### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **gastḗr**, represented by `{{G1064}}`, primarily refers to the **belly** or **womb**. It appears **9 times** across **9 unique verses**. While its most frequent use is in the context of pregnancy, as in "with child," it is also used figuratively to denote a gourmand or a lazy, gluttonous person.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G1064}}` is central to the accounts of the incarnation. The angel Gabriel tells Mary she will conceive in her **womb** [[Luke 1:31]], and she is later "found with **child** of the Holy Ghost" [[Matthew 1:18]]. This fulfills the prophecy that a virgin would be "with **child**" and bring forth Emmanuel [[Matthew 1:23]]. The term is also used prophetically to describe the conditions of the end times, with Jesus issuing a "woe unto them that are with **child**" during the great tribulation, signifying a time of extreme distress ([[Matthew 24:19]], [[Mark 13:17]], [[Luke 21:23]]). In a unique figurative sense, it is used to describe the character of the Cretans as "slow **bellies**," a criticism of their gluttony and idleness [[Titus 1:12]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide deeper context for the meanings of `{{G1064}}`:
* `{{G5088}}` **tíktō** (to produce (from seed, as a mother...)): This verb is often paired with `gastḗr` to describe the act of giving birth. For example, it is prophesied that the virgin with child will **bring forth** a son [[Matthew 1:23]].
* `{{G4815}}` **syllambánō** (to conceive (literally or figuratively)): This word describes the beginning of pregnancy, the action that leads to being with child. The angel tells Mary she will **conceive** in her womb [[Luke 1:31]].
* `{{G5605}}` **ōdínō** (to experience the pains of parturition): This word describes the labor pains associated with childbirth, as seen with the symbolic woman in Revelation who, being with child, was **travailing in birth** [[Revelation 12:2]].
* `{{G692}}` **argós** (inactive, i.e. unemployed; (by implication) lazy, useless): This adjective modifies "bellies" (`gastḗr`) in the description of the Cretians, emphasizing their idleness by calling them "**slow** bellies" [[Titus 1:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological importance of `{{G1064}}` is evident in its various applications.
* **The Incarnation:** The use of `gastḗr` is fundamental to the doctrine of the virgin birth. Mary’s pregnancy is not natural but is "of the Holy Ghost," making her womb the vessel for God becoming man [[Matthew 1:18]].
* **Metaphor for Judgment:** The experience of a "woman with **child**" serves as a powerful illustration of sudden and inescapable judgment. Destruction will come upon the unsuspecting "as travail upon a woman with **child**," from which there is no escape [[1 Thessalonians 5:3]].
* **Warning of Tribulation:** Jesus’s warnings to those "with **child**" in the last days underscore the profound hardship and vulnerability that will characterize that period [[Luke 21:23]].
* **Symbol of Moral Corruption:** The figurative use of "slow **bellies**" connects physical appetite to moral and spiritual laziness, serving as a warning against a life controlled by fleshly desires [[Titus 1:12]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G1064}}` is a term with significant literal and figurative weight. It moves from the biological reality of the **womb** to the miraculous state of being "with **child**" in the story of the Messiah's birth. Prophetically, it illustrates the suddenness of divine judgment and the severe distress of the end times. Figuratively, it serves as a potent descriptor for moral character, demonstrating how a single word can convey profound truths about both divine action and human nature.
TRV