.

Where it appears

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 5:4 προγόνοις· to parents;

    But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

    Here: Literally "those born before." It usually means ancestors, but here it is the living older generation: parents and grandparents, the widow included. The word is chosen to cover both levels, children and grandchildren repaying those above them.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 1:3 προγόνων [my] forefathers

    I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.

    Here: Those born before: ancestors, or more nearly parents and grandparents (the same word in 1 Tim 5:4 means living parents and grandparents). Paul is claiming continuity with his Jewish heritage. He has not switched to a different god.

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