Understanding γέννημα (gennēma) Strong’s G1081: The Fruit of One’s Origin and the Offspring of Character

Pronunciation Guide: gen-NAY-mah

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1081: γέννημα (gennēma) refers to that which has been born or produced, the fruit or offspring of something. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts describing both literal produce (as in fruit of the vine) and metaphorically to describe people as the product or offspring of their spiritual heritage. The term carries connotations of revealing one’s true nature or character through what one produces or manifests.

Etymology and Morphology

• Neuter noun derived from the verb γεννάω (gennaō, G1080) meaning “to beget, give birth to”
• Related to the noun γένος (genos, G1085) meaning “family, offspring, race, kind”
• Hebrew equivalent in the Septuagint: פְּרִי (peri) meaning “fruit”
• Primarily appears in teaching passages and narrative sections
• Often used in contexts of spiritual evaluation or judgment

γέννημα Morphology:

• γέννημα (nominative singular) – fruit, offspring
• γεννήματος (genitive singular) – of fruit/offspring
• γεννήματι (dative singular) – to/with fruit/offspring
• γέννημα (accusative singular) – fruit, offspring (direct object)
• γεννήματα (nominative/accusative plural) – fruits, offspring
• γεννημάτων (genitive plural) – of fruits/offspring

Origin & History

The Greek term γέννημα has its roots in classical Greek literature where it was used to denote anything that is produced or brought forth. In works such as Euripides’ plays, the term referred to children or offspring in a literal sense. Its semantic range gradually expanded to include agricultural produce and metaphorical offspring.

In the Septuagint (LXX), γέννημα frequently translates the Hebrew פְּרִי (peri, “fruit”) in agricultural contexts. For example, in Deuteronomy 28:4, it refers to “the fruit of your ground” as part of the blessings for obedience. This agricultural usage carried forward into the New Testament period while maintaining its metaphorical applications. The early Church Fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria in his “Paedagogus,” employed the term when discussing spiritual lineage and the fruits produced by true faith versus false teachings.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• The produce or fruit that comes from plants or trees
• The offspring or progeny of humans or animals
• The product or result that comes from a particular source
• The manifestation of one’s inner character or nature
• The outcome or consequence of actions or behaviors

γέννημα Translation Options:

• Fruit – Particularly appropriate in agricultural contexts (Matthew 26:29) where the emphasis is on natural produce
• Offspring – Fitting when describing people as products of their spiritual lineage (Matthew 3:7)
• Brood – A stronger translation choice when the context implies negative characteristics being passed down (Luke 3:7)
• Produce – Useful in contexts where the emphasis is on what is generated or yielded
• Generation – Appropriate when highlighting the connection between producers and what they produce

Biblical Usage

The term γέννημα appears 8 times in the New Testament, with significant concentration in the Synoptic Gospels. Its first appearance is in Matthew 3:7, where John the Baptist addresses the Pharisees and Sadducees as “brood of vipers.” This metaphorical usage employs γέννημα to describe these religious leaders as spiritual offspring who inherit and manifest the character of their symbolic parent—the serpent, echoing imagery from Genesis 3.

In contrast, γέννημα also appears in a neutral or positive sense in references to agricultural produce, particularly in the Last Supper narratives where Yeshua speaks of the “fruit of the vine.” This dual usage illustrates the term’s versatility in describing both literal products and metaphorical offspring, always with the underlying concept that the nature of the source determines the character of what is produced.

• “You brood [γέννημα] of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matthew 3:7
• “You brood [γέννημα] of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34
• “You serpents, you brood [γέννημα] of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to Gehenna?” Matthew 23:33
• “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit [γέννημα] of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Matthew 26:29
• “He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood [γέννημα] of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?'” Luke 3:7
• “For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit [γέννημα] of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Luke 22:18
• “And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.'” Luke 22:20

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish thought, the metaphor of “offspring” or “fruit” carried profound implications about one’s heritage and spiritual identity. The expression “brood of vipers” (γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν) that John the Baptist and later Yeshua used would have been particularly shocking to the religious leaders of the day. Vipers in Near Eastern culture were known for their deadly venom and were believed to eat their way out of their mother’s womb, killing her in the process—a powerful image of destructive offspring.

