σημεῖον
sēmeion
sign
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word σημεῖον (sēmeion) is a term that carries significant meaning in the context of the Bible. At its core, σημεῖον translates to "sign," indicating a visible or tangible representation of something greater. This word is part of the semantic domain of Covenant & Promise, suggesting that it is often associated with symbols or indicators of divine agreements or commitments. Throughout the Bible, σημεῖον appears 77 times, demonstrating its widespread use in various contexts. It can refer to miraculous events, such as Jesus' healings or the plagues that struck Egypt, which served as signs of God's power and presence. It can also denote natural phenomena, like the star that guided the Magi to Bethlehem, or even the resurrection of Jesus, which was seen as a sign of his divinity. The significance of σημεῖον lies in its ability to convey the idea that the invisible realm of God's promises and covenants is made visible through tangible events or objects. This concept speaks to the human desire for tangible evidence of the divine, and the word σημεῖον serves as a reminder that God often chooses to reveal himself through the natural world and human experience.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
77 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
Matthew 12:39But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Matthew 12:39But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Matthew 12:39But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Matthew 16:1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
Matthew 16:3In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times!
Matthew 16:4An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He left them, and departed.
Matthew 16:4An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He left them, and departed.
Matthew 16:4An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He left them, and departed.
Matthew 24:3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:24For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
Matthew 24:30and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
Matthew 26:48Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”
Mark 8:11The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him.
Mark 8:12He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Mark 8:12He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Mark 13:4“Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?”
Mark 13:22For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
Mark 16:17These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;
Mark 16:20They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
Luke 2:12This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”
Luke 2:34and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
Luke 11:16Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:29When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet.
Luke 11:29When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet.
Luke 11:29When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet.
Luke 11:30For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will also be to this generation.
Luke 21:7They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”
Luke 21:11There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Luke 21:25There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves;
Luke 23:8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.
John 2:11This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:18The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?”
John 2:23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did.
John 3:2The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
John 4:48Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.”
John 4:54This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.
John 6:2A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.
John 6:14When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.”
John 6:26Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.
John 6:30They said therefore to him, “What then do you do for a sign, that we may see and believe you? What work do you do?
John 20:30Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;
John 7:31But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?”
John 9:16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them.
John 10:41Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.”
John 11:47The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “What are we doing? For this man does many signs.
John 12:18For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign.
John 12:37But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him,
Acts 2:19I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
Acts 2:22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,