1085. genos
Lexical Summary
genos: Kind, race, family, offspring, nation, kindred

Original Word: γένος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: genos
Pronunciation: GEH-nos
Phonetic Spelling: (ghen'-os)
KJV: born, country(-man), diversity, generation, kind(-red), nation, offspring, stock
NASB: kind, kinds, race, birth, countrymen, family, descendant
Word Origin: [from G1096 (γίνομαι - become)]

1. kin
{abstract or concrete, literal or figurative, individual or collective}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
race, kind, nation, offspring.

From ginomai; "kin" (abstract or concrete, literal or figurative, individual or collective) -- born, country(-man), diversity, generation, kind(-red), nation, offspring, stock.

see GREEK ginomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ginomai
Definition
family, offspring
NASB Translation
birth (2), countrymen (2), descendant (1), descent (1), family (2), kind (3), kinds (3), nation (1), native (1), race (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1085: γένος

γένος, γένους, τό (ΓΑΝΩ, γίνομαι), race;

a. offspring: τίνος, Acts 17:28f (from the poet Aratus); Revelation 22:16.

b. family: Acts (Acts 4:6, see ἀρχιερεύς, 2 at the end); (others refer this to c.); .

c. stock, race: Acts 7:19; 2 Corinthians 11:26; Philippians 3:5; Galatians 1:14; 1 Peter 2:9; (Genesis 11:6; Genesis 17:14, etc. for עַם); nation (i. e. nationality or descent from a particular people): Mark 7:26; Acts 4:36; Acts 18:2, 24.

d. concrete, the aggregate of many individuals of the same nature, kind, sort, species: Matthew 13:7; Matthew 17:21 (T WH omit; Tr brackets the verse); Mark 9:29; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; 1 Corinthians 14:10. (With the same significations in Greek writings from Homer down.)

STRONGS NT 1085a: ΓερασηνόςΓερασηνός, Γερασηνου, , Gerasene, i. e. belonging to the city Gerasa (τά Γέρασα, Josephus, b. j. 3, 3, 3): Matthew 8:28 (Lachmann); Mark 5:1 (L T WH Tr text); Luke 8:26 and 37 (L Tr WH) according to very many manuscripts seen by Origen. But since Gerasa was a city situated in the southern part of Peraea (Josephus, the passage cited, cf. 4, 9, 1), or in Arabia (Origen, Works, iv. 140, De la Rue edition), that cannot be referred to here; see Γαδαρηνός, and the next word.

Topical Lexicon
Semantic Scope and Biblical Portrait

γένος gathers within one word the ideas of lineage, ethnic origin, species, and class. Scripture uses it for human ancestry (Acts 18:2), angelic or demonic kinds (Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29), fish species (Matthew 13:47), spiritual gift-categories (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; 14:10), and even the messianic pedigree of Jesus Christ (Revelation 22:16). By the Spirit’s design, the term therefore moves from biology to theology, from sociology to soteriology, binding the metanarrative of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation into a unified testimony.

Jewish and Gentile Lines in Salvation History

Luke’s writings stress hereditary identity to highlight grace that transcends it. Joseph Barnabas was “a Levite, a native of Cyprus” (Acts 4:36), and Apollos was “an Alexandrian by birth” (Acts 18:24), yet both stand shoulder-to-shoulder in gospel service with Paul, a “Hebrew of Hebrews” (Philippians 3:5). Conversely, Paul’s speech on the Areopagus unites every listener under one human stock: “We are His offspring” (Acts 17:28). Thus γένος affirms ethnic reality while demolishing ethnic pride.

Chosen Race and the New Covenant People

Peter proclaims to largely Gentile believers: “You are a chosen race (γένος ἐκλεκτόν), a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). The title Israel once carried now crowns the multinational church. Election, therefore, is no longer delimited by Abrahamic blood but defined by union with Christ. The ministry implication is profound: evangelism invites the nations not merely into a community but into a new kind of humanity (Ephesians 2:15).

