Lexical Summary genesia: birthday celebration, festival Original Word: γενέσια Strong's Exhaustive Concordance birthday. Neuter plural of a derivative of genesis; birthday ceremonies -- birthday. see GREEK genesis NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom genesis Definition a birthday celebration NASB Translation birthday (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1077: γενέσιαγενέσια, γενεσίων, τά (cf. Winer's Grammar, 176 (166)) (from the adjective γενέσιος from γένεσις), a birthday celebration, a birth-day feast: Mark 6:21; Matthew 14:6; (Alciphron epistles 3, 18 and 55; Dio Cassius, 47, 18, etc.; ἡ γενέσιος ἡμέρα, Josephus, Antiquities 12, 4, 7). The earlier Greeks used γενέσια of funeral commemorations, a festival commemorative of a deceased friend (Latinferiaedenicales), see Lob. ad Phryn., p. 103f; (Rutherford, New Phryn., p. 184; Winers Grammar, 24 (23)). Cf. Keim, ii., p. 516 (iv. 223 English translation). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Usage in Scripture Strong’s Greek 1077 denotes a festive observance of a birth. In the New Testament it consistently refers to the celebration of a ruler’s birthday, not a casual family gathering. Both inspired references surround Herod Antipas and serve as narrative markers that frame the martyrdom of John the Baptist. Occurrences and Narrative Context • Matthew 14:6: “But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod”. The term is placed at the outset of the account in both Gospels, highlighting the contrast between the opulent revelry of Herod’s court and the sober righteousness of John. It underlines a moment when political power, sensual entertainment, and rash oath-making converge to snuff out prophetic truth. Historical and Cultural Background Royal birthdays were major public events in the Greco-Roman world, often featuring elaborate feasts, music, dancing, and public demonstrations of the monarch’s generosity—or cruelty. Celebrations could last several days, with prisoners pardoned or executed, taxes remitted, and spectacles staged for the masses. Josephus (Antiquities 19.123) records similar banquets under Herod’s descendants, confirming that such festivities were entrenched in Herodian culture. Though the word is Greek, the practice aligns with broader Near-Eastern customs where a king’s birth or accession was treated as a civic holiday. Relationship to Old Testament Portraits Genesis 40:20 describes Pharaoh’s birthday feast in which one servant is restored and another executed, an eerie precursor to Herod’s party that ends with the beheading of John. Scripture thus presents royal birthday banquets as settings where human rulers showcase power and where life or death can hinge on their whims. These parallels sharpen the portrayal of God’s prophets as vulnerable yet fearless before earthly authority. Theological Insights 1. Contrast of Kingdoms: The king’s feast spotlights earthly pomp; John’s faithful witness embodies the coming Kingdom that is “not of this world” (John 18:36). Applications for Ministry • Courageous Preaching: Pastors and evangelists must proclaim moral truth even when confrontation with influential figures is inevitable. Interbiblical Connections The double New Testament usage of Strong’s 1077 binds Herod’s banquet to Pharaoh’s feast and anticipates later imperial persecutions in Acts (Acts 12:1-3). Together they reveal a consistent biblical motif: worldly power may celebrate itself with grandeur, but God sovereignly employs even these occasions to advance His redemptive purposes. Forms and Transliterations γενεσιοις γενεσίοις γενεσίων genesiois genesíoisLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 14:6 N-DNPGRK: γενεσίοις δὲ γενομένοις NAS: But when Herod's birthday came, KJV: when Herod's birthday was kept, INT: [the] birthday moreover having been celebrated Mark 6:21 N-DNP |
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