Greek · G4690 · unreviewed

σπέρμα

Seed: offspring

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σπέρμα G4690

Pronunciation spérma

What does σπέρμα (spérma) mean in the Bible?

σπέρμα (spérma) is a Greek word meaning "seed: offspring". σπέρμα, -τος, τό (σπείρω) [in LXX chiefly for זֶרַע ;] seed; __(a) of plants: Mat. Represents God’s regenerating work that produces a new moral orientation.

Full entry for σπέρμα (G4690) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

seed: offspring

Extended definition

Offspring or descendants, often used metaphorically for spiritual progeny or promised heirs in covenant theology.

(σπείρω) [in LXX chiefly for זֶרַע ;] seed;

aof plants: Mat.13:24, 27 13:37-38, 2Co.9:10; pl., Mat.13:32, Mrk.4:31, 1Co.15:33; metaphorically, of an escaping remnant (שָׂרִיד, Isa.1:9; cf. Wis.14:6; Plat., Tim., 23c; FlJ, Ant., xi, 5, 3), Rom.9:29;

bof men (as γονή; Lat. semen genitale; so in cl.; cf. in LXX, Lev.15:16, al.): Heb.11:11; metaphorically, of the divine influence, 1Jn.3:9; by meton. (as frequently in poets), seed, offspring, posterity: Mat.22:24-25, Mrk.12:19-22, Luk.1:55 20:28" (LXX) Jhn.7:42 8:33, 37 Act.3:25 7:5-6 13:23, Rom.1:3 4:13, 18 9:7-8 11:1, 2Co.11:22, Gal.3:16, 19, 2Ti.2:8, Heb.2:16 11:18; pl. (FlJ, Ant., viii, 7, 6; Flat., Leg., ix, 853 with; 4Ma.18:1; in Ga, l.with, contrasted with sing., see Lft., in l; Milligan, NTD, 105 f.), Gal.3:16; of spiritual offspring, Rom.4:16, 18 9:8, Gal.3:29, Rev.12:17.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Represents God’s regenerating work that produces a new moral orientation. 1 John 3:4-10

God’s abiding life within believers grounds their transformed behavior.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Matt 13:38 · John 8:33 · John 8:37 · Acts 7:6 · Rom 4:18 · Rom 9:7 · 2 Cor 11:22 · Gal 3:19 · Gal 3:29 · Heb 11:18 · 1 John 3:9 12×

Genitive · Singular · Neuter John 7:42 · Acts 13:23 · Rom 1:3 · Rom 11:1 · 2 Tim 2:8 · Heb 2:16 · Heb 11:11 · Rev 12:17 8×

Genitive · Plural · Neuter Matt 13:32 · Mark 4:31 · 1 Cor 15:38 3×

Dative · Singular · Neuter Luke 1:55 · Acts 3:25 · Acts 7:5 · Rom 4:13 · Rom 4:16 · Gal 3:16 7×

Dative · Plural · Neuter Gal 3:16 1×

Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 13:24 · Matt 13:27 · Matt 13:37 · Matt 22:24 · Matt 22:25 · Mark 12:19 · Mark 12:20 · Mark 12:21 · Mark 12:22 · Luke 20:28 · Rom 9:8 · Rom 9:29 12×

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 John 3:4-10 seed spérma Nominative · Singular · Neuter

That which produces life; metaphorically God’s life-giving principle within the believer.

Additional Occurrences

1-john Seed spérma

life-giving principle

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Galatians 3 — Faith, Promise, and the Curse-Bearing Christ Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 4 — The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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