Greek · G4592 · unreviewed

σημεῖον

An indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally

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σημεῖον G4592

Pronunciation sēmeîon

What does σημεῖον (sēmeîon) mean in the Bible?

σημεῖον (sēmeîon) is a Greek word meaning "an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally". σημεῖον, -ου, τό [in LXX chiefly for אוֹת ;] a sign, mark, token; __(a) of that which distinguishes a person or thing from others: Mat. Points to the resurrection as definitive validation. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah, Presence, Revelation.

Full entry for σημεῖον (G4592) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally

Extended definition

Miracle as divine authenticating sign, not merely a wonder but proof of God's authority.

a sign, mark, token;

aof that which distinguishes a person or thing from others: Mat.26:48 Luk.2:12, 2Th.3:17 (cf. Deiss., LAE, 153.2); before genitive epexeg., Rom.4:11; with genitive obj., Mat.24:8, 30, 2Co.12:12; with genitive subj., Mat.16:3;

ba sign of warning or admonition: Mat.12:39 16:4, Luk.2:34 11:29-30, 1Co.14:22; __(with) a sign portending future events (Soph., Plat. al.): Mrk.13:4, Luk.21:7, 11 21:25, Act.2:19, Rev.12:1, 3 15:1;

dof miracles and wonders (MM, xxii), regarded as signs of a divine authority: Mat.12:38-39 16:1, 4 Mrk.8:11-12 Luk.11:16, 29 23:8, Jhn.2:11, 18 2:23 4:54 6:30 10:41 12:18, Act.4:16, 22; pl., Mrk.16:17, 20, Jhn.2:11, 23 3:2 6:2, 14 6:26 7:31 9:16 11:47 12:37 20:30, Act.8:6, 1Co.1:22 (Lft., Notes, 162); the same ascribed to false teachers and demons: Mat.24:24, Mrk.13:22, 2Th.2:9, Rev.13:13-14 16:14 19:20; σ. καὶ τέρατα (τ. καὶ σ.; cf. Tr., Syn., § xci), Mat.24:24, Mrk.13:22, Jhn.4:48, Act.2:19, 43 4:30 5:12 6:8 7:36 14:3 15:12, Rom.15:19, 2Th.2:9; id. before καὶ δυνάμεις, 2Co.12:12, Heb.2:4; σ. καὶ δυνάμεις, Act.8:13; δ. καὶ τ. καὶ σ., Act.2:22; σ. διδόναι, Mat.24:24, Mrk.13:22.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Points to the resurrection as definitive validation. Acts 5:12-16

Highlights demand for proof despite revelation. John 2:1–12

Points to divine attestation fulfilled supremely in Christ’s resurrection. Luke 11:29–32

Miracle pointing beyond itself to identity and glory. Mark 8:11–13

Indicates revelatory miracle pointing to Jesus’ identity. Matthew 12:38–42

Signs authenticate the apostolic message and direct attention to Christ.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Matt 12:39 · Matt 16:4 · Matt 24:3 · Matt 24:30 · Mark 8:12 · Mark 13:4 · Luke 2:12 · Luke 11:29 · Luke 11:30 · Luke 21:7 · Acts 4:16 · Acts 4:22 · 2 Thess 3:17 · Rev 12:1 · Rev 12:3 18×

Nominative · Plural · Neuter Mark 16:17 · Luke 21:11 · Luke 21:25 · Acts 2:43 · Acts 5:12 · 2 Cor 12:12 6×

Genitive · Plural · Neuter Mark 16:20 · John 2:11 · Rom 15:19 3×

Dative · Plural · Neuter Acts 2:22 · 2 Cor 12:12 · 2 Thess 2:9 · Heb 2:4 4×

Accusative · Plural · Neuter Matt 16:3 · Matt 24:24 · Mark 13:22 · John 2:23 · John 3:2 · John 4:48 · John 6:2 · John 6:26 · John 7:31 · John 9:16 · John 11:47 · John 12:37 · John 20:30 · Acts 2:19 · Acts 4:30 · Acts 6:8 26×

Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 12:38 · Matt 12:39 · Matt 16:1 · Matt 16:4 · Matt 26:48 · Mark 8:11 · Mark 8:12 · Luke 2:34 · Luke 11:16 · Luke 11:29 · Luke 23:8 · John 2:18 · John 4:54 · John 6:14 · John 6:30 · John 10:41 20×

Canonical Themes

MessiahPresenceRevelation

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

Acts 5:12-16 Signs sēmeîon Nominative · Plural · Neuter

Miraculous signs pointing beyond themselves.

John 2:1–12 σημεῖον sēmeîon Genitive · Plural · Neuter

sign

Luke 11:29–32 σημεῖον sēmeîon Nominative · Singular · Neuter

sign

Mark 8:11–13 σημεῖον sēmeîon Nominative · Singular · Neuter

sign

Matthew 12:38–42 σημεῖον sēmeîon Nominative · Singular · Neuter

sign indicating divine authority

Additional Occurrences

John 2:1-11 σημεῖον sēmeîon

sign

Luke 11:29–32 σημεῖον sēmeîon

Sign

Luke 2:25–35 σημεῖον sēmeîon

Sign

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.

Acts 14 — Through Many Hardships into the Kingdom Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Acts 5 — Holy Fear, Bold Witness, and Joyful Suffering John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 2 — The First Sign, the True Temple, and the Glory of Jesus Revealed John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Mark 8 — Seeing Jesus Clearly: Bread, Blindness, Confession, Cross, and Discipleship Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 4 — Abraham Justified by Faith and the Promise Secured by Grace

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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