Original Word: βρέφος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: brephos
Pronunciation: BREH-fos
Phonetic Spelling: (bref'-os)
KJV: babe, (young) child, infant
NASB: baby, babies, childhood, infants
Word Origin: [of uncertain affinity]

1. an infant, (properly) unborn
{literally or figuratively}

unborn or newborn child, infant

Of uncertain affinity; an infant (properly, unborn) literally or figuratively -- babe, (young) child, infant.

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
an unborn or a newborn child
NASB Translation
babies (2), baby (4), childhood (1), infants (1).

STRONGS NT 1025: βρέφος

βρέφος, βρέφους, τό;

a. an unborn child, embryo, fetus: Luke 1:41, 44; (Homer, Iliad 23, 266; Plutarch, rep. Stoic. 41 τό βρέφος ἐν τῇ γαστρί).

b. a new-born child, an infant, a babe (so from Pindar down): Luke 2:12, 16; Luke 18:15; Acts 7:19; 1 Peter 2:2; ἀπό βρέφους from infancy, 2 Timothy 3:15 (so ἐκ βρέφους, Anth. Pal. 9, 567).

Definition and Semantic Range

Strong’s Greek 1025 (βρέφος, brephos) denotes a human offspring at the earliest stages of life. The term embraces both prenatal life (an unborn child) and postnatal life (a newborn or very young infant). Its elasticity allows Scripture to speak of life in the womb and life in the cradle without lexical distinction, underscoring one continuous human reality.

Occurrences in Scripture

Eight New Testament passages employ βρέφος.
• Luke 1:41, 44 – John the Baptist leaping in Elizabeth’s womb.
• Luke 2:12, 16 – Jesus found as a baby in the manger.
• Luke 18:15 – infants brought to Jesus for blessing.
• Acts 7:19 – Pharaoh’s oppression, forcing Israel to expose their infants.
• 1 Peter 2:2 – believers exhorted to crave pure milk “like newborn babies.”
• 2 Timothy 3:15 – Timothy acquainted with Scripture “from infancy.”
• Luke 18:15 and 1 Peter 2:2 use the plural form (βρέφη); 2 Timothy 3:15 uses the genitive (βρέφους).

Continuity of Life: Womb to World

Luke’s infancy narratives establish a seamless view of life. The unborn John (βρέφος) responds to Mary’s greeting, indicating personal consciousness and covenant joy even before birth: “For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:44). A few verses later, the same word describes the newborn Messiah lying in a manger (Luke 2:12, 16). Scripture therefore recognizes personhood and value at every stage, a fact that informs Christian convictions about the sanctity of life.

Christological Significance

The incarnate Son of God is called βρέφος. The One through whom all things were made (John 1:3) enters history as a helpless infant, demonstrating divine humility and fulfilling Isaiah 9:6. Shepherds receive the sign of a swaddled baby (Luke 2:12), and “they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby” (Luke 2:16). βρέφος thus anchors the mystery of the Incarnation in real human infancy, affirming both true deity and true humanity.

Model for Discipleship and Growth

Peter appropriates the image for spiritual development: “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). The metaphor highlights dependence, appetite, and growth—qualities essential for maturing faith. The passage presupposes that spiritual life begins with new birth (John 3:3) and requires nourishment from the Word, paralleling a physical infant’s need for milk.

Scripture and Early Formation

Paul reminds Timothy that “from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures” (2 Timothy 3:15). Early exposure to God’s Word equips even the youngest minds for future faith and service. The verse legitimizes ministries of cradle-to-child discipleship: family devotions, church nurseries, and early childhood catechesis.

Biblical Ethic and Sanctity of Life

Acts 7:19 recounts Pharaoh’s infanticide: “He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die”. The wickedness of destroying βρέφη stands in sharp contrast to God’s pattern of protection and blessing. Luke 18:15 records parents bringing their infants to Jesus, and His implicit approval elevates their worth. Taken together, the passages reinforce a pro-life ethic that spans from conception through childbirth and beyond.

Pastoral and Ministry Application

1. Pregnancy Care: The identical terminology for the unborn and the newborn encourages church advocacy for mothers and babies before and after birth.
2. Infant Blessing: Following Luke 18:15, congregations may commend the practice of presenting infants to Christ in prayer.
3. Early Discipleship: Consistent with 2 Timothy 3:15, children’s ministries should prioritize Scripture intake from the earliest age.
4. Compassion for the Vulnerable: Acts 7:19 warns against cultural or governmental pressures that endanger children. The church must resist such forces with gospel-driven compassion.

Historical Reception

Early Christians opposed exposure of unwanted infants, a stance rooted in texts like Acts 7:19. Church Fathers such as Tertullian cited the Incarnation—God becoming a βρέφος—as evidence for the dignity of every child. Throughout history, Christian hospitals, orphanages, and adoption practices have drawn on this theological foundation.

Summary

βρέφος knits together theology, ethics, and ministry. Whether leaping in a womb, resting in a manger, or symbolizing spiritual infancy, the term testifies that every stage of human life is known and valued by God and should be honored by His people.

βρεφη βρέφη βρεφος βρέφος βρεφους βρέφους brephe brephē bréphe bréphē brephos bréphos brephous bréphousInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts