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)
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| σπερμάτων | seeds | Matt.13.32 • 1Cor.15.38 |
| σπέρμα | seed | Matt.13.24 • Matt.13.27 • Matt.13.37 • Matt.13.38 • 1John.3.9 |
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
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Leviticus | 15:16 |
| Isaiah | 1:9 |
| Matthew | 13:24 · 13:27 · 13:32 · 13:37 · 22:24 |
| Mark | 4:31 · 12:19 |
| Luke | 1:55 · 20:28 |
| John | 7:42 · 8:33 · 8:37 |
| Acts | 3:25 · 7:5 · 13:23 |
| Romans | 1:3 · 4:13 · 4:16 · 4:18 · 9:7 · 9:8 · 9:29 · 11:1 |
| 1 Corinthians | 15:33 |
| 2 Corinthians | 9:10 · 11:22 |
| Galatians | 3:16 · 3:19 · 3:29 |
| 2 Timothy | 2:8 |
| Hebrews | 2:16 · 11:11 · 11:18 |
| 1 John | 3:9 |
| Revelation | 12:17 |
Liddell-Scott-Jones
meaning of: σπέρμα
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