σείω G4579
To shake, cause to tremble; to agitate physically (as in an earthquake) or to stir up emotionally with fear or awe.
A verb meaning to shake or cause to tremble, used of both physical and emotional agitation. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, 'the whole city was shaken' (ἐσείσθη, Matt 21:10) — whether from an actual tremor or the upheaval of public excitement is deliberately ambiguous. At the crucifixion, the earth shook and rocks split (Matt 27:51). At the resurrection, the guards shook with fear like dead men (Matt 28:4). Hebrews 12:26 quotes Haggai's prophecy of a final cosmic shaking. The Spanish 'sacudir' (to shake) and French 'trembler' (to tremble) divide the physical and emotional dimensions that the Greek holds together.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To shake, cause to tremble, or agitate — used of seismic shaking, emotional disturbance, and cosmic upheaval. The word carries enormous dramatic weight in Matthew's passion-resurrection narrative: the earth shakes at Jesus' death (27:51), the guards are shaken with terror at his resurrection (28:4), and the whole city is shaken at his triumphal entry (21:10). Hebrews 12:26 escalates to eschatological scope, citing Haggai 2:6: God will shake 'not only the earth but also heaven.' Revelation 6:13 uses the image of a fig tree shaken by wind to describe stars falling from the sky. The Spanish 'sacudir' and German 'erschüttern' both capture the forceful, violent quality of the shaking, while the French 'trembler' emphasizes the resultant trembling response. 5×
AR["أُزَلْزِلُ", "ارتَجَّت", "ارتَعَدَ", "تَزَلْزَلَتْ", "مُهتَزَّةٍ"]·ben["আন্দোলিত।", "কাঁপছিলেন", "কাঁপল", "কাঁপাব", "নড়ে-উঠল"]·DE["erschuettern", "ἐσείσθη", "ἐσείσθησαν"]·EN["being-shaken", "trembled", "was-shaken", "will-shake"]·FR["trembler"]·heb["אַרְעִישׁ", "מִתְנַעֲנֶעֶת", "נִרְעֲשָׁה", "רָעֲד-וּ", "רָעֲשָׁה"]·HI["कांप-उठे", "कांपी", "हिल-गई", "हिलाऊँगा", "हिलायी-जाने-पर।"]·ID["akan-menggoncangkan", "berguncang", "gemetar", "tergoncang", "terguncang."]·IT["eseisthe", "eseisthesan", "seiomenē", "seisō"]·jav["badhé-goncang", "gumeter", "gègèr", "gègèr,", "ingkang-goyah"]·KO["떨렸다", "떨었다", "흔들겠다", "흔들렸다", "흔들리는"]·PT["abalarei", "agitou-se", "sendo-sacudida", "tremeu"]·RU["всколыхнулся", "затряслись", "колеблемая.", "поколеблю", "сотряслась"]·ES["sacudida", "sacudiré", "se-conmovió", "temblaron", "tembló"]·SW["ilitetemeka", "nitatikisa", "ukitikiswa.", "walitetemeka", "yote"]·TR["sarsacağım", "sarsıldı", "sarsıldılar", "sarsılınca"]·urd["کانپ-گئے", "کانپی", "ہل-گیا", "ہلاؤں-گا", "ہلائی-ہوئی"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σείω, Refs 8th c.BC+, poetry σίω Refs 6th c.BC+: Ep imperfect σεῖον Refs 8th c.BC+; Ionic dialect σείασκον (ἀνασ-) Refs: future σείσω LXX+5th c.BC+: aorist ἔσεισα Refs 5th c.BC+; Epic dialect σεῖσα Refs 8th c.BC+perfect σέσεικα (κατα-) Refs 4th c.BC+ —middle, aorist ἐσεισάμην (ἀπ-) Refs 6th c.BC+; Epic dialect σείσατο Refs 8th c.BC+:—passive, aorist ἐσείσθην Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect σέσεισμαι Refs…