G4973 — σφραγίς (sphragis)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G4973
Original: σφραγίς
Transliteration: sphragis
Pronunciation: sfrag-ece'
Part of Speech: Feminine noun (n-f)
Root: Probably strengthened from G5420 (φράσσω, "to fence in"); a signet as that which fences in or protects from misappropriation
Occurrences: 16 unique verses (NT only)
Books: 4
First Occurrence: Rom 4:11 — "a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

A signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication, the stamp impressed as a mark of genuineness or the thing that fastens or secures. Used both literally (a signet ring or its impression) and figuratively (a confirming mark, token of authentication, divine ownership, or protection).

Semantic Domains¶

Louw-Nida:

σφραγίς appears in multiple Louw-Nida domains, reflecting its function as both a physical instrument and authenticating sign:

Domain 006.010: Artifacts: Instruments Used in Marking and Writing (primary physical object)
Domain 033.056: Communication: Non-Verbal Communication (seal as non-verbal sign)
Domain 073: Genuine, Phony (seal as authentication device)
Domain 006: Artifacts (general artifact classification)
Domain 033.005: Written Language (seal in documentary context)
Other words in 006.010: κατασφραγίζω (G2696), βιβλίον (G975), κάλαμος (G2563), μέλας (G3189)

UBS Semantic Domains: - [006] Artifacts - [033] Communication - [073] Genuine, Phony

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Verses	%
seal	9	56.2%
seals	5	31.2%
a seal	1	6.2%
the seal	1	6.2%

Entirely uniform — every occurrence renders as "seal" with no translation variance.

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
Revelation	13	3.2
2 Timothy	1	1.2
Romans	1	0.2
1 Corinthians	1	0.2

81% of occurrences are in Revelation at the highest density (3.2 per 100 verses). The word is essentially apocalyptic vocabulary; its three uses in Paul's epistles are isolated and carry the authentication sense rather than the eschatological.

Semantic Categories¶

1. Authentication — Seal as Proof or Certification¶

The seal confirms a truth, validates a claim, or certifies identity already established. The mark is the evidence, not the source.

Rom 4:11 — "he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised" — circumcision is the confirming mark of prior faith, not its cause
1 Cor 9:2 — "ye are the seal of mine apostleship in the Lord" — the Corinthian community as living proof of Paul's apostolic authority
2 Tim 2:19 — "the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his" — God's foundation bears an inscribed motto as its authenticating seal

2. The Sealed Heavenly Scroll — Divine Concealment Awaiting Authorization¶

A scroll in God's right hand, sealed shut with seven seals, inaccessible until the worthy one opens it.

Rev 5:1 — "a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals"
Rev 5:2 — "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?"
Rev 5:5, 9 — the Lion of Judah / the Lamb alone has authority to open the seals

3. Sequential Seal-Openings — Progressive Unveiling of Judgment¶

Each seal the Lamb opens releases a corresponding cosmic event or divine disclosure; six seals in Revelation 6, the seventh in Revelation 8.

Rev 6:1, 3, 5, 7 — first through fourth seals: four horsemen released
Rev 6:9, 12 — fifth seal: martyred souls; sixth seal: cosmic upheaval
Rev 8:1 — seventh seal: silence in heaven before the trumpet sequence begins

4. The Seal of the Living God — Divine Ownership and Protection¶

A seal held by an angel from the east, marking God's servants as protected from eschatological harm.

Rev 7:2 — "another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God" — sealing God's servants before harm is released
Rev 9:4 — "those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads" — the unsealed are exposed to the locust plague

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
ὁράω (horaō)	G3708	7x (44%)	Visionary "I saw" formula introducing seal imagery
λέγω (legō)	G3004	6x (38%)	Speech acts within seal-opening sequences
ἔχω (echō)	G2192	5x (31%)	"having the seal of God/apostleship/faith"
θεός (theos)	G2316	5x (31%)	"seal of God" / "seal of the living God"
βιβλίον (biblion)	G975	4x (25%)	"the book sealed with seven seals" (Rev 5)
ζῶον (zōon)	G2226	4x (25%)	Living creatures call "come" at each seal-opening (Rev 6)
φωνή (phōnē)	G5456	4x (25%)	Voice or thunder sound accompanying each opening

Word Family / Cognates¶

G4972 σφραγίζω (sphragizō) — the corresponding verb: to seal, stamp with a signet (25 NT occurrences)
G2696 κατασφραγίζω (katasphragizō) — intensive compound: to seal up completely (1x — Rev 5:1 only)

Synonyms¶

No direct synonyms were returned by search_relationships.py for G4973.

Antonyms¶

No direct antonyms were returned by search_relationships.py for G4973.

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
σφραγίζω (sphragizō)	G4972	"seal"	Cognate verb — the action of sealing; sphragis is the instrument or the mark left
חָתַם (châtham)	H2856	"seal"	Hebrew equivalent verb — rendered σφραγίζω (not σφραγίς) in LXX
חוֹתָם (chôwthâm)	H2368	"seal, signet"	Hebrew equivalent noun — signet ring; primary OT semantic parallel to σφραγίς

Hebrew Source¶

Hebrew	Strong's	LXX Co-occ	PMI	Notes
חוֹתָם (chôwthâm)	H2368	8x	10.71	Primary noun equivalent — signet ring, seal impression
פִּתּוּחַ (pittûwach)	H6603	6x	10.56	Engraving/inscription — LXX Exodus passages describing inscribed signet stones

High PMI scores reflect LXX Exodus contexts (Exod 28:11, 21, 36; 39:6, 14, 30) where signet rings with engraved inscriptions are described. The primary Hebrew semantic equivalent is H2368 (chowtham — signet/seal ring). Cross-testament trace not auto-created: co-occurrence of 8 is below the threshold of 20.