Begotten

Beget - Definition

Begat is a past tense of the verb to beget.  In biblical genealogies, as Matthew 1, begat shows not only the generation, but also the line of succession, the heir, through the male line.  To Beget not only includes physical procreation, it may also indicate a spiritual or non-physical generation, as in an appointment, or selection (to be an equal or to be an heir).

And, using begat (simple past tense), or begotten (past participle), reveals the establishment of an heir, or an equal, in the past. Christ Jesus is known to be the only begotten Son (of God) – the use of begotten indicates he was heir and equal to God.  This is confirmed by cross references, for example:

  “…in Christ Jesus…thought it not robbery to be equal with God…” - Phil. 2:5,6.

And we, as believers, are begotten! – I Peter 1:3.  This indicates we are not only God’s children, but we are also heirs with Christ (the first begotten).  Thus, Romans 8:17:  “And if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ….”

Let’s look a little closer into Begotten:

A participle is a verb form acting as an adjective (to modify nouns) or to create complex verb tenses (with auxiliary verbs).  - Grammarly

Participle - As an Adjective

Begotten is a participle (a form of the verb “to beget”).  Begotten is technically a past participle: ppl in most dictionaries.

Biblically, begotten is often used with only, to form an adjective – describing a noun.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” - John 3:16.

Here, in popular John 3:16, only begotten is describing the relative status of the Son to God: the Son is the heir, an equal to God.  (At that point, he was indeed the only heir.)

Strange (!), some of the modern versions drop ‘begotten’ and thereby lose this vital description of the Son.  Furthermore, by dropping ‘begotten,’ they consequently drop the equality of the Son to the Father – thereby denying the deity of Jesus Christ.

“…he that received the promises offered up his only begotten son…”- Hebrews 11:17.

Abraham famously had more than one son; however, only one was the heir, the child of promise, the seed (Hebrews 11:18; Romans 9:7).  By using this description, the Bible reveals the unique relationship of the son to the father, and consequently the great faith exercised by the father.   This also precisely foretells the sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God.

Perfect Tenses

Begotten, when coupled with an auxiliary verb (such as have, had, has, hath, hast), can form complex verb tenses - known as the perfect tenses.

“…which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope…” - 1 Peter 1:3.

Here, hath begotten forms the present perfect tense - an action that started in the past and is still active at the time of the writing.  This makes sense for the context is an inheritance (heirs – beget) established, but received in the future.

Adjective - As a Noun

Sometimes, the participle acts like an adjective, which in turn acts like a noun!  Crazy!  (Nobody ever said English grammar was easy!)  Typically, we can identify this case by noticing ‘the’ before the adjective.  To use an extra-biblical example:

‘The new taxes will fall on the rich.’

Although the word rich is typically an adjective, describing people, here the rich is a group of people, a noun.

“And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world…” - Hebrews 1:6.

Again, the firstbegotten acts like a noun: it refers directly to the Son, not merely describing him.

Begotten

What a fantastic piece of grammar!   What seems like an archaic word, and often deleted in modern versions, is actually a clear and obvious descriptor: revealing the heir, the equal!   So, in this case or situation, procreate, generate, and bare, simply won’t do!

Now, let’s see its use, in a larger context (Hebrews 1:2-7), revealing the deity of Christ (via numbered notes):

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir (1) of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained (2) a more excellent name than they.

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? (3) And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world,(4) he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits,(5) and his ministers a flame of fire.

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¹ hath appointed heir - That’s the definition of begotten!  (present perfect tense.)

² by inheritance obtained - Again, this action goes to the begotten.

³ have I begotten thee - (present perfect tense) - Now, begotten, previously defined, is used.

⁴ bringeth in the firstbegotten - Beget has come full circle: its modification (firstbegotten) is used as a noun.

⁵ maketh his angels spirits - make, not beget is used, for angels are neither heirs nor equals.