### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **genetḗ**, represented by `{{G1079}}`, is a term for **birth**. It is a rare word in scripture, appearing only **1 time** across **1 unique verse**, making its single usage highly specific and significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{G1079}}` is in the account of Jesus encountering a man who was afflicted from the moment he was born. The verse states, "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his **birth**" [[John 9:1]]. In this context, the word establishes the man's condition as congenital, a lifelong state that had defined his entire existence up to that point. It is not an acquired ailment but one that originated with his very being.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words in this passage work together with `{{G1079}}` to frame this powerful scene:
* `{{G1537}}` **ek**: This is a primary preposition denoting origin, meaning **from** or **out of**. It directly connects the man's blindness to his `{{G1079}}` **birth**, specifying the source of his condition.
* `{{G5185}}` **typhlós**: Meaning **blind**, this word describes the man's physical state. Its use alongside `{{G1079}}` clarifies that he was **blind** from the moment of his **birth**.
* `{{G1492}}` **eídō**: A verb meaning **to see**. There is a powerful contrast in this verse, as Jesus, who is able to **see** `{{G1492}}` the man, encounters someone who has been unable to see since his **birth** `{{G1079}}`.
### Theological Significance
The theological importance of `{{G1079}}` is derived entirely from its singular context in [[John 9:1]]. It establishes a scenario that is, from a human perspective, permanent and hopeless.
* **Innate Condition:** By specifying the affliction is from **birth**, the narrative highlights a condition that is not the result of personal action or accident but is an unchangeable part of the man's natural life.
* **Setting for Divine Action:** The use of `{{G1079}}` establishes the profound nature of the man's problem. His blindness is not a temporary state but one that began with his life itself, thereby magnifying the power required to overcome it.
* **Origin Point:** The word pinpoints the very beginning of a human life as the source of the ailment, presenting a foundational challenge that Jesus observes and is about to address.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{G1079}}` is among the rarest words in the New Testament, its single use is pivotal. As **genetḗ**, it precisely defines a condition as congenital, establishing the man in John 9 as being blind from **birth**. This single word sets the stage for a profound demonstration of divine power over an affliction that had persisted from the first moment of a person's life.
TRV