greek:1096
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γίνομαι
Meaning
- To Become
- To Come into being
- Generate
- To Happen
- Brought to pass
Verb.
Different from εἰμί (which means “to be” - a state of existence); γίνομαι, instead, emphasizes coming to be - a transition or event.
Biblical Examples and Theological Significance
Incarnation
- Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο — “And the Word became flesh.” (John 1:14plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigJohn 1:14
Greek καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. ESV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. NIV The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.…) - Here γίνομαι expresses the profound truth of divine becoming: the eternal Word entered creation
Creation and Existence
- πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο — “All things came into being through Him.” (John 1:3plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigJohn 1:3
Greek πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν ὃ γέγονεν ESV All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. NIV Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. NLT God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.) - It conveys creation ex nihilo - everything came into existence through the Logos.
Historical Events (“it came to pass”)
- Frequently used in narrative openings (especially in Luke and Acts) to mark events unfolding in history.
Transformation and Calling
- γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου — “Let your will be done.” (Matthew 6:10plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMatthew 6:10
Greek ἐλθάτω ἡ βασιλεία σου, γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς. ESV Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. NIV your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. NLT May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.) - Used in prayers and divine actions expressing God’s will being brought into effect.
Comparison with similar verbs
| Verb | Meaning | Key Distinction |
| εἰμί | to be (stative existence) | describes state, not change |
| γίνομαι | to become (dynamic process) | emphasizes transition, result |
| ποιέω | to make, do | focuses on producing something, not on becoming |
Grammatical forms
Present Indicative Middle (Active in Meaning)
| Person and Number | Greek Form | English Translation |
| 1st person singular | γίνομαι | I become / I am becoming |
| 2nd person singular | γίνῃ | You become / You are becoming |
| 3rd person singular | γίνεται | He / she / it becomes |
| 1st person plural | γινόμεθα | We become |
| 2nd person plural | γίνεσθε | You (plural) become |
| 3rd person plural | γίνονται | They become |
Future Indicative Middle (Active in Meaning)
| Person and Number | Greek Form | English Translation |
| 1st person singular | γενήσομαι | I will become |
| 2nd person singular | γενήσῃ | You will become |
| 3rd person singular | γενήσεται | He / she / it will become |
| 1st person plural | γενησόμεθα | We will become |
| 2nd person plural | γενήσεσθε | You (plural) will become |
| 3rd person plural | γενήσονται | They will become |
Aorist Indicative Middle (Active in Meaning)
| Person and Number | Greek Form | English Translation |
| 1st person singular | ἐγενόμην | I became |
| 2nd person singular | ἐγένου | You became |
| 3rd person singular | ἐγένετο | He / she / it became |
| 1st person plural | ἐγενόμεθα | We became |
| 2nd person plural | ἐγένεσθε | You (plural) became |
| 3rd person plural | ἐγένοντο | They became |
Perfect Indicative Active
| Person and Number | Greek Form | English Translation |
| 1st person singular | γέγονα | I have become |
| 2nd person singular | γέγονας | You have become |
| 3rd person singular | γέγονεν | He / she / it has become |
| 1st person plural | γεγόναμεν | We have become |
| 2nd person plural | γεγόνᾱτε | You (plural) have become |
| 3rd person plural | γεγόνασι(ν) | They have become |
Pluperfect Indicative Active
| Person and Number | Greek Form | English Translation |
| 1st person singular | ἐγεγόνειν | I had become |
| 2nd person singular | ἐγεγόνεις | You had become |
| 3rd person singular | ἐγεγόνει | He / she / it had become |
| 1st person plural | ἐγεγόνειμεν | We had become |
| 2nd person plural | ἐγεγόνειτε | You (plural) had become |
| 3rd person plural | ἐγεγόνεισαν | They had become |
Present Subjunctive Middle (Active in Meaning)
| Person and Number | Greek Form | English Translation |
| 1st person singular | γίνωμαι | that I may become |
| 2nd person singular | γίνῃ | that you may become |
| 3rd person singular | γίνηται | that he / she / it may become |
| 1st person plural | γινώμεθα | that we may become |
| 2nd person plural | γίνεσθε | that you (plural) may become |
| 3rd person plural | γίνωνται | that they may become |
Aorist Subjunctive Middle (Active in Meaning)
| Person and Number | Greek Form | English Translation |
| 1st person singular | γένωμαι | that I may become |
| 2nd person singular | γένῃ | that you may become |
| 3rd person singular | γένηται | that he / she / it may become |
| 1st person plural | γενώμεθα | that we may become |
| 2nd person plural | γένησθε | that you (plural) may become |
| 3rd person plural | γένωνται | that they may become |
Present Imperative Middle (Active in Meaning)
| Person and Number | Greek Form | English Translation |
| 2nd person singular | γίνου | become! / be becoming! |
| 3rd person singular | γινέσθω | let him / her / it become! |
| 2nd person plural | γίνεσθε | become! (you plural) |
| 3rd person plural | γινέσθωσαν | let them become! |
Aorist Imperative Middle (Active in Meaning)
| Person and Number | Greek Form | English Translation |
| 2nd person singular | γένοῦ | become! / come to be! |
| 3rd person singular | γενέσθω | let him / her / it become! |
| 2nd person plural | γένεσθε | become! (you plural) |
| 3rd person plural | γενέσθωσαν | let them become! |
greek/1096.1761633144.txt.gz · Last modified: by graham