"to sow seed, Mt. 6:26; 13:3, 4, 18, 24, 25, 27, 37, 3"
Definition and meaning
to sow seed, Mt. 6:26; 13:3, 4, 18, 24, 25, 27, 37, 3
In the original Greek the word is written: σπείρω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of speiro (G4687) across the King James Bible.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
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Common questions
Strong's G4687 (speiro) is a Greek word that means: to sow seed, Mt. 6:26; 13:3, 4, 18, 24, 25, 27, 37, 3 It appears 41 times in the King James Bible.
The word speiro (G4687) appears 41 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4687 is speiro, a Greek word defined as: to sow seed, Mt. 6:26; 13:3, 4, 18, 24, 25, 27, 37, 3. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
speiro is a Greek word found in the New Testament.