Adoption — Meaning in the Bible
Taking someone into a family as a son or daughter. Paul uses adoption to describe believers becoming God's children, with the right to call him "Abba, Father".
What it means
The Bible tells of children raised by others: Pharaoh's daughter raised Moses as her son, and Mordecai took Esther as his own daughter. Exodus 2:10Esther 2:7
Paul writes that believers have received "the Spirit of adoption", by whom they cry "Abba! Father!", and that God sent his Son so that we might receive adoption as children. Romans 8:14–17Galatians 4:4–7Ephesians 1:5
Key passages
- Exodus 2:5–10 — Moses becomes the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
- Esther 2:7 — Mordecai raises Esther.
- Romans 8:14–17 — The Spirit of adoption.
- Galatians 4:4–7 — No longer slaves but children.
Original language
υἱοθεσία uhiothesia
Greek · Strong’s G5206 · gloss: “adoption (as son)”
The Greek word for adoption, literally "placing as a son". Romans 8:15Galatians 4:5
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Study further
- Romans 8:12–17 Children of God.
- Galatians 4:1–7 Heirs.