Understanding ἀρτιγέννητος (artigennētos) Strong’s G738: The Divine Mystery of Being Newborn in the Messiah’s Kingdom

Pronunciation Guide: ar-tē-GEN-nay-tos

Basic Definition

Strong’s G738: A compound adjective meaning “newborn” or “just born,” describing someone or something that has only recently come into existence or experienced birth. The word emphasizes both the recency and the completeness of the birth process, suggesting a state of absolute newness and purity.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Compound adjective
• Root Components: ἄρτι (arti) “just now” + γεννητός (gennētos) “born”
• Primary Usage: Found in teaching passages related to spiritual growth
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Literary Context: Didactic literature

ἀρτιγέννητος Morphology:

• ἀρτιγέννητος (nominative singular masculine) – newborn
• ἀρτιγέννητα (nominative/accusative plural neuter) – newborn ones
• ἀρτιγεννήτου (genitive singular) – of a newborn

Origin & History

The term ἀρτιγέννητος represents a beautiful fusion of two common Greek words. The prefix ἄρτι (arti) was widely used in classical Greek literature to indicate immediate or recent action, as seen in Plato’s “Republic” when discussing immediate consequences. The second component, γεννητός, comes from the verb γεννάω (gennaō) which appears frequently in both classical literature and the Septuagint to describe both physical and metaphorical birth.

In Hellenistic literature, similar compounds with ἄρτι were used to describe fresh or new conditions. Philo of Alexandria, the first-century Jewish philosopher, used related compounds when discussing the newness of divine creation, though he didn’t use this exact term.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A being or entity that has just experienced birth
• Someone who has newly entered into a state or condition
• One who manifests the characteristics of new life

ἀρτιγέννητος Translation Options:

• “newborn” – Emphasizes the recency of birth and captures the compound nature
• “newly born” – Highlights the temporal aspect while maintaining the birth metaphor
• “just born” – Stresses the immediacy implied by ἄρτι
• “new-born babes” (KJV) – Traditional rendering that captures the metaphorical nature

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀρτιγέννητος appears exclusively in 1 Peter 2:2, where Peter uses it metaphorically to describe believers who should desire spiritual nourishment like newborn infants crave milk. This usage creates a powerful image of spiritual hunger and growth, drawing on the universal human experience of infant development.

The metaphor connects beautifully with other New Testament passages about spiritual birth and growth:

• “As newborn infants [ἀρτιγέννητα], long for the pure spiritual milk” 1 Peter 2:2

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, the care of newborns followed specific cultural practices that would have resonated with Peter’s original audience. Newborn infants were immediately washed, rubbed with salt (for cleansing and symbolic purification), and wrapped in swaddling clothes. This cultural background adds depth to Peter’s metaphor, as spiritual newborns are also cleansed (through baptism), purified (through the blood of the Messiah), and protected (through the community of believers).

The Jewish practice of circumcision on the eighth day after birth also provides important context for understanding the concept of newness in biblical culture. Just as physical birth required specific rituals and care, so too does spiritual birth require intentional nurturing and community support.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀρτιγέννητος in 1 Peter 2:2 carries profound theological implications about the nature of spiritual rebirth and growth. It suggests that new life in the Messiah isn’t just a one-time event but the beginning of a growth process that requires proper nourishment and care.

This concept aligns perfectly with Yeshua’s (Jesus’) teaching about being “born again” in John 3:3 and emphasizes the complete transformation that occurs when someone becomes a new creation in Him. The word choice highlights both the immediacy of salvation and the ongoing nature of sanctification.

Personal Application

Just as newborn infants have an innate, intense desire for their mother’s milk, believers should cultivate an insatiable hunger for God’s Word. This natural craving isn’t something we need to manufacture – it should flow from our new nature in the Messiah.

Consider examining your spiritual appetite: Do you long for God’s Word with the same intensity as a newborn craves milk? Are you providing your spirit with the pure, unadulterated nourishment it needs to grow strong in faith?

Related Words

• νεογέννητος (neogennētos) – newly born, newly begotten (pronunciation: neh-o-GEN-nay-tos) – Emphasizes new birth but with less immediacy than ἀρτιγέννητος See G3485
• βρέφος (brephos) – infant, baby, unborn child (pronunciation: BREF-os) – Refers to very young children or unborn babies See G1025
• νήπιος (nēpios) – infant, child, minor (pronunciation: NAY-pee-os) – Describes spiritual immaturity See G3516
• παιδίον (paidion) – little child, infant (pronunciation: py-DEE-on) – Used for young children See G3813

Did you Know?

• The word ἀρτιγέννητος is so specific in its meaning that it appears only once in the entire New Testament, making it what scholars call a hapax legomenon – a word used only once in a particular text or corpus.
• In modern Greek, while this exact compound is rare, the prefix ἄρτι is still used in compounds to describe things that are fresh or new, such as ἀρτιφανής (artifanis) meaning “newly apparent” or “just visible.”
• The metaphor of spiritual milk and growth was particularly powerful in the ancient world where infant mortality was high, and the proper nourishment of newborns was crucial for survival. This reality would have made Peter’s metaphor especially poignant for his original readers.

Remember This

ἀρτιγέννητος captures the beautiful reality that in the Messiah, we are made completely new, with all the pure desires and growth potential of a newborn infant, requiring the same careful nourishment and attention for our spiritual development.