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

Paul presses γένος into service for charismata: “to another various kinds of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:10) and “God has appointed in the church… various kinds of tongues” (12:28). The plural “kinds” underscores that even within one gift there is varietal richness. Speech by the Spirit resists monoculture; it flourishes in multiple linguistic strains, foreshadowing the eschatological multitude from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

The War Against Unbelief

When the disciples failed to expel a demon, Jesus explained, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29; cf. Matthew 17:21). γένος here nuances stratified opposition in the unseen realm. Different orders of darkness demand correspondingly deep dependence on God. Pastoral application: discipleship must cultivate spiritual disciplines robust enough to face each “kind” of resistance.

Missional Encounters in Acts

Acts highlights geographical and cultural migration of the gospel by repeatedly noting the origin of key figures: a Cypriot Levite (Acts 4:36), a Pontian Jew in Corinth (Acts 18:2), an Alexandrian apologist in Ephesus (Acts 18:24). Luke’s catalog of γένος underscores the centrifugal spread of the word “to the ends of the earth,” demonstrating that the Spirit redeems every stratum of society and every strand of ethnicity for Christ’s mission.

Christ, Root and Race of David

“I am the Root and the Offspring (γένος) of David” (Revelation 22:16). The resurrected Lord closes Scripture by claiming both primal source and genealogical descendant of David. γένος gathers the miracle of the incarnation—God entering a human bloodline—into a single term. Every promise to David’s house therefore reaches its ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ in Jesus.

From Fishnets to Fellowship

Matthew 13:47 pictures the kingdom as a dragnet gathering fish “of every kind.” Eschatologically, γένος foretells the culmination of global harvest: the gospel draws in every ethnic group, yet final judgment will sort the catch. The church’s present task is thus inclusive proclamation, while trusting God for ultimate separation of the righteous and the wicked.

Pastoral and Ecclesiological Implications

1. Unity without Uniformity: Because the body of Christ contains many γένη of gifts and people, leadership must honor diversity while guarding doctrinal purity.
2. Humility Concerning Heritage: Paul lists his impeccable credentials “as to the law, a Pharisee… as to righteousness, faultless” (Philippians 3:5-6), yet counts them loss. Boasting in natural stock is eclipsed by glorying in the cross.
3. Strategic Prayer: Different “kinds” of demonic opposition require sustained intercession. Disciplined prayer is not optional equipment for ministry; it is mission-critical.
4. Global Vision: The church is urged to view unreached peoples as future members of the “chosen race.” Missions is not cultural imperialism but divine adoption extended.

Summary

γένος threads through Scripture as a reminder that God created variety, permitted it to fracture through sin, redeemed it in Christ, and will consummate it in a multinational kingdom. Whether marking a Levite from Cyprus, defining gifts that speak many tongues, or naming Jesus as David’s very stock, γένος calls the church to cherish heritage, renounce pride, engage the nations, and depend upon the Spirit until every tribe confesses, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Forms and Transliterations
γενει γένει γενη γένη γενος γένος γενους γένους γενών γέρας gene genē géne génē genei génei genos génos genous génous
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 13:47 N-GNS
GRK: ἐκ παντὸς γένους συναγαγούσῃ
NAS: and gathering [fish] of every kind;
KJV: of every kind:
INT: of every kind having gathered together

Matthew 17:21 Noun-NNS
GRK: δὲ τὸ γένος οὐκ ἐκπορεύεται
KJV: Howbeit this kind goeth not
INT: however kind not goes out

Mark 7:26 N-DNS
GRK: Συροφοινίκισσα τῷ γένει καὶ ἠρώτα
NAS: of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking
KJV: a Syrophenician by nation; and
INT: Syrophoenician by the race and asked

Mark 9:29 N-NNS
GRK: Τοῦτο τὸ γένος ἐν οὐδενὶ
NAS: to them, This kind cannot
KJV: unto them, This kind can come forth
INT: This the kind by nothing

Acts 4:6 N-GNS
GRK: ἦσαν ἐκ γένους ἀρχιερατικοῦ
NAS: were of high-priestly descent.
KJV: of the kindred of the high priest,
INT: were of descent high priestly

