### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **apokyéō**, represented by `{{G616}}`, means to **breed forth** or **generate** figuratively. Though it appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, its usage presents a powerful contrast between divine creation and the terminal consequence of sin. It describes the act of bringing something to its final, produced state.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two occurrences of `{{G616}}` are found in the book of James, where they illustrate opposing outcomes. In a positive sense, it describes God's sovereign action in salvation, stating that "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth" [[James 1:18]]. In stark contrast, it is used to describe the final result of a sinful process: "and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" [[James 1:15]]. In both cases, the word signifies the ultimate, generative outcome of a preceding source or process.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in the immediate context of James 1 clarify the process that leads to the final act of "bringing forth":
* `{{G1014}}` **boúlomai** (to "will," i.e. (reflexively) be willing): This word establishes the origin of spiritual life as an act of divine will, which precedes the "begetting" in [[James 1:18]].
* `{{G4815}}` **syllambánō** (to conceive): This term marks the beginning of the process of sin, where lust is said to "hath conceived" before anything is brought forth [[James 1:15]].
* `{{G5088}}` **tíktō** (to produce...bring forth): This word describes the intermediate step where conceived lust "bringeth forth sin," which then develops to its final state [[James 1:15]].
* `{{G658}}` **apoteléō** (to complete entirely, i.e. consummate): This describes the maturation of sin, highlighting that it is only "when it is finished" that it ultimately brings forth death [[James 1:15]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G616}}` is centered on the concept of ultimate consequences.
* **Divine Generation:** The word is used to describe the new birth of believers. This is not a product of human effort but is generated directly by God's will and His word of truth, establishing believers as a kind of "firstfruits of his creatures" [[James 1:18]].
* **The Fruit of Sin:** In parallel, `{{G616}}` shows the inevitable end of unchecked sin. The process begins with lust, conceives, and gives birth to sin. When that sin is fully realized or "finished," its final, generative act is to produce death [[James 1:15]].
* **Source and Result:** The term highlights a fundamental biblical principle: sources produce results after their own kind. God's will produces life, while completed sin produces death.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G616}}` is a precise and potent word used to articulate the final outcome of a process. Despite its rare appearance, its use in James provides a clear and symmetrical framework for understanding the origins and ultimate ends of both salvation and sin. It demonstrates that just as God sovereignly **begets** new life, sin, when brought to completion, inevitably **bringeth forth** death.
TRV