Greek · G4972 · unreviewed

σφραγίζω

To seal

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σφραγίζω G4972

Pronunciation sphragízō

What does σφραγίζω (sphragízō) mean in the Bible?

σφραγίζω (sphragízō) is a Greek word meaning "to seal". σφραγίζω [in LXX chiefly for חָתַם (Deu. Affirms divine authentication of the Son. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah.

Full entry for σφραγίζω (G4972) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to seal

Extended definition

Sealing marks ownership, authentication, or concealment—securing what belongs to God or validating truth.

to seal,

afor security: Mat.27:66, Rev.20:3; τ. καρπὸν τοῦτον, figuratively (cf. Deiss., BS, 238 f.; MM, xxiv; DB, iv, 427a), Rom.15:28;

bfor concealment, hence, metaphorically, to hide (Da TH Dan.9:24, Jhn.14:17): Rev.10:4 22:10; __(with) for distinction, Rev.7:3-8; metaphorically, Eph.4:30; mid., 2Co.1:22;

dfor authentication (Est.8:8): Jhn.3:33 6:27 (cf. κατα-σφραγίζω).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Affirms divine authentication of the Son. John 6:22–40

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Aorist Perfect

Voices

Active Passive Middle

Indicative states a fact or reality 5×

Aorist Active John 3:33 · John 6:27 · Rev 20:3 3×

Aorist Passive Eph 1:13 · Eph 4:30 2×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 7×

Perfect Passive Rev 7:4 · Rev 7:5 · Rev 7:8 4×

Aorist Middle Rom 15:28 · 2 Cor 1:22 2×

Aorist Active Matt 27:66 1×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 2×

Aorist Active Rev 7:3 · Rev 22:10 2×

Imperative command or strong request 1×

Aorist Active Rev 10:4 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 15 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 5 imperative 1 subjunctive 2 participle 7

Tense

aorist 11 perfect 4

Voice

active 7 passive 6 middle 2

Mood

participle 7 indicative 5 subjunctive 2 imperative 1

NT Occurrences

Matthew 27:66 σφραγίσαντες aorist active participle participle John 3:33 ἐσφράγισεν aorist active indicative completed John 6:27 ἐσφράγισεν aorist active indicative completed Romans 15:28 σφραγισάμενος aorist middle participle participle 2 Corinthians 1:22 σφραγισάμενος aorist middle participle participle Ephesians 1:13 ἐσφραγίσθητε aorist passive indicative completed Ephesians 4:30 ἐσφραγίσθητε aorist passive indicative completed Revelation 7:3 σφραγίσωμεν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Revelation 7:4 ἐσφραγισμένων perfect passive participle participle Revelation 7:4 ἐσφραγισμένοι perfect passive participle participle Revelation 7:5 ἐσφραγισμένοι perfect passive participle participle Revelation 7:8 ἐσφραγισμένοι perfect passive participle participle Revelation 10:4 Σφράγισον aorist active imperative imperative Revelation 20:3 ἐσφράγισεν aorist active indicative completed Revelation 22:10 σφραγίσῃς aorist active subjunctive subjunctive

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Canonical Themes

Messiah

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

John 6:22–40 σφραγίζω sphragízō Indicative · Aorist Active

seal

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.

Ephesians 1 — Blessed in Christ and Enlightened to Know His Power John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship Matthew 27 — Jesus Condemned, Crucified, Dead, Buried, and Guarded Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles

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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