Seal
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Σφραγίς (sphragis) means seal, an impressed mark or sealing device used to authenticate, secure, identify ownership, or close a document. Paul calls circumcision a seal of the righteousness Abraham already possessed by faith while uncircumcised, making the sign confirm rather than create the verdict.
Reader summary
Full entry for σφραγίς (G4973) · Open the biblical lexicon
Σφραγίς (sphragis) means seal, an impressed mark or sealing device used to authenticate, secure, identify ownership, or close a document. Paul calls circumcision a seal of the righteousness Abraham already possessed by faith while uncircumcised, making the sign confirm rather than create the verdict.
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include seal (9), seals (5), [as] a seal (1), [the] seal (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Romans 4:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Revelation (13), 1 Corinthians (1), 2 Timothy (1), Romans (1).
Σφραγίς (sphragis) means seal, an impressed mark or sealing device used to authenticate, secure, identify ownership, or close a document. Paul calls circumcision a seal of the righteousness Abraham already possessed by faith while uncircumcised, making the sign confirm rather than create the verdict. The Corinthian church is the seal of Paul's apostleship in the Lord, visible authentication of his labor among them.
God's firm foundation bears a two-sided seal: the Lord knows His own, and those naming Him depart from injustice. Revelation's scroll is secured with seven seals, and the question is who is worthy to break them and open God's decree. The seal's object and owner determine its function; it is not automatically a reference to the Spirit or final salvation.
Σφραγίς names a seal that confirms, identifies, or secures. Circumcision seals prior faith-righteousness, a church authenticates apostolic labor, God's foundation bears belonging and holiness, and Revelation's scroll awaits a worthy opener.
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
Abraham receives circumcision as a seal of righteousness credited through faith beforehand, preserving his fatherhood of uncircumcised believers.
Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
The Corinthians are Paul's seal of apostleship in the Lord because their existence as a church verifies the ministry God performed through him among them.
Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
God's firm foundation carries a seal joining divine knowledge of His people with their obligation to turn away from injustice.
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
The throne-holder's scroll is written within and without and secured by seven seals, emphasizing completeness, authority, and inaccessible purpose.
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
The angel asks who is worthy to break the seals, and the ensuing search directs all hope toward the conquering Lamb.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. A seal marks ownership and authenticity; when used metaphorically, it guarantees divine approval or protection.
A seal marks ownership and authenticity; when used metaphorically, it guarantees divine approval or protection.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
a signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read versea signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 5 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 16 lexical occurrence verses.
σφραγίς is built from this root:
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
A seal points beyond itself to authority and ownership. Abraham's circumcision confirms righteousness already credited by faith, so the sign cannot be turned into the ground of justification. Corinth's existence verifies Paul's apostleship in that specific field, yet he calls them a seal “in the Lord,” keeping authentication under divine agency. Second Timothy refuses to separate assurance from holiness: God knows His own, and those naming Him turn from injustice.
Revelation raises sealing into the heavenly court, where no creature can simply pry open God's scroll. The Lamb's worthiness, rooted in His victory and sacrifice, unlocks the purpose. Churches should honor signs without trusting them mechanically, seek fruit that authenticates ministry, hold belonging and repentance together, and worship the Lamb who alone opens God's sealed decree.
Rom.4.11
Σφραγίς is a noun for seal, signet, impressed mark, or means of sealing. Genitives and verbs clarify whether the seal authenticates, secures, or marks ownership.
Kings use signets to authorize decrees, visions are sealed for appointed times, covenant signs confirm God's promises, and Revelation centers the sealed scroll on the Lamb's worthiness.
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