G4972 — σφραγίζω (sphragizō)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G4972
Original: σφραγίζω
Transliteration: sphragizō
Pronunciation: sfrag-id'-zo
Part of Speech: Verb
Root: σφραγίς (sphragis, G4973) — a signet, seal
Occurrences: 25 in NT (15 distinct verse locations)
First Occurrence: Matthew 27:66 — "So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

To stamp with a signet or private mark for security or preservation; to close up, make secure; to set a seal upon, mark with a seal as a means of identification, confirmation, or authentication.

Semantic Domains¶

Louw-Nida: - Domain 6.55: Instruments Used in Marking and Writing (physical seal/stamp) - Domain 28.52: Well Known, Clearly Shown, Revealed (confirmation/authentication) - Domain 33.46: Non-Verbal Communication (mark/sign) - Domain 57.84: Give (bestow/deliver securely) - Glosses: to seal, to put a seal on, to make secure - Other words in domain 6.55: κατασφραγίζω (G2696), σφραγίς (G4973), βιβλίον (G975), γράμμα (G1121)

UBS Semantic Domains: - [006] Artifacts - [033] Communication - [057] Possess, Transfer, Exchange - [015] Linear Movement - [028] Know

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Count	%
sealed	14	56.0%
sealing	1	4.0%
have sealed	1	4.0%
hath (sealed)	1	4.0%
shall stop	1	4.0%
ye were sealed with	1	4.0%
ye are sealed	1	4.0%
we have sealed	1	4.0%
which were sealed	1	4.0%
Seal up	1	4.0%
set a seal	1	4.0%
Seal	1	4.0%

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
Revelation	18	4.5
2 Corinthians	3	1.2
Ephesians	2	1.3
Matthew	1	0.1
Romans	1	0.2

Heavily concentrated in Revelation (72% of all uses), particularly in the sealing of the 144,000 (Rev 7:3–8). Pauline epistles use the word exclusively for spiritual sealing by the Holy Spirit. The single Gospel occurrence is physical (sealing a tomb).

Voice and Tense Distribution¶

Form	Count	Pattern
Aorist Active	7	Completed action of sealing (John 3:33; 6:27; Rev 7:3; 10:4; 20:3; 22:10)
Aorist Middle	2	Subject seals for own purpose (Rom 15:28; 2 Cor 1:22)
Aorist Passive	2	Subject is sealed by another (Eph 1:13; 4:30)
Perfect Passive Participle	4	Completed state — "the sealed ones" (Rev 7:4–8)

The passive voice appears exclusively in contexts of divine sealing of believers (Ephesians, Revelation 7).

Semantic Categories¶

1. Physical Sealing — Security and Closure¶

Matthew 27:66 — "So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch"
Revelation 20:3 — "cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him"

2. Divine Authentication — Confirming Truth¶

John 3:33 — "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true"
John 6:27 — "for him hath God the Father sealed" (authenticating Christ's mission)

3. Spiritual Sealing — Ownership and Protection by the Spirit¶

2 Corinthians 1:22 — "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts"
Ephesians 1:13 — "after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise"
Ephesians 4:30 — "grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption"

4. Eschatological Sealing — Marking God's People¶

Revelation 7:3 — "till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads"
Revelation 7:4 — "I heard the number of them which were sealed: an hundred and forty and four thousand"

5. Concealing / Closing Up Revelation¶

Revelation 10:4 — "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not"
Revelation 22:10 — "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book" (contrast — do NOT seal)
OT background: Daniel 9:24 — "to seal up the vision and prophecy" (LXX uses σφραγίζω)

6. Securing a Delivery¶

Romans 15:28 — "When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit"
2 Corinthians 11:10 — "no man shall stop me of this boasting" (metaphorical: seal off/block)

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
φυλή (phylē)	G5443	5x	"of the tribe of X were sealed" (Rev 7)
χιλιάς (chilias)	G5505	5x	"twelve thousand sealed" (Rev 7)
δώδεκα (dōdeka)	G1427	4x	"twelve thousand" (Rev 7)
πνεῦμα (pneuma)	G4151	3x	"sealed with the Spirit" (Eph, 2 Cor)
ἀκούω (akouō)	G191	3x	"I heard the number sealed" (Rev 7)
ἅγιος (hagios)	G40	2x	"holy Spirit" as agent of sealing
ἀλήθεια (alētheia)	G225	2x	"set seal that God is true" (John 3:33)
θεός (theos)	G2316	2x	God as source of sealing

Word Family / Cognates¶

G4973 σφραγίς (sphragis) — seal, signet ring (noun); 16 NT occurrences
G2696 κατασφραγίζω (katasphragizō) — to seal closely; 1 NT occurrence (Rev 5:1)

Synonyms¶

No direct synonyms were returned by search_relationships.py for G4972.

Antonyms¶

No direct antonyms were returned by search_relationships.py for G4972.

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
σφραγίς (sphragis)	G4973	"seal"	Noun (the seal/signet) vs. verb (to seal)
κατασφραγίζω (katasphragizō)	G2696	"seal"	Intensive compound: to seal up completely
חָתַם (chatham)	H2856	"seal"	Hebrew OT equivalent; same semantic range
חוֹתָם (chowtham)	H2368	"seal"	Hebrew noun: seal/signet ring

Hebrew Source (via LXX)¶

Hebrew Source	Strong's	Co-occurrence Count	PMI Score
חָתַם (chatham)	H2856	15	9.53
סֵפֶר (sepher)	H5612	7	5.53
סָתַם (satham)	H5640	3	7.92
טַבַּעַת (tabbaath)	H2885	3	6.92
עוּד (ud)	H5749	3	6.45

Primary Hebrew equivalent: H2856 חָתַם (chatham) — to close up, to seal. The LXX consistently renders chatham with σφραγίζω, preserving the full semantic range (physical closure, authentication, concealment).