G4592 — σημεῖον (sēmeion)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G4592
Original: σημεῖον
Transliteration: sēmeion
Pronunciation: say-mi'-on
Part of Speech: Neuter noun
Root: From the base of σημαίνω (G4591, "to signify, indicate") — literally "a mark that points to something"
Occurrences: 77 tokens in 69 unique verses across 11 NT books
First Occurrence: Mat 12:38 — "Master, we would see a sign (sēmeion) from thee"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of σημαίνω; an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally — a sign, miracle, token, wonder. A σημεῖον is not merely a wonder in itself but a pointer: something observable that signifies a deeper meaning, identity, or authority behind it. The word denotes the meaning-bearing character of a display, in contrast to its sheer power (δύναμις) or its capacity to astonish (τέρας).

Louw-Nida Semantic Domain¶

Domain: 33 — Communication
Subdomain: 33.056 — Non-Verbal Communication
Other words in subdomain: διανεύω (G1269, "beckoned"), ἔκστασις (G1611, "trance"), ἐννεύω (G1770, "make signs"), ἐνυπνιάζομαι (G1797, "dream"), ἐνύπνιον (G1798, "dream"), κατανεύω (G2656, "beckon"), κατασείω (G2678, "beckon"), νεύω (G3506, "beckon"), ὄναρ (G3677, "dream"), ὀπτασία (G3701, "vision"), ὅραμα (G3705, "vision"), ὅρασις (G3706, "vision/sight")

Classified under communication rather than power — underscoring that σημεῖον is semiotic: a sign conveys a message. The miraculous or visionary character is incidental to its primary function of signifying.

UBS Semantic Domains¶

Code	Domain Label	Notes
033	Communication	`search_relationships.py` keeps sēmeion in the communication domain, underscoring that a sign is a meaning-bearing act or object before it is merely a display of power.

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Verses	%
signs / the signs	19	27.5%
a sign / the sign / that signs / with signs	28	40.6%
miracles / the miracles / those miracles / of miracles	15	21.7%
miracle / the miracle	7	10.1%
wonder / wonders	3	4.3%
token	1	1.4%

Note: "miracle(s)" clusters heavily in John (13 of 22 John occurrences so translated); "sign(s)" dominates the Synoptics, Acts, Paul, and Revelation. The KJV translator's choice reflects context rather than semantic shift.

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
2 Thessalonians	2	4.3
John	17	1.9
Revelation	7	1.7
Acts	13	1.3
Mark	6	0.9
Matthew	9	0.8
Luke	9	0.8
1 Corinthians	2	0.5
Romans	2	0.5
2 Corinthians	1	0.4
Hebrews	1	0.3

Patterns: Concentration in John (Johannine "book of signs") and Acts (apostolic confirmation) marks the word as theologically weighted in authentication narratives. Revelation's density is driven by both the heavenly sign of the woman (12:1) and the deceptive signs of the beast/false prophet (13:13-14; 16:14; 19:20). 2 Thessalonians scores highest per-verse density on the strength of a single verse (2:9) about Satan's "lying wonders" — this single datum dominates the book's small size. Absent from James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, and most of the general epistles.

Semantic Categories¶

1. Authenticating Signs of Jesus the Messiah (Johannine "Signs")¶

In John's Gospel, σημεῖον designates Jesus' miracles as revelatory pointers to his identity and glory, eliciting (or failing to elicit) belief. - John 2:11 — "This beginning of miracles (sēmeiōn) did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him" - John 6:14 — "when they had seen the miracle (sēmeion) that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet" - John 12:37 — "though he had done so many miracles (sēmeia) before them, yet they believed not" - John 20:30 — "many other signs (sēmeia) truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples"

2. Demanded Sign (Hostile / Testing Context)¶

A σημεῖον sought by adversaries as proof; Jesus typically refuses or points only to "the sign of Jonah." - Mat 12:38-39 — "Master, we would see a sign (sēmeion) from thee… An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign" - Mat 16:1, 4 — Pharisees and Sadducees "tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven" - Mark 8:11-12 — "seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him… Why doth this generation seek after a sign?" - 1 Cor 1:22 — "For the Jews require a sign (sēmeion), and the Greeks seek after wisdom"

3. Eschatological Sign (The Sign of the End / of the Son of Man)¶

A σημεῖον that marks or heralds a future event — particularly the coming of the Son of Man and the consummation. - Mat 24:3 — "what shall be the sign (sēmeion) of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" - Mat 24:30 — "then shall appear the sign (sēmeion) of the Son of man in heaven" - Luke 21:11, 25 — "great signs (sēmeia) shall there be from heaven… signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars" - Mark 13:4 — "what shall be the sign (sēmeion) when all these things shall be fulfilled?"

