πρωτοτόκ-ος G4416
Firstborn: the first child born, or figuratively, one holding supreme rank and preeminence.
Prototokos carries both a literal birth-order sense and a powerful metaphorical extension into divine preeminence. Luke 2:7 uses it plainly of Mary's first child, while Paul in Colossians 1:15 and 1:18 elevates it to a cosmic title — Christ as 'firstborn of all creation' and 'firstborn from the dead.' Hebrews 1:6 and 12:23 extend the concept further: the Son introduced into the world, and the 'assembly of the firstborn' enrolled in heaven. Romans 8:29 places believers in relation to this title, predestined to be conformed to the image of God's Son so that he might be 'firstborn among many brothers.'
Senses
1. firstborn (literal or figurative preeminence) — The first child born in a family, extended metaphorically to denote supreme priority, sovereignty, and preeminence. The literal sense appears at Luke 2:7 (Mary's firstborn son), while the Christological uses dominate: Col 1:15 'firstborn of all creation' asserts priority over the created order, and Col 1:18 'firstborn from the dead' claims primacy in resurrection. Spanish 'primogenito,' French 'premier-ne,' and German 'Erstgeborener' all preserve the birth-order metaphor. Hebrews 12:23 pluralizes the concept for the community of believers — 'the assembly of firstborn ones' registered in heaven — showing how Christ's unique status becomes a shared inheritance. 8×
AR["أَبْكَار","البِكْرَ","الْبِكْرَ","بِكرُ","بِكْرًا","بِكْرُ"]·ben["প্রথমজাত","প্রথমজাতকে","প্রথমজাতদের"]·DE["Erstgeborener","πρωτότοκον"]·EN["firstborn","of-firstborn"]·FR["premier-né"]·heb["בְּכוֹר","בְּכוֹרוֹת"]·HI["पहलौठा","पहलौठों","पहिलौठे","पहिलौठे-को","पहिलौठों-की","पेहलौत"]·ID["anak-anak-sulung,","sulung"]·IT["primogenito","prototokon"]·jav["Pambarep","pambarep,","pembarep","pembarièngan","pembikak","pembikak-saking-tiyang-pejah"]·KO["맏아들","맨처음-내","장자들-의","처음-나신-이를","처음-난-이들을","처음-난-자"]·PT["Primogênito","de-primogênitos","primogênito","primogênitos"]·RU["Первенец","Первенца","Первородного","братьев","первенцев","первородный"]·ES["de-primogénitos","primogénito","primogénitos"]·SW["la-wazaliwa-wa-kwanza","mzaliwa-wa-kwanza","wazaliwa-wa-kwanza"]·TR["ilk-dogani","ilk-doğan","ilk-doğanların","ilk-doğanlarına","ilk-doğanı"]·urd["پہلوٹھا","پہلوٹھوں-کو","پہلوٹھوں-کی","پہلوٹھے"]
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
πρωτοτόκ-ος (paroxytone), Doric dialect πρᾱτοτόκος, ον, bearing or having borne her first-born, μήτηρ π., of a heifer, Refs 8th c.BC+; ὗς, ταὧς, Refs 4th c.BC+; of women, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II proparoxytone πρωτότοκος, ον, passive,first-born, LXX+NT+4th c.AD+; π. ἐγὼ ἢ σύ LXX __II.2 metaphorically, π. πάσης κτίσεως NT; of Homer, opposed to Nicander, Refs