σφραγίζω

Σφραγίζω means to seal: to mark, secure, authenticate, close, or reserve something with the authority of the one who seals it. The New Testament uses the verb in several distinct settings. A tomb can be sealed for security. A message can be sealed so that it is not disclosed. A testimony can be sealed in the sense of being certified as true. Most pastorally, believers are said to be sealed with or in relation to the Holy Spirit. That sealing language speaks of God's ownership, authentication, pledge, and preservation, but each passage must determine which aspect is in view. The word does not by itself supply a full doctrine of assurance, final perseverance, or sacramental identity. It gives a rich image of divine marking and custody, then the surrounding text explains what that seal means.

In John 6:27, the Father has placed His seal on the Son, authenticating Him as the giver of food that endures to eternal life. In 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13, believers are sealed in connection with the Spirit, and the seal is joined to pledge language and the day of redemption. Revelation uses the verb in more than one way: servants are sealed as belonging to God, the seven thunders are sealed up as unrevealed speech, and Satan's abyss is sealed as confinement. The shared idea is authoritative marking or closure, but the pastoral conclusion changes with the context. The word should make readers ask: who is sealing, what is being sealed, and for what purpose?

Σφραγίζω is currently counted about 15 times in the local Greek artifact. Its range includes authentication, security, concealment, divine ownership, Spirit-related assurance, and apocalyptic marking or closure. The seal image is strong, but its meaning must be governed by the local passage.