2020-02-20 19:02:41 +00:00
# children, child, offspring
2016-09-25 21:47:45 +00:00
2019-06-18 18:57:27 +00:00
## Definition:
2016-09-25 21:47:45 +00:00
2020-11-02 23:27:52 +00:00
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.
2016-09-25 21:47:45 +00:00
2019-06-13 19:26:17 +00:00
* In the Bible, disciples or followers are sometimes called “children.”
* Often the term “children” is used to refer to a person’ s descendants.
2020-02-20 19:02:41 +00:00
* Often in the Bible, “offspring” has the same meaning as “children” or “descendants.”
* The term “seed” is sometimes used figuratively to refer to offspring.
2019-06-13 19:26:17 +00:00
* The phrase “children of” can refer to being characterized by something. Some examples of this would be:
2017-11-29 19:22:07 +00:00
2020-11-02 23:27:52 +00:00
* children of the light
* children of obedience
* children of the devil
2017-11-29 19:22:07 +00:00
2020-11-02 23:27:52 +00:00
* 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.”
2016-09-25 21:47:45 +00:00
2019-06-18 18:57:27 +00:00
## Translation Suggestions:
2016-09-25 21:47:45 +00:00
2019-06-13 19:26:17 +00:00
* The term “children” could be translated as “descendants” when it is referring to a person’ s great-grandchildren or great-great-grandchildren, etc.
2020-12-20 23:06:30 +00:00
* Depending on the context, “children of” could be translated as “people who have the characteristics of” or “people who behave like.”
2019-06-13 19:26:17 +00:00
* 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.”
2020-12-20 23:06:30 +00:00
* When Jesus calls his disciples “children,” this could also be translated as “dear friends” or “my beloved disciples.”
2019-06-13 19:26:17 +00:00
* When Paul and John refer to believers in Jesus as “children,” this could also be translated as “dear fellow believers.”
2020-12-20 23:06:30 +00:00
* The phrase, “children of the promise” could be translated as “people who have received what God promised them.”
2016-09-25 21:47:45 +00:00
2020-03-25 13:08:41 +00:00
(See also: [descendant ](../other/descendant.md ), [seed ](../other/seed.md ), [promise ](../kt/promise.md ), [son ](../kt/son.md ), [spirit ](../kt/spirit.md ), [believe ](../kt/believe.md ), [beloved ](../kt/beloved.md ))
2016-09-25 21:47:45 +00:00
2019-06-18 18:57:27 +00:00
## Bible References:
2016-09-25 21:47:45 +00:00
2021-04-07 00:17:52 +00:00
* [1 John 2:28 ](rc://en/tn/help/1jn/02/28 )
* [3 John 1:4 ](rc://en/tn/help/3jn/01/04 )
* [Galatians 4:19 ](rc://en/tn/help/gal/04/19 )
2018-09-24 16:05:32 +00:00
* [Genesis 45:11 ](rc://en/tn/help/gen/45/11 )
2021-04-07 00:17:52 +00:00
* [Joshua 8:34-35 ](rc://en/tn/help/jos/08/34 )
* [Nehemiah 5:5 ](rc://en/tn/help/neh/05/05 )
2020-02-20 19:02:41 +00:00
* [Acts 17:29 ](rc://en/tn/help/act/17/29 )
* [Exodus 13:11-13 ](rc://en/tn/help/exo/13/11 )
2021-04-07 00:17:52 +00:00
* [Genesis 24:7 ](rc://en/tn/help/gen/24/07 )
2020-02-20 19:02:41 +00:00
* [Isaiah 41:8-9 ](rc://en/tn/help/isa/41/08 )
2021-04-07 00:17:52 +00:00
* [Job 5:25 ](rc://en/tn/help/job/05/25 )
* [Luke 3:7 ](rc://en/tn/help/luk/03/7 )
2020-02-20 19:02:41 +00:00
* [Matthew 12:34 ](rc://en/tn/help/mat/12/34 )
2017-06-22 17:13:11 +00:00
2019-06-18 18:57:27 +00:00
## Word Data:
2017-06-22 17:13:11 +00:00
2020-12-09 03:10:51 +00:00
* 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