STRONGS NT 1081: γέννημαγέννημα, γεννήματος, τό (from γεννάω), that which has been begotten or born;

a. as in the earlier Greek writings from Sophocles down, the offspring, progeny, of men or of animals: ἐχιδνῶν, Matthew 3:7; Matthew 12:34; Matthew 23:33; Luke 3:7; (γυναικῶν, Sir. 10:18).

b. from Polybius (1, 71, 1 etc.) on (cf. Winers Grammar, 23), the fruits of the earth, products of agriculture (in the Sept. often γεννήματα τῆς γῆς): Luke 12:18 (where Tr (txt. WH) τόν σῖτον); τῆς ἀμπέλου, Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18; cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 286. Metaphorically, fruit, reward, profit: τῆς δικαιοσύνης, 2 Corinthians 9:10 (Hosea 10:12; τῆς σοφίας, Sir. 1:17 Sir. 6:19). Further, see γένημα.

Strong’s Greek 1081 refers to whatever is brought forth or produced—whether literal produce from the soil, offspring from a parent, or moral and spiritual outcomes. The word therefore bridges the natural and the moral realms, providing Scripture with an image that ties human conduct to its inevitable results.

Grapevine Imagery and Eschatological Fellowship

In Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; and Luke 22:18 the Lord speaks of “the fruit of the vine,” declaring, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:18). Here the term embraces the vintage wine of the Passover cup while pointing to its consummation in the coming kingdom. The everyday harvest of grapes becomes a prophetic sign of future fellowship. The expression also safeguards the continuity between the present age and the age to come: the same vine that yields wine for the Passover will, in resurrection glory, yield a cup shared between the Messiah and His redeemed people.

Brood of Vipers: Moral Lineage and Prophetic Rebuke

Four times—Matthew 3:7; 12:34; 23:33 and Luke 3:7—the term forms part of the fierce indictment, “You brood of vipers.” John the Baptist and later Jesus expose religious leaders whose character shows they are generated, as it were, by venomous serpents rather than by the righteous God they profess to serve. In each setting:
• The address unmasks a hidden lineage: moral likeness reveals parentage (compare John 8:44).
• The imagery announces impending judgment (“who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”).
• The call to repentance insists that genuine fruit must replace poisonous progeny (Matthew 3:8).

Thus the word carries forensic weight, demonstrating that outward privilege cannot silence the witness of inward production.

Spiritual Harvest: Righteousness as Produce

Paul adapts the agricultural nuance in 2 Corinthians 9:10: “He … will increase the harvest of your righteousness.” Material generosity, born of faith, matures into a tangible moral crop. The same God who gives seed to the sower ensures that righteous actions “sprout” into a yield that glorifies Him. Neither Paul nor his readers see giving as a mere transaction; it is spiritual husbandry whose produce is measured in thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:11).

Intercanonical Connections

1. Old Testament background: Israel’s prophets repeatedly linked produce and morality. Hosea warned that idolatry results in “rotten fruit” (Hosea 10:13), while Psalm 1 celebrates the righteous man who “bears fruit in season.” Greek 1081 ties these strands to New-Covenant revelation.
2. Wisdom literature: Proverbs speaks of “the fruit of the righteous” as a life-giving tree (Proverbs 11:30), anticipating Paul’s “harvest of righteousness.”
3. Johannine theology: Though the word itself is absent, Jesus’ vine discourse (John 15) supplies the conceptual backdrop—union with Christ yields fruit that remains.

Historical–Cultural Background

First-century audiences were immersed in agrarian rhythms. Vintage festivals, the symbolism of vines in Jewish coinage, and the central role of wine in covenant meals made “fruit of the vine” an evocative phrase. Likewise, calling men “offspring” of serpents recalled Eden’s enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent (Genesis 3:15), underscoring how ingrained these metaphors were in Jewish consciousness.

Implications for Theology and Ministry

• Doctrinal: The term reinforces the biblical doctrine that nature follows lineage—spiritual birth determines spiritual fruit.
• Pastoral: Faith communities are urged to evaluate ministry not merely by activity but by the quality of its produce (Philippians 1:11).
• Evangelistic: John’s and Jesus’ rebukes remind preachers to address root condition, not just external behavior.
• Sacramental: The Communion cup looks back to Passover, forward to the Messianic banquet, and inward to present participation in the New Covenant.

Points for Further Study and Reflection

1. Compare Greek 1081 with “fruit” imagery in Galatians 5:22 and James 3:18.
2. Trace how vineyard parables (Isaiah 5; Matthew 21) deepen the ethical thrust of the word.
3. Explore the eschatological “new wine” motif in prophetic and apocalyptic texts.

In every context Strong’s Greek 1081 underscores a divine principle: what comes forth from a life or a vine reveals its source and foretells its destiny.