γνήσι-ος G1103
genuine, true, legitimate; authentic in relationship or character
Derived from genos (race, kin), gnesios originally meant 'lawfully begotten' and came to denote anything authentic or unfeigned. Paul uses it to test the genuineness of the Corinthians' love (2 Cor 8:8), addresses a trusted colleague as a 'true yokefellow' (Phil 4:3), and calls Timothy and Titus his 'genuine children' in the faith (1 Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4). The word carries warmth alongside its claim of authenticity, affirming bonds that are real rather than merely formal.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Genuine, true, or legitimate, describing what is authentic in character or relationship rather than counterfeit or nominal. Paul applies it both to persons — Timothy as a 'genuine child' in faith (1 Tim 1:2), a 'true yokefellow' (Phil 4:3) — and to qualities like the genuineness of love (2 Cor 8:8). Spanish 'genuino/legítimo,' French 'légitime,' and German 'aufrichtig' all preserve the note of tested authenticity. 4×
AR["أَصالَةَ", "أَيُّها", "الصَّحيحِ", "الِابْنِ-الصَّحيحِ"]·ben["প্রকৃত", "প্রকৃততা,"]·DE["aufrichtig"]·EN["genuine", "genuineness", "true"]·FR["légitime", "γνήσιε", "γνησίῳ"]·heb["אֲמִתִּיּוּת", "בֵּן-אֲמִתִּי", "יֶלֶד-אֱמֶת", "נֶאֱמָן"]·HI["सचचे", "सच्चाई"]·ID["anak", "ketulusan", "sejati"]·IT["genuino", "gnēsie", "gnēsiō"]·jav["saestu", "sayektos", "sejàti", "tulen"]·KO["진실한", "진실함을", "진정한"]·PT["genuíno", "sinceridade", "verdadeiro"]·RU["истинному", "истинный", "подлинность"]·ES["genuino", "legítimo"]·SW["kweli-kweli", "mwana", "ukweli,"]·TR["gercek", "gerçek", "sevgisinin-"]·urd["اے-سچے", "سچے", "کھری"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
γνήσι-ος, α, ον, (γένος) belonging to the race, i. e. lawfully begotten, born in wedlock, νόθον καὶ γνήσιον Refs 8th c.BC+ __2 generally, genuine, legitimate, φίλος Refs 6th c.BC+ A; γ. γυναῖκες lawful wives, opposed to παλλακίδες, Refs 5th c.BC+; γ. τῆς Ἑλλάδος true Greeks, Refs 4th c.BC+; μήτηρ τῶν ἐρωτικῶν λόγων, of Aphrodite, Refs 2nd c.AD+; γ. ἀρεταί real, unfeigned virtues, Refs 5th c.BC+;…