σπέρμα (G4690) — Greek Lexicon

σπέρμα

spérma

G4690 noun

SILEX Entry

Root σπερ- to sow, to scatter seed, to produce offspring

Definition

Material for sowing, seed (in a literal, agricultural sense); by extension, offspring or descendants (metaphorical sense); also used generically for that which is produced or originates from a source (e.g., result, progeny). In some contexts, specifically denotes the male seminal fluid (biological sense), but more commonly refers to children, descendants, or the collective progeny of a person, group, or nation.

Semantic Range

seed (for sowing), offspring, descendants, posterity, progeny, remnant, seminal fluid (male semen); source, origin (in philosophical or medical contexts)

Root / Etymology

From the verb σπείρω, 'to sow.' The noun is formed with the suffix -μα, which indicates the result of an action. Cognate with classical uses of the same stem.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, σπέρμα was used first and foremost for plant seed, especially that which is sown to produce crops. Over time, this transferred metaphorically to refer to progeny, descendants, or issue, both individually and collectively, whether human or animal. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the metaphorical sense (offspring, descendants) became especially prominent and is frequent in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew זֶרַע (zeraʿ), with reference to the lineage or descendants of individuals, family lines, or the people of Israel. In the New Testament, σπέρμα continues this usage: it can mean literal seed (as in parables about sowing), but often refers to descendants (e.g., the 'seed of Abraham'). The English tradition of translating σπέρμα as 'seed' sometimes fails to communicate this broader range, especially the collective or ancestral sense. Occasionally, as in medical or philosophical texts (and rare biblical cases), it has the biological meaning of semen, but this is less common in biblical literature. Unlike τέκνον ('child') or υἱός ('son'), σπέρμα emphasizes descent or lineage rather than individual relationship. In dialectal or philosophical literature, the term could also denote the base substance, germ, or essential principle of a thing's origin.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σπείρω; something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting):--issue, seed.

Root Family

σπέρμα (sperma) — seed, that which is sown, offspring, progeny

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G4690-01`	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	24
`G4690-05`	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed	of seed	8
`G4690-03`	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed	7
`G4690-04`	σπερμάτων	spermaton	`N GEN N PL`	seeds	of seeds	3
`G4690-02`	σπέρμασιν	spermasin	`N DAT N PL`	seeds	to seeds	1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G4690-01`	Matthew 13:24	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`		seed
`G4690-01`	Matthew 13:27	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`		seed
`G4690-04`	Matthew 13:32	σπερμάτων	spermaton	`N GEN N PL`		of seeds
`G4690-01`	Matthew 13:37	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`		seed
`G4690-01`	Matthew 13:38	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`		seed
`G4690-01`	Matthew 22:24	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`		seed
`G4690-01`	Matthew 22:25	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`		seed
`G4690-04`	Mark 4:31	σπερμάτων	spermaton	`N GEN N PL`	seeds	of seeds
`G4690-01`	Mark 12:19	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Mark 12:20	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Mark 12:21	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Mark 12:22	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-03`	Luke 1:55	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed
`G4690-01`	Luke 20:28	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-05`	John 7:42	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed	of seed
`G4690-01`	John 8:33	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	John 8:37	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-03`	Acts 3:25	σπέρματί	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed
`G4690-03`	Acts 7:5	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed
`G4690-01`	Acts 7:6	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-05`	Acts 13:23	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed/descendants	of seed
`G4690-05`	Romans 1:3	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`		of seed
`G4690-03`	Romans 4:13	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`		to/for seed
`G4690-03`	Romans 4:16	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`		to/for seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 4:18	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`		seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 9:7	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`		seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 9:7	σπέρμα	sperma-2	`N NOM N SG`		seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 9:8	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`		seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 9:29	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`		seed
`G4690-05`	Romans 11:1	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	the seed	of seed
`G4690-04`	1 Corinthians 15:38	σπερμάτων	spermaton	`N GEN N PL`	seeds	of seeds
`G4690-01`	2 Corinthians 11:22	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`		seed
`G4690-03`	Galatians 3:16	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed
`G4690-02`	Galatians 3:16	σπέρμασιν	spermasin	`N DAT N PL`	seeds	to seeds
`G4690-03`	Galatians 3:16	σπέρματί	spermati-2	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed
`G4690-01`	Galatians 3:19	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Galatians 3:29	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-05`	2 Timothy 2:8	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed	of seed
`G4690-05`	Hebrews 2:16	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`		of seed
`G4690-05`	Hebrews 11:11	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`		of seed
`G4690-01`	Hebrews 11:18	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`		seed
`G4690-01`	1 John 3:9	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed
`G4690-05`	Revelation 12:17	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`		of seed

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