TR: ʼowth → semeion (Sign/Token)¶
The Chain¶
Hebrew OT LXX (Greek OT) Greek NT
─────────── ─────────────── ────────
אוֹת (ʼowth) → σημεῖον (semeion) → σημεῖον (semeion)
H226, 77x 72x as translation 69x in NT
"sign, token" of ʼowth "sign, miracle"
OT Usage (Hebrew)¶
| Strong's | Word | Occurrences | Primary Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| H226 | אוֹת (ʼowth) | 77 | sign, token, signal |
| H852 | אָת (ʼath) | 3 | sign (Aramaic cognate) |
Key OT passages: - Gen 1:14 — heavenly bodies as signs for seasons - Exo 31:13 — Sabbath as covenant sign between God and Israel - Isa 7:14 — the Lord gives a sign: a virgin conceives
LXX Bridge¶
| Hebrew | Greek Translation | Co-occ | PMI Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ʼowth (H226) | σημεῖον (G4592) | 72x | 33.43 | Primary equivalent |
| ʼowth (H226) | τέρας (G5059) | 17x | 20.30 | "wonders" contexts |
| mowpheth (H4159) | σημεῖον (G4592) | 22x | 22.57 | Competing source |
| nes (H5251) | σημεῖον (G4592) | 9x | 15.47 | Minor source |
Semantic continuity in translation: The LXX renders ʼowth as semeion in ~94% of cases — an exceptionally tight correspondence. Both words carry the same core meaning: a visible indicator that communicates something beyond itself. The Hebrew sense of "covenant marker" (Gen 9:12, Exo 31:13) maps cleanly into the Greek, where semeion retains this indicative function.
When ʼowth appears in the formula "signs and wonders" (ʼothoth u-mophethim), the LXX uses the fixed pair σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα (semeia kai terata), splitting the Hebrew pair across two Greek words rather than doubling semeion.
NT Usage (Greek)¶
| Strong's | Word | Occurrences | Primary Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| G4592 | σημεῖον (semeion) | 69 | sign, miracle, token |
| G5059 | τέρας (teras) | 16 | wonder, prodigy (always plural, always paired with semeion) |
Key NT passages: - Luk 2:12 — "this shall be a sign (semeion) unto you" — echoes OT confirmatory sign pattern - Jhn 2:11 — "This beginning of miracles (semeia)" — sign as revelation of glory - Rom 4:11 — "he received the sign (semeion) of circumcision" — direct covenant-sign continuity from Gen 17:11 - 1Co 1:22 — "the Jews require a sign (semeion)" — sign-demand as cultural pattern
See G4592-semeion.md for full NT distribution and the authentic/deceptive dual valence.
Direct OT-NT Continuity¶
| NT Verse | OT Echo | Shared Pattern | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rom 4:11 | Gen 17:11 | circumcision as ʼowth/semeion of covenant | Paul explicitly calls circumcision a semeion, the same word LXX uses for ʼowth |
| Act 2:19 | Joel 2:30 | "signs and wonders" | Peter quotes Joel using semeia kai terata, continuing the Exodus formula |
| Mat 12:38-39 | Exo 4:8-9 | demand for authenticating sign | Pharisees seek the same kind of sign Moses gave |
| Luk 2:12 | 1Sa 2:34 | "this shall be a sign unto you" | Identical formula: confirmatory sign of a divine promise |
Continuity and Shifts¶
What stays the same across testaments: - The core meaning: a visible indicator pointing to a reality beyond itself - The "covenant sign" usage (Gen 17:11 → Rom 4:11) - The "signs and wonders" formula as a fixed pair describing God's mighty acts - Signs given to confirm or authenticate divine messages
What shifts: - In the OT, ʼowth frequently denotes ongoing memorial signs (Sabbath, circumcision, phylacteries); in the NT, semeion tilts toward singular authenticating events (miracles of Jesus) - John's Gospel uses semeion as a technical term for Jesus' miracles (17x), a concentration without OT parallel - NT develops a negative theology of sign-seeking (Mat 12:39, 1Co 1:22) not present in the OT usage
Generated from: gather_trace_data.py, search_strongs.py (--lxx-map, --hebrew-source, --lookup) Last updated: 2026-04-15