Lexical Definition

‎σφάζω‎ spházō (sfad'-zo) to slaughter ^G:V
a primary verb

kill, slay, wound.

• to butcher (especially an animal for food or in sacrifice) or (generally) to slaughter, or (specially), to maim (violently)

Abbott-Smith

σφάζω [in LXX chiefly for שׁחט ;]
to slay, slaughter (esp. of victims for sacrifice): ἀρνίον, Re 5:6, 12 13:8; of persons, I Jo 3:12, Re 5:9 6:4, 9 18:24; ἐσφαγμένη εἰς θάνατον (RV, smitten unto death), Re 13:3 (cf. κατα-σφάζω).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

σφάζω,

[Refs 8th c.BC+] downwards, σφάττω, compare Σφαττόμενος title of play by [Refs 4th c.BC+]; Boeotian dialect σφάδδω [Refs]: future σφάξω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἔσφαξα [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect ἔσφᾰκα, known from pluperfect ἐσφάκειν [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, future σφᾰγήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist ἐσφάγην [ᾰ] Trag. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; less frequently ἐσφάχθην, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἔσφαγμαι [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—slay, slaughter, properly by cutting the throat (see. σφαγή 11)[Refs 8th c.BC+] always of cattle, μῆλ᾽ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς [Refs 8th c.BC+]

__II especially slaughter victims for sacrifice, [Refs], etc.; ἔσφαζ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ὤμων μόσχον cut its throat, as it hung from the servant's shoulders, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [NT+8th c.BC+]
__II.2 generally, slay, kill, of human victims, as Iphigeneia, Menoeceus, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. τινὰ ἐς τὸν κρητῆρα so that the blood ran into the bowl, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:— passive, σφάζεται ἐς τὸν τάφον [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.3 of any slaughter by knife or sword, [NT+5th c.BC+]
__II.4 of animals, tear by the throat, σ. ὥσπερ οἱ λύκοι τὰ πρόβατα [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.5 of any killing, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.6 metaphorically, torment, τινα [Refs 1st c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Rev.5.6 ☩ 1John.3.12}