4. Apostolic Confirming Signs (Authenticating the Gospel)¶

Signs wrought by apostles (and associated believers) to bear God's witness to the preached word. - Mark 16:17, 20 — "these signs (sēmeia) shall follow them that believe… confirming the word with signs following" - Acts 2:43; 4:30; 5:12 — "many wonders and signs were done by the apostles" - Acts 14:3 — God "gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs (sēmeia) and wonders to be done by their hands" - Heb 2:4 — "God also bearing them witness, both with signs (sēmeiois) and wonders, and with divers miracles" - 2 Cor 12:12 — "the signs (sēmeia) of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds"

5. Deceptive / Lying Signs of False Prophets and the Adversary¶

Parallel construction: the adversary's agents perform σημεῖα that imitate the authentic, intended to deceive. - Mat 24:24 / Mark 13:22 — "there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs (sēmeia) and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" - 2 Thess 2:9 — "whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs (sēmeiois) and lying wonders" - Rev 13:13-14 — "he doeth great wonders (sēmeia)… And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles (sēmeia) which he had power to do" - Rev 16:14 — "the spirits of devils, working miracles (sēmeia), which go forth unto the kings of the earth" - Rev 19:20 — "the false prophet that wrought miracles (sēmeia) before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast"

6. Identifying Token / Symbolic Mark¶

σημεῖον as a designated indicator of identity or covenant — not necessarily miraculous. - Mat 26:48 — "gave them a sign (sēmeion), saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he" - Luke 2:12 — "this shall be a sign (sēmeion) unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes" - Rom 4:11 — "he received the sign (sēmeion) of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith" - 2 Thess 3:17 — "the salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token (sēmeion) in every epistle"

7. Heavenly / Apocalyptic Sign (Vision Marker)¶

In Revelation, σημεῖον introduces a symbolic tableau seen in heaven. - Rev 12:1 — "there appeared a great wonder (sēmeion) in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun" - Rev 12:3 — "there appeared another wonder (sēmeion) in heaven; and behold a great red dragon" - Rev 15:1 — "I saw another sign (sēmeion) in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels"

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
ποιέω (poieō, "do/make")	G4160	25x (36%)	"did signs / do miracles" — the standard verb for performing σημεῖα (Jesus, apostles, beast, false prophet alike)
τέρας (teras, "wonder")	G5059	16x (23%)	Fixed doublet "signs and wonders" (sēmeia kai terata) — the signature NT pairing for miraculous authentication (Acts 2:19, 22, 43; 4:30; 5:12; 14:3; 15:12; Rom 15:19; 2 Cor 12:12; Heb 2:4) and its deceptive counterpart (Mat 24:24; Mark 13:22; 2 Thess 2:9)
λέγω (legō, "say")	G3004	15x (22%)	Introduces demand/dialogue: "saying, shew us a sign"
οὐρανός (ouranos, "heaven")	G3772	11x (16%)	"sign from heaven" — common demand (Mat 16:1; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16) and apocalyptic locus (Rev 12:1, 3; 15:1)
πολύς (polys, "many")	G4183	11x (16%)	"many signs/miracles" — cumulative testimony (John 2:23; 11:47; 12:37; 20:30; Acts 2:43; 5:12; 8:6)
δύναμις (dynamis, "power, mighty work")	G1411	8x (12%)	Triadic pairing "powers, signs, wonders" — completes the three-term formula for authenticated revelation (Acts 2:22; 2 Cor 12:12; 2 Thess 2:9; Heb 2:4)
μέγας (megas, "great")	G3173	8x (12%)	"great signs" — intensifier applied to both authentic (Luke 21:11; Acts 6:8) and deceptive (Mat 24:24; Rev 13:13)
πιστεύω (pisteuō, "believe")	G4100	10x (14%)	Signs as the trigger for (or scandalously insufficient for) faith (John 2:11, 23; 4:48; 7:31; 11:47; 12:37)
γῆ (gē, "earth")	G1093	7x (10%)	"on the earth" — location of performed/viewed signs; contrasts with "from heaven"
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous, "Jesus")	G2424	10x (14%)	Subject performing σημεῖα in the Gospels

Word Family / Cognates¶

σημαίνω (sēmainō) G4591 — base verb: "to signify, make known by a sign" (Acts 11:28; 25:27; John 12:33; 18:32; 21:19; Rev 1:1 — "he sent and signified it by his angel")
σημειόω (sēmeioō) G4593 — related verb: "to note, mark out" (2 Thess 3:14, "note that man")
ἄσημος (asēmos) G767 — privative: "without mark, unknown" (Acts 21:39, "no mean city")
ἐπίσημος (episēmos) G1978 — "marked upon, notable, of note" (Mat 27:16; Rom 16:7)
εὔσημος (eusēmos) G2154 — "well-marked, easily understood" (1 Cor 14:9)
σύσσημον (syssēmon) G4953 — "prearranged signal" (Mark 14:44)

Synonyms¶

search_relationships.py surfaces nearby sign-bearing or meaning-bearing terms here rather than strict one-for-one lexical equivalents:

G3850 παραβολή (parabolē)
G3422 μνημόσυνον (mnēmosynon)
G4161 ποίημα (poiēma)
G5401 φόβος (phobos)
G5059 τέρας (teras)

Antonyms¶

No antonyms were returned by search_relationships.py for G4592.