This imagery also connects to the serpent in the Garden of Eden narrative. When John and Yeshua called the religious leaders a “brood of vipers,” they were effectively saying these leaders were spiritual children of the nachash (serpent) rather than children of Abraham as they claimed. This accusation struck at the very core of their religious identity and self-understanding. The Jews of the Second Temple period placed immense importance on being children of Abraham, so to be identified instead as children of the serpent was the ultimate rebuke of their spiritual condition.

Theological Significance

The dual usage of γέννημα in the New Testament—describing both corrupt religious leaders and the pure “fruit of the vine” used by Yeshua to represent His blood—presents a profound theological contrast. This juxtaposition highlights a key principle in biblical theology: what we produce reveals what we truly are. The corrupt religious system produced “offspring” that reflected its poisonous spiritual lineage, while the Messiah’s sacrifice produced the “fruit” of redemption and new life.

The term carries important implications for spiritual discernment as well. When Yeshua taught “by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20), He was establishing the principle that true nature is revealed through what is produced—whether in character, words, or actions. This concept of γέννημα stands as a reminder that Yahweh looks beyond external appearances to the true “fruit” of one’s life, evaluating not just religious performance but the genuine offspring of the heart.

In the Last Supper narratives, γέννημα takes on redemptive significance. The “fruit of the vine” becomes the symbol of Messiah’s blood shed for the new covenant. This transforms the concept from one of judgment to one of grace—where through faith in Messiah, we can be born anew as children of God rather than remaining offspring of the fallen nature.

Personal Application

Each of us bears “fruit” that reveals our true spiritual lineage. The challenging question we must ask ourselves is: “What kind of γέννημα am I producing in my daily life?” Are we manifesting the traits of our old nature—pride, selfishness, judgment—or are we producing the fruit of the Spirit through our connection to the true vine, Yeshua?

This word invites us to examine not just our actions but their source. The solution to producing good fruit isn’t merely behavior modification but transformation at the level of our spiritual DNA through intimate relationship with the Messiah. As we abide in Him, our γέννημα naturally changes to reflect His character. When we find ourselves producing “viper-like” fruit in our interactions with others, it serves as a warning sign that we may have disconnected from the true vine and need to return to our source of spiritual nourishment.

Related Words

• καρπός (karpos, pronounced kar-POS) – fruit, product, result; often used for literal fruit and metaphorical results of actions or character. While γέννημα emphasizes origin or parentage, καρπός focuses more on the end result or harvest. See G2590
• σπέρμα (sperma, pronounced SPER-ma) – seed, offspring, descendant; emphasizes the beginning point of reproduction or lineage, whereas γέννημα emphasizes what has already been produced. See G4690
• τέκνον (teknon, pronounced TEK-non) – child, descendant; focuses on the relationship between parent and child, while γέννημα emphasizes the characteristics that are passed down. See G5043
• βλαστός (blastos, pronounced blas-TOS) – sprout, shoot; refers specifically to new growth emerging from a plant, whereas γέννημα can refer to the fully developed fruit or offspring. See G985
• γενεά (genea, pronounced gen-eh-AH) – generation, age, family; refers to all those born at the same time or the time period itself, while γέννημα focuses on the specific offspring or product. See G1074

Did you Know?

• In ancient Jewish thought, calling someone a “brood of vipers” was not merely an insult but a profound theological statement about their spiritual lineage. The rabbinical literature of the period often used animal metaphors to describe spiritual conditions—with serpents consistently representing deception and evil influence dating back to the Garden of Eden narrative.
• The same word γέννημα that John the Baptist used to condemn the religious leaders was used by Yeshua to describe the element representing His blood in the Last Supper. This dramatic contrast shows how the same concept of “what is produced” can represent either judgment or salvation depending on its source.
• Modern Greek still uses derivatives of γέννημα in everyday speech. The term «γέννημα-θρέμμα» (gennima-thremma) is a common expression meaning “born and raised,” used to describe someone who is authentically from a specific place. This reflects the ancient understanding that one’s origins profoundly shape one’s identity.

Remember This

γέννημα reminds us that what we produce—whether words, actions, or attitudes—inevitably reveals our true spiritual parentage and the condition of our hearts.