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σεισμός

seismós

G4578 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A shaking, upheaval, or violent movement. Primarily denotes a physical shaking or disturbance (often of the earth—an 'earthquake'), but also broadly refers to any intense shaking or commotion, whether of earth (earthquake), air (violent storm/gale), or figuratively to turbulent social or personal upheaval.

Semantic Range

shaking, earthquake, violent movement, disturbance, commotion, storm, upheaval

Root / Etymology

Derived from the verb σείω ('to shake, move to and fro, agitate'). The suffix -μός forms nouns of action or result.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, σεισμός referred generally to any kind of shaking, trembling, or violent motion, and was not restricted to earthquakes; it might refer to a tossing of the sea or any tumultuous movement. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the term became more specifically associated with earthquakes (cf. LXX and NT usage), though it could still refer to sudden, violent storms (especially of wind or sea). In the New Testament, σεισμός nearly always designates an earthquake (e.g., Matthew 8:24; 27:54; 28:2), sometimes with dramatic or theologically charged significance (such as accompanying divine action), but the word itself does not intrinsically bear such connotations. English versions frequently translate σεισμός as 'earthquake,' though the broader sense of any powerful commotion (natural or figurative) is attested. The related word σεισμικός ('pertaining to an earthquake') is found in later Greek. The core sense across periods is 'violent shaking.'

Translation Consistency

primary "earthquake" 13 occurrences

Seismós most often denotes a physical shaking of the earth; the SILEX range centers on earthquakes and 8 of 14 P2 renderings use “earthquake.” "Earthquake" is the natural, specific English noun that fits the typical usage while still conveying violent upheaval in figurative contexts.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"violent shaking" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from σείω; a commotion, i.e. (of the air) a gale, (of the ground) an earthquake:--earthquake, tempest.

Root Family

σεισμός (seismos) — shaking, violent movement, disturbance, upheaval

Root σεισ- to shake, agitate, move violently

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4578-04 σεισμὸς seismos N NOM M SG earthquake a shaking an earthquake 9
G4578-02 σεισμοὶ seismoi N NOM M PL earthquakes violent shakings earthquakes 3
G4578-03 σεισμὸν seismon N ACC M SG earthquake a violent shaking the violent shaking 1
G4578-01 σεισμῷ seismo N DAT M SG earthquake with a shaking earthquake 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4578-04 Matthew 8:24 σεισμὸς seismos N NOM M SG storm a shaking an earthquake
G4578-02 Matthew 24:7 σεισμοὶ seismoi N NOM M PL earthquakes violent shakings earthquakes
G4578-03 Matthew 27:54 σεισμὸν seismon N ACC M SG earthquake a violent shaking the violent shaking
G4578-04 Matthew 28:2 σεισμὸς seismos N NOM M SG earthquake a shaking an earthquake
G4578-02 Mark 13:8 σεισμοὶ seismoi N NOM M PL earthquakes violent shakings earthquakes
G4578-02 Luke 21:11 σεισμοί seismoi N NOM M PL earthquakes violent shakings earthquakes
G4578-04 Acts 16:26 σεισμὸς seismos N NOM M SG earthquake a shaking an earthquake
G4578-04 Revelation 6:12 σεισμὸς seismos N NOM M SG earthquake a shaking an earthquake
G4578-04 Revelation 8:5 σεισμός seismos N NOM M SG earthquake a shaking an earthquake
G4578-04 Revelation 11:13 σεισμὸς seismos N NOM M SG earthquake a shaking an earthquake
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