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
δύναμις (dynamis)	G1411	"miracle(s)" (KJV renders G1411 as "miracles" 4× and G4592 as "miracles" 15×)	dynamis = the raw power/mighty work itself; sēmeion = the same work viewed as a sign pointing to meaning. Paul triads them (2 Cor 12:12): "signs, wonders, and mighty deeds (dynamesin)"
τέρας (teras)	G5059	"wonder(s)" (G5059 never stands alone in NT; always paired with σημεῖον)	teras = the astonishing, portentous aspect (what amazes the viewer); sēmeion = the same event as message-bearing (what it signifies)
θαυμάζω / θαῦμα	G2296 / G2295	occasionally shares "wonder" in KJV	thauma = the emotional reaction of astonishment; sēmeion = the objective sign that provokes it
ὅραμα (horama)	G3705	same Louw-Nida subdomain (33.056)	horama = a visionary appearance seen internally/prophetically; sēmeion = an external, public display
μαρτύριον (martyrion)	G3142	both denote confirming evidence	martyrion = verbal/legal testimony; sēmeion = observable display that bears witness

LXX / Hebrew Source Overlap (Confusion via Hebrew)¶

Through LXX, σημεῖον most often renders H226 אוֹת (ʼôwth) — the broad Hebrew sign-word (covenant sign, natural sign, divine portent). It also renders H4159 מוֹפֵת (môwphêth) — typically rendered τέρας, but sometimes σημεῖον — and less commonly H5251 נֵס (nēs, "banner/standard"). The conflation in Greek can flatten distinctions the Hebrew preserved between covenant-marker (ʼôwth) and portent-wonder (môwphêth).

Hebrew Source (via LXX)¶

Hebrew Source	Strong's	Co-occ	PMI	Notes
אוֹת (ʼôwth)	H226	72	7.79	Primary OT counterpart — covenant signs (rainbow, circumcision, sabbath), prophetic signs, signs-and-wonders of the Exodus
מוֹפֵת (môwphêth)	H4159	22	7.20	"Wonder, portent" — often paired with ʼôwth in Exodus/Deuteronomy; usually rendered τέρας but sometimes σημεῖον
נֵס (nēs)	H5251	9	6.72	"Banner, standard, ensign" — occasional rendering (e.g., Num 26:10 "for a sign")
טוֹפָפָה (ṭôwphāphāh)	H2903	3	7.87	"Frontlet" (Deut 6:8) — the bound token on forehead/hand
מַסָּה (maççāh)	H4531	3	7.13	"Testing, trial" — via Deuteronomic language of Egypt's plagues as "signs and testings"
מוֹרָא (môwrāʼ)	H4172	3	5.87	"Fear, terror" — the Exodus formula "with great terror" (rendered with σημεῖα in contexts)

Collocational ecology (Hebrew co-matrix): H4714 מִצְרַיִם (Egypt), H6547 פַּרְעֹה (Pharaoh), H2389 חָזָק (mighty) — σημεῖον inherits the Exodus-authentication paradigm: signs as the mode by which YHWH validates his messenger against a rival power. The NT redeploys this exact paradigm twice — for Jesus/apostles (authentic authentication) and for the adversary (counterfeit authentication).

Structural Observation: The "Signs and Wonders" Formula¶

σημεῖον and τέρας are bonded in the NT as a fixed idiom (sēmeia kai terata, 16× co-occurrence). Often expanded to a triad with δύναμις (power/mighty deed). Distribution of this formula:

Authentic / divinely sourced: Acts 2:19, 22, 43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 14:3; 15:12; Rom 15:19; 2 Cor 12:12; Heb 2:4 — authenticates prophet/apostle/Christ
Counterfeit / adversarial: Mat 24:24; Mark 13:22; 2 Thess 2:9 — authenticates false Christ/false prophet

The same vocabulary, the same formula, the same observable phenomenology — distinguished only by source, content of the message, and fruit. The NT nowhere claims that signs are self-authenticating; Deut 13 logic (a sign from a prophet who teaches apostasy is to be rejected) remains operative under the σημεῖον word.