Acts 4:36 N-DNS
GRK: Κύπριος τῷ γένει
NAS: of Cyprian birth, who was also called
KJV: a Levite, [and] of the country of Cyprus,
INT: a Cypriot at the birth

Acts 7:13 N-NNS
GRK: Φαραὼ τὸ γένος τοῦ Ἰωσήφ
NAS: and Joseph's family was disclosed
KJV: and Joseph's kindred was made known
INT: to Pharoah the family of Joseph

Acts 7:19 N-ANS
GRK: κατασοφισάμενος τὸ γένος ἡμῶν ἐκάκωσεν
NAS: It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated
KJV: with our kindred, and evil entreated
INT: having dealt treacherously with the race of us ill-treated

Acts 13:26 N-GNS
GRK: ἀδελφοί υἱοὶ γένους Ἀβραὰμ καὶ
NAS: of Abraham's family, and those
KJV: children of the stock of Abraham,
INT: brothers sons of [the] race of Abraham and

Acts 17:28 N-NNS
GRK: γὰρ καὶ γένος ἐσμέν
KJV: also his offspring.
INT: indeed also offspring we are

Acts 17:29 N-NNS
GRK: γένος οὖν ὑπάρχοντες
KJV: as we are the offspring of God,
INT: Offspring therefore being

Acts 18:2 N-DNS
GRK: Ποντικὸν τῷ γένει προσφάτως ἐληλυθότα
NAS: Aquila, a native of Pontus,
KJV: named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately
INT: of Pontus by race lately come

Acts 18:24 N-DNS
GRK: Ἀλεξανδρεὺς τῷ γένει ἀνὴρ λόγιος
NAS: an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent
KJV: Apollos, born at Alexandria,
INT: an Alexandrian by birth man an eloquent

1 Corinthians 12:10 N-NNP
GRK: πνευμάτων ἑτέρῳ γένη γλωσσῶν ἄλλῳ
NAS: to another [various] kinds of tongues,
KJV: to another [divers] kinds of tongues;
INT: of spirits and to a different one kinds of tongues to another

1 Corinthians 12:28 N-ANP
GRK: ἀντιλήμψεις κυβερνήσεις γένη γλωσσῶν
NAS: administrations, [various] kinds of tongues.
KJV: governments, diversities of tongues.
INT: helping administrating various kinds of tongues

1 Corinthians 14:10 N-NNP
GRK: εἰ τύχοι γένη φωνῶν εἰσὶν
NAS: a great many kinds of languages
KJV: it may be, so many kinds of voices in
INT: if it may be kinds of languages are

2 Corinthians 11:26 N-GNS
GRK: κινδύνοις ἐκ γένους κινδύνοις ἐξ
NAS: dangers from [my] countrymen, dangers
KJV: by [mine own] countrymen, [in] perils
INT: in perils from [my own] race in perils from

Galatians 1:14 N-DNS
GRK: ἐν τῷ γένει μου περισσοτέρως
NAS: among my countrymen, being
KJV: mine own nation, being
INT: in the countrymen of me more abundantly

Philippians 3:5 N-GNS
GRK: ὀκταήμερος ἐκ γένους Ἰσραήλ φυλῆς
NAS: the eighth day, of the nation of Israel,
KJV: day, of the stock of Israel,
INT: on [the] eighth day of [the] race of Israel of [the] tribe

1 Peter 2:9 N-NNS
GRK: ὑμεῖς δὲ γένος ἐκλεκτόν βασίλειον
NAS: But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal
KJV: [are] a chosen generation, a royal
INT: you however [are] a race chosen a royal

Revelation 22:16 N-NNS
GRK: καὶ τὸ γένος Δαυίδ ὁ
NAS: the root and the descendant of David,
KJV: and the offspring of David,
INT: and the offspring of David the

Strong's Greek 1085
21 Occurrences


γένη — 3 Occ.
γένει — 5 Occ.
γένος — 8 Occ.
γένους — 5 Occ.

1084
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