Seed
σπέρμαStrong’s G4690sperma
Appears in 40 verses of the New Testament
In short
Sperma is the Greek word usually translated “seed”, “offspring” and “descendants”. It appears in 40 verses of the New Testament.
“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:”
Meaning
Usually translated “seed”, “offspring” and “descendants”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- seed 26
- offspring 6
- descendants 5
- seeds 3
- to seeds 1
- of seed 1
- children 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- Romans 8
- Matthew 7
- Mark 5
- Acts 4
- John 3
- Galatians 3
13 books in all.
Explore in Scripture
- Matthew 13:27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
- Matthew 13:32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
- Matthew 13:37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
- Matthew 13:38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
- Matthew 22:24Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
- Matthew 22:25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
All 40 verses, by book
Greek dictionary
σπέρμα sperma · seed
σπέρμα, -τος, τό (σπείρω) [in LXX chiefly for זֶרַע ;] seed; (a) of plants: Mat.13:24, 27 13:37-38, 2Co.9:10; pl., Mat.13:32, Mrk.4:31, 1Co.15:33; metaphorically, of an escaping remnant (שָׂרִיד, Isa.1:9; cf. Wis.14:6; Plat., Tim., 23c; FlJ, Ant., xi, 5, 3), Rom.9:29; …
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “seed” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
SEED, noun
- The substance, animal or vegetable, which nature prepares for the reproduction and conservation of the species.
- That from which any thing springs; first principle; original; as the seeds of virtue or vice.
- Principle of production.
- Progeny; offspring; children; descendants; as the seed of Abraham; the seed of David.
All definitions and other forms of “seed”
- Race; generation; birth.
SEED, verb intransitive
- To grow to maturity, so as to produce seed.
- To shed the seed
SEED, verb transitive
To sow; to sprinkle with seed which germinates and takes root.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.