σπέρμα (G4690) — Greek Lexicon

σπέρμα

spérma

G4690 noun

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "seed" 43 occurrences

"Seed" is the most frequent and natural English rendering in the attested corpus and covers the primary semantic range: literal agricultural seed, collective progeny/offspring, and even the older usage for seminal fluid. It is traditional in English Bibles, concise, and flexible (can be pluralized or rendered as "seed of/seed(s)" where context requires), making it the best single base word for consistent use across all forms of G4690.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

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

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

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4690-01`	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed	24
`G4690-05`	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed	of seed	of seed	8
`G4690-03`	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed	to/for seed	7
`G4690-04`	σπερμάτων	spermaton	`N GEN N PL`	seeds	of seeds	of seeds	3
`G4690-02`	σπέρμασιν	spermasin	`N DAT N PL`	seeds	to seeds	to seeds	1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4690-01`	Matthew 13:24	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Matthew 13:27	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-04`	Matthew 13:32	σπερμάτων	spermaton	`N GEN N PL`	seeds	of seeds	of seeds
`G4690-01`	Matthew 13:37	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Matthew 13:38	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Matthew 22:24	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Matthew 22:25	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	children	seed	seed
`G4690-04`	Mark 4:31	σπερμάτων	spermaton	`N GEN N PL`	seeds	of seeds	of seeds
`G4690-01`	Mark 12:19	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Mark 12:20	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Mark 12:21	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Mark 12:22	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-03`	Luke 1:55	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed	to/for seed
`G4690-01`	Luke 20:28	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-05`	John 7:42	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed	of seed	of seed
`G4690-01`	John 8:33	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	John 8:37	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-03`	Acts 3:25	σπέρματί	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed	to/for seed
`G4690-03`	Acts 7:5	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed	to/for seed
`G4690-01`	Acts 7:6	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-05`	Acts 13:23	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed/descendants	of seed	of seed
`G4690-05`	Romans 1:3	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	the seed	of seed	of seed
`G4690-03`	Romans 4:13	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed	to/for seed
`G4690-03`	Romans 4:16	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed	to/for seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 4:18	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 9:7	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	descendants	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 9:7	σπέρμα	sperma-2	`N NOM N SG`	descendants	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 9:8	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Romans 9:29	σπέρμα	sperma	`N ACC N SG`	a seed	seed	seed
`G4690-05`	Romans 11:1	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	the seed	of seed	of seed
`G4690-04`	1 Corinthians 15:38	σπερμάτων	spermaton	`N GEN N PL`	seeds	of seeds	seeds
`G4690-01`	2 Corinthians 11:22	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-03`	Galatians 3:16	σπέρματι	spermati	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed	to/for seed
`G4690-02`	Galatians 3:16	σπέρμασιν	spermasin	`N DAT N PL`	seeds	to seeds	to seeds
`G4690-03`	Galatians 3:16	σπέρματί	spermati-2	`N DAT N SG`	seed	to/for seed	to/for seed
`G4690-01`	Galatians 3:19	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	Galatians 3:29	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-05`	2 Timothy 2:8	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed	of seed	of seed
`G4690-05`	Hebrews 2:16	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed	of seed	of seed
`G4690-05`	Hebrews 11:11	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed	of seed	of seed
`G4690-01`	Hebrews 11:18	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-01`	1 John 3:9	σπέρμα	sperma	`N NOM N SG`	seed	seed	seed
`G4690-05`	Revelation 12:17	σπέρματος	spermatos	`N GEN N SG`	seed	of seed	of seed

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