Strong's Lexicon prototokos: Firstborn Original Word: πρωτότοκος Word Origin: From πρῶτος (protos, meaning "first") and τίκτω (tikto, meaning "to bear" or "to bring forth") Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H1060 (בְּכוֹר, bekor): Firstborn - H1069 (בָּכַר, bakar): To bear early fruit, to give the right of the firstborn Usage: The term "prototokos" is used in the New Testament to denote the firstborn child in a family, emphasizing preeminence and priority in both birth order and status. In a theological context, it is often used to describe Jesus Christ, highlighting His supremacy and unique position in creation and redemption. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures, the firstborn son held a place of special honor and responsibility. He was often the primary heir and held a leadership role within the family. This cultural understanding is reflected in the biblical use of "prototokos," where it signifies not only chronological birth order but also a position of authority and privilege. HELPS Word-studies 4416 prōtótokos (from 4413 /prṓtos, "first, pre-eminent" and 5088 /tíktō, "bring forth") – properly, first in time (Mt 1:25; Lk 2:7); hence, pre-eminent (Col 1:15; Rev 1:5). 4416 /prōtótokos ("firstly") specifically refers to Christ as the first to experience glorification, i.e. at His resurrection (see Heb 12:23; Rev 1:5). For this (and countless other reasons) Jesus is "preeminent" (4416 /prōtótokos) – the unequivocal Sovereign over all creation (Col 1:16). [4416 (prōtótokos) refers to "the first among others (who follow)" – as with the preeminent, glorified Christ, the eternal Logos who possesses self-existent life (Jn 5:26).] Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4416: πρωτότοκοςπρωτότοκος, πρωτότοκον (πρῶτος, τίκτω), the Sept. for בְּכור, firstborn; a. properly: τόν υἱόν αὐτῆς τόν πρωτότοκον, Matthew 1:25 (where τόν πρωτότοκον is omitted by L T Tr WH but found in the Sinaiticus manuscript. (see Tdf., WH., at the passage)); Luke 2:7; τά πρωτότοκα αὐτῶν (genitive of the possessor ((?); αὐτῶν is more naturally taken with θίγῃ (Winer's Grammar, § 30, 8 c.), as by Prof. Grimm himself under the word θιγγάνω)), the firstborn whether of than or of beast, Hebrews 11:28 (πᾶν πρωτότοκον ... ἀπό ἀνθρώπου ἕως κτήνους, Exodus 12:29; Psalm 104:36 b. tropically Christ is called πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως (partitive genitive (see below), as in τά πρωτότοκα τῶν προβάτων, Genesis 4:4; τῶν βοῶν, Deuteronomy 12:17; τῶν υἱῶν σου, Exodus 22:29), who came into being through God prior to the entire universe of created things (R. V. the firstborn of all creation) (see κτίσις, 2 b.), Colossians 1:15; — this passage does not with certainty prove that Paul reckoned the λόγος in the number of created beings (as, among others, Usteri, Paulin. Lehrbegriff., p. 315, and Baur, Das Christenthum der drei ersten Jahrhh. 1st edition, p. 295, hold); since even Origen, who is acknowledged to have maintained the eternal generation of the Son by the Father, did not hesitate to call him (cf. Gieseler, Kirch.-Gesch. i., p. 261f edition 3; (i. 216 English translation, of edition 4, edited by Smith)) τόν ἀγενητον καί πάσης γενετῆς φύσεως πρωτότοκον (c. Celsus 6, 17), and even κτίσμα (a term which Clement of Alexandria also uses of the λόγος); cf. Joan. Damascen. orthod. fid. 4, 8 καί αὐτός ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ καί ἡ κτίσις ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ; (others would make the genitive in Colossians, the passage cited depend upon the comparitive force in (the first half of) πρωτότοκος (cf. πρωτότοκος ἐγώ ἤ σύ, 2 Samuel 19:43); but see Lightfoot at the passage (especially for the patristic interpretation)). In the same sense, apparently, he is called simply ὁ πρωτότοκος, Hebrews 1:6; πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, the first of the dead who was raised to life, Colossians 1:18; also τῶν νεκρῶν (partitive genitive), Revelation 1:5 (Rec. inserts ἐκ); πρωτότοκος ἐν πολλοῖς ἀδελφοῖς, who was the Son of God long before those who by his agency and merits are exalted to the nature and dignity of sons of God, with the added suggestion of the supreme rank by which he excels these other sons (cf. Psalm 88:28 STRONGS NT 4416a: πρώτωςπρώτως, adverb, first: Acts 11:26 T Tr WH. Cf. Passow, under the word πρότερος at the end; (Liddell and Scott, ibid. B. IV.; Phryn. ed. Lob., p. 311f; Rntherford, New Phryn., p. 366). From protos and the alternate of tikto; first-born (usually as noun, literally or figuratively) -- firstbegotten(-born). see GREEK protos see GREEK tikto Englishman's Concordance Luke 2:7 Adj-AMSGRK: αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν NAS: And she gave birth to her firstborn son; KJV: her firstborn son, INT: of her the first-born and wrapped in swaddling clothes Romans 8:29 Adj-AMS Colossians 1:15 Adj-NMS Colossians 1:18 Adj-NMS Hebrews 1:6 Adj-AMS Hebrews 11:28 Adj-ANP Hebrews 12:23 Adj-GMP Revelation 1:5 Adj-NMS Strong's Greek 4416 |
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