Lexical Summary speiró: To sow Original Word: σπείρω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sow, scatterProbably strengthened from spao (through the idea of extending); to scatter, i.e. Sow (literally or figuratively) -- sow(- er), receive seed. see GREEK spao NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to sow (seed) NASB Translation sow (13), sowed (6), sower (5), sower sows (1), sowing (1), sown (17), sows (8). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4687: σπείρωσπείρω; (imperfect 2 person singular ἐσπειρες, Matthew 13:27 Tr); 1 aorist ἔσπειρα; passive, present σπείρομαι; perfect passive participle ἐσπαρμενος; 2 aorist ἐσπάρην; (derived from the quick, jerky, motion of the hand; cf. our spurn (of the foot); Curtius, § 389); from Hesiod down; the Sept. for זָרַע ; to sow, scatter seed; a. properly: absolutely, Matthew 6:26; Matthew 13:3f, 18; Mark 4:3f, 14; Luke 8:5; Luke 12:24; (John 5:36f (see in b.)); 2 Corinthians 9:10; with an accusative of the thing, as σπέρμα ζιζάνια, κόκκον (cf. Buttmann, § 131, 5): Matthew 13:24f (but in 25 L T Tr WH have ἐπέσπειρεν), 27,37,39; Mark 4:32: Luke 8:5; 1 Corinthians 15:36f; with specifications of place: εἰς τάς ἀκάνθας, Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:18; ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, Matthew 13:24 (31); ἐπί τῆς γῆς. Mark 4:31; ἐπί with an accusative of place, Matthew 13:20, 23; Mark 4:16, 20; παρά τήν ὁδόν, Matthew 13:19. b. in proverbial sayings: absolutely, Matthew 25:24, 26; Luke 19:21; John 4:37; 2 Corinthians 9:6; τί, Galatians 6:7 (on these sayings see θερίζω, b.). in comparisons: σπρίειν εἰς τήν σάρκα, εἰς τό πνεῦμα (σάρξ and πνεῦμα are likened to fields to be sown), to do those things which satisfy the nature and promptings of the σάρξ or of the πνεῦμα, Galatians 6:8; τόν λόγον, to scatter the seeds of instruction, i. e. to impart instruction, Mark 4:14f; ὁ λόγος, ὁ ