"seed, Mt. 13:24, 27, 37, 38; semen virile, Heb. 11:11; offspring, posterity, Mt. 22:24, 25; Jn. 7:42; a seed of future generations, Rom. 9:29; in NT met. a seed or principle of spiritual life, 1 Jn. 3:9"
Definition and meaning
seed, Mt. 13:24, 27, 37, 38; semen virile, Heb. 11:11; offspring, posterity, Mt. 22:24, 25; Jn. 7:42; a seed of future generations, Rom. 9:29; in NT met. a seed or principle of spiritual life, 1 Jn. 3:9
In the original Greek the word is written: σπέρμα
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 sperma (G4690) across the King James Bible.
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
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Common questions
Strong's G4690 (sperma) is a Greek word that means: seed, Mt. 13:24, 27, 37, 38; semen virile, Heb. 11:11; offspring, posterity, Mt. 22:24, 25; Jn. 7:42; a seed of future generations, Rom. 9:29; in NT met. a seed or principle of spiritual life, 1 Jn. 3... It appears 41 times in the King James Bible.
The word sperma (G4690) appears 41 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4690 is sperma, a Greek word defined as: seed, Mt. 13:24, 27, 37, 38; semen virile, Heb. 11:11; offspring, posterity, Mt. 22:24, 25; Jn. 7:42; a seed of future generations, Rom. 9:29; in NT m. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
sperma is a Greek word found in the New Testament.