σημαίνω G4591
semaino -- to signify, indicate, or make known by signs or symbolic communication
The verb semaino (from sema, 'sign') means to indicate or make known through signs, signals, or symbolic speech. In John's Gospel it describes how Jesus 'signified' the manner of his death (John 12:33; 18:32) and Peter's death (John 21:19) -- using indirect, prophetic speech rather than plain statement. In Acts, the prophet Agabus 'signified' a coming famine through the Spirit (Acts 11:28), and in Revelation 1:1, God 'signified' the apocalyptic vision to John through an angel. The word thus carries connotations of indirect, mediated, or symbolic communication. Spanish dar a conocer and German anzeigen capture the revelatory dimension.
Senses
1. signify, indicate — To signify or make known by signs, indicating something through indirect, symbolic, or prophetic communication rather than plain speech. In John 12:33 and 18:32, Jesus signifies the kind of death he would die; in John 21:19, he signifies Peter's future martyrdom; in Acts 11:28, Agabus signifies a famine through the Spirit; in Acts 25:27, Festus must signify the charges against Paul; and in Rev 1:1, God signifies the apocalyptic vision through an angel. Spanish indicar and French signifier preserve the sign-based communication nuance. The word consistently implies revelation mediated through tokens, symbols, or prophetic utterance. 6×
AR["أَشَارَ", "أَعْلَنَ", "أَنْ-أُوَضِّحَ", "مُشِيرًا"]·ben["চিহ্নিত-করলেন", "জানাইতে", "জানাল", "সঙ্কেত-করে", "সঙ্কেত-দিয়ে"]·DE["anzeigen", "σημᾶναι", "ἐσήμανεν"]·EN["he-signified", "signified", "signifying", "to-indicate"]·FR["faire-signe", "signifier"]·heb["הוֹדִיעַ", "לְצַיֵּן", "מְסַמֵּן", "מְרַמֵּז", "רָמַז"]·HI["प्रकट-किया,", "बताना।", "संकेत-करते-हुए", "संकेत-दिया", "संकेत-देते-हुए"]·ID["Dia-menyatakan,", "menandakan", "menunjukkan", "menunjukkan."]·IT["esēmanen", "segnare", "semainon"]·jav["dipunmangertosaken", "nedahaken", "nuduhaken", "nyariyosaken."]·KO["가리키며", "나타내며", "밝히기를", "알리셨다", "예언했다"]·PT["comunicou", "indicando", "indicar."]·RU["обозначил,", "предсказал", "указать", "указывая"]·ES["dio-a-conocer", "indicar", "indicó", "señalando", "significando"]·SW["akionyesha", "aliashiria,", "alionyesha", "kuonyesha"]·TR["belirterek", "belirtmek", "bildirdi", "göstererek", "işaret-etti"]·urd["اشارہ-کرتے-ہوئے", "بتاتے-ہوئے", "بتایا", "ظاہر کرتے ہوئے", "ظاہر-کرنا", "ظاہر-کیا"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σημαίνω, Refs 8th c.BC+; σᾱμαίνω, Refs: Ionic dialect imperfect σημαίνεσκον Refs 4th c.AD+: future σημᾰνῶ Refs 5th c.BC+, Ionic dialect -ᾰνέωRefs 8th c.BC+aorist ἐσήμηναRefs 5th c.BC+, Epic dialect σήμηνα Refs 8th c.BC+; but in codices of NT+5th c.BC+: perfect σεσήμαγκα Refs 4th c.BC+ —middle, future σημᾰνοῦμαι, Ionic dialect -έομαιRefs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐσημηνάμην Refs 8th c.BC+:—passive, future…