σπέρμ-α G4690
Seed; offspring or descendants (esp. Abraham's seed); literal agricultural seeds in botanical or theological contrast.
In the New Testament, this word overwhelmingly denotes human offspring or descendants rather than literal grain. The theological weight falls on 'the seed of Abraham' -- a phrase that Paul radically reinterprets in Galatians 3:16 by insisting the singular 'seed' points to Christ, not to many descendants. Spanish distinguishes 'descendencia' (lineage) from 'simiente/semilla' (botanical seed), neatly mirroring the two senses. French uses 'semence' for both, while German 'Same' similarly covers the range. The parable of the sower (Matt 13:24-38) bridges both senses: literal seeds become metaphors for the kingdom. In its literal botanical use (1 Cor 15:38; Mark 4:31), the word retains its agricultural concreteness.
Senses
1. seed, offspring, descendant(s) — Offspring, descendants, or posterity -- the dominant NT sense. Central to Abrahamic covenant theology: 'your seed' (John 8:33; Rom 9:7-8; Gal 3:29) and the Davidic line (Rom 1:3; 2 Tim 2:8). Spanish 'descendencia' and 'simiente' both capture the progeny meaning. Paul's singular/plural argument in Galatians 3:16 turns entirely on this word. Also used in the parable of the wheat and tares (Matt 13:24, 37-38) where seed = people sown in the world. 39×
AR["النَّسلِ", "نَسل", "نَسلًا", "نَسلٌ", "نَسلُكَ", "نَسلِ", "نَسلِهِ", "نَسْلٌ", "نَسْلُ", "نَسْلِ", "نَسْلِكَ", "نَسْلِهِ"]·ben["তার", "বংশ", "বংশকে", "বংশকে,", "বংশে", "বংশের"]·DE["Same"]·EN["offspring", "seed"]·FR["semence"]·heb["הִשְׁאִיר", "זֶרַע", "זַרְעוֹ", "יָקִים"]·HI["वंश", "वंश-को"]·ID["benih", "itu", "keturunan", "keturunan,"]·IT["seme"]·jav["turun", "turun,", "turunan", "turunanipun", "turunanipun,", "turunipun", "wiji", "wiji."]·KO["너-의", "씨", "씨-가", "씨-를", "씨-에게", "씨가", "씨를", "씨에서", "자손-에게", "자손을"]·PT["descendência", "descendência,", "semente", "semente."]·RU["потомства,", "потомство", "семени", "семя"]·ES["descendencia", "simiente"]·SW["-", "uzao", "uzao,"]·TR["-o", "soy", "soyu", "soyuna", "soyunda", "tohum", "tohumu", "tohumun", "tohumuna", "tohumundan"]·urd["اولاد-کو", "نسل", "نسل-کو", "نسل۔"]
Matt 13:24, Matt 13:27, Matt 13:37, Matt 13:38, Matt 22:24, Matt 22:25, Mark 12:19, Mark 12:20, Mark 12:21, Mark 12:22, Luke 1:55, Luke 20:28 (+27 more)
2. seeds (literal, plural agricultural) — Literal, physical seeds in agricultural or botanical contexts. The mustard seed (Matt 13:32; Mark 4:31) is the classic example -- the smallest of seeds growing into a great plant. Paul uses the plural 'seeds' (spermasin) in 1 Cor 15:38 for different kinds of grain, and pointedly contrasts plural 'seeds' with singular 'seed' in Gal 3:16. Spanish 'semillas' and English 'seeds' mark the concrete, botanical referent. 4×
AR["الأنسالِ", "البُذورِ", "بُذورِ", "بُذُورِ"]·ben["বংশগুলিকে,", "বীজের", "বীজের,"]·DE["Same"]·EN["seeds"]·FR["semence"]·heb["זְרָעִים"]·HI["बीजों", "बेएजोन-से", "वनशजोन,"]·ID["benih", "benih,", "keturunan-keturunan"]·IT["seme"]·jav["-wiji-wiji", "turun-turun,", "wiji-wiji", "wiji;"]·KO["씨들", "씨들-보다", "씨들에게,", "씨앗들-의"]·PT["sementes", "sementes,"]·RU["семенам", "семян"]·ES["descendencias", "semillas"]·SW["-za-mbegu", "mbegu"]·TR["kendi-", "soylara", "tohumların", "tohumlarının"]·urd["بیجوں-سے", "بیجوں-کے", "نسلوں"]
Related Senses
H0376 1. man, person, human male (2130×)H0251 1. brother (blood sibling) (573×)H0120 1. man, human being (individual/generic) (527×)H0802 1. woman, female person (519×)H0802 2. wife, spouse (255×)H0517 1. mother, female parent (217×)G0435 1. man, male person (202×)G1135 1. woman, adult female (190×)H2233 1. offspring, descendants (172×)H0001 2. ancestor, forefather (146×)H5288 1. Youth, young man (122×)H0269 1. sister (female sibling) (113×)H1755 1. generation, contemporaries (96×)G5043 1. child, offspring (89×)G0444 2. people, humankind (86×)H3206 1. child, boy, youth (86×)H2145 1. male (human being) (79×)G3384 1. mother (77×)H6485a 1. Qal passive participle: numbered ones, enrollment (76×)H1397 1. man (strong/mighty) (65×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σπέρμ-α, ατος, τό, (σπείρω) seed, only once in Refs 8th c.BC+ __I mostly, seed of plants, σ. ἀνιέναι, κρύπτειν, Refs 8th c.BC+; σ. τῇ γῇ διδόναι, ἐμβαλεῖν, Refs 5th c.BC+; of fruit, Refs 4th c.BC+; τοῖς γαίης σπέρμασι with the products of earth, of corn-stalks, Refs 1st c.AD+ __I.2 metaphorically, germ, origin of anything, σ. πυρός Refs 8th c.BC+; σπέρματα, ={στοιχεῖα}, elements, Refs 5th…