en_tw/bible/kt/children.md

children, child, offspring

Definition:

The term “child” (plural “children”) refers to the offspring of a man and woman. The term is often used more generally to refer to anyone who is young in age and is not yet a fully grown adult. The term “offspring” is a general reference to the biological descendants of people or animals.

• In the Bible, disciples or followers are sometimes called “children.”

• Often the term “children” is used to refer to a person’s descendants.

• Often in the Bible, “offspring” has the same meaning as “children” or “descendants.”

• The term “seed” is sometimes used figuratively to refer to offspring.

• The phrase “children of” can refer to being characterized by something. Some examples of this would be:

  • children of the light
  • children of obedience
  • children of the devil

• This term can also refer to the Church. For example, sometimes the New Testament refers to people who believe in Jesus as “children of God.”

Translation Suggestions:

• The term “children” could be translated as “descendants” when it is referring to a person’s great-grandchildren or great-great-grandchildren, etc.
• Depending on the context, “children of” could be translated as “people who have the characteristics of” or “people who behave like.”
• If possible, the phrase, “children of God” should be translated literally since an important biblical theme is that God is our heavenly Father. A possible translation alternate would be, “people who belong to God” or “God’s spiritual children.”
• When Jesus calls his disciples “children,” this could also be translated as “dear friends” or “my beloved disciples.”
• When Paul and John refer to believers in Jesus as “children,” this could also be translated as “dear fellow believers.”
• The phrase, “children of the promise” could be translated as “people who have received what God promised them.”

(See also: descendant, seed, promise, son, spirit, believe, beloved)

Bible References:

• 1 John 2:28
• 3 John 1:4
• Galatians 4:19
• Genesis 45:11
• Joshua 8:34-35
• Nehemiah 5:5
• Acts 17:29
• Exodus 13:11-13
• Genesis 24:7
• Isaiah 41:8-9
• Job 5:25
• Luke 3:7
• Matthew 12:34

Word Data:

• Strong’s: H1069, H1121, H1123, H1129, H1323, H1397, H1580, H2029, H2030, H2056, H2138, H2145, H2233, H2945, H3173, H3205, H3206, H3208, H3211, H3243, H3490, H4392, H5209, H5271, H5288, H5290, H5759, H5764, H5768, H5953, H6185, H6363, H6529, H6631, H7908, H7909, H7921, G730, G815, G1025, G1064, G1081, G1085, G1471, G3439, G3515, G3516, G3808, G3812, G3813, G3816, G5040, G5041, G5042, G5043, G5044, G5206, G5207, G5388