Lexical Definition

‎σπέρμα‎ spérma (sper'-mah) seed: offspring ^G:N-N
from ‎σπείρω‎

issue, seed.

• something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm")
• by implication, offspring
• specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting)

Abbott-Smith

σπέρμα, -τος, τό (< σπείρω) [in LXX chiefly for זֶרַע ;]
seed;
(a) of plants: Mt 13:24, 27 37, 38, II Co 9:10; pl., Mt 13:32, Mk 4:31, I Co 15:33; metaph., of an escaping remnant (שָׂרִיד, Is 1:9; cf. Wi 14:6; Plat., Tim., 23 c; FlJ, Ant., xi, 5, 3), Ro 9:29;
(b) of men (as γονή; Lat. semen genitale; so in cl.; cf. in LXX, Le 15:16, al.): He 11:11; metaph., of the divine influence, I Jo 3:9; by meton. (as freq. in poets), seed, offspring, posterity: Mt 22:24, 25, Mk 12:19-22, Lk 1:55 20:28 (LXX) Jo 7:42 8:33, 37 Ac 3:25 7:5, 6 13:23, Ro 1:3 4:13, 18 9:7, 8 11:1, II Co 11:22, Ga 3:16, 19, II Ti 2:8, He 2:16 11:18; pl. (FlJ, Ant., viii, 7, 6; Plat., Leg., ix, 853 c; IV Mac 18:1; in Ga, l.c., contrasted with sing., v. Lft., in l; Milligan, NTD, 105 f.), Ga 3:16; of spiritual offspring, Ro 4:16, 18 9:8, Ga 3:29, Re 12:17.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

σπέρμα-α, ατος, τό,

(σπείρω) seed, only once in [Refs 8th c.BC+]

__I mostly, seed of plants, σ. ἀνιέναι, κρύπτειν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; σ. τῇ γῇ διδόναι, ἐμβαλεῖν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of fruit, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τοῖς γαίης σπέρμαασι with the products of earth, of corn-stalks, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__I.2 metaphorically, germ, origin of anything, σ. πυρός [Refs 8th c.BC+]; σπέρμαατα, ={στοιχεῖα}, elements, [Refs 5th c.BC+]Ep.2p.38 U., [σπέρμαα παρασχών, οὗτος τῶν φύντων αἴτιος 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 18.159; συκοφάντου σ. καὶ ῥίζαν οἴεται δεῖν ὑπάρχειν τῇ πόλει [prev. author] 25.48; σ. τῆς στάσεως 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Marius” 10; τοῦ ὅρκου 3rd c.AD: Longinus Rhetor 16.3. ">Refs 4th c.BC+]
__I.3 seed-time, sowing, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II of animals, seed, semen, φέροισα σ. θεοῦ pregnant by the god, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but σ. φέρειν Ἡρακλέους to be pregnant of Heracles, [σπέρμαατος πλῆσαι 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Lycurgus” 15: \_plural\_, κατ᾽ ἀμφότερα τὰ σ. θεῶν ἀπόγονος 5th c.BC: Hippocrates Medicus “ἐπιστολαί” 2. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 race, origin, descent, τοὐμὸν.. σπέρμα᾽ ἰδεῖν βουλήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τίνος εἶ σπέρμαατος πατρόθε; [σπέρμαα τ᾽ Ἀργεῖον 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Supplices” 290, compare “Ch.” 236; σ. ἄντασ᾽ Ἐρεχθειδᾶν 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 981 (Lyric poetry), compare 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 7.93, etc. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.3 frequently in Poets, seed, offspring, τὸ βρότειον σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; σ. [τοῦ Ἀβραάμ] [NT]; sometimes of a single person, [σπέρμαασι νουθετοῦμεν “Lg.” 853c. ">NT+5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Luke.1.55 ☩ LXX.Gen.4.25 ☩ Gal.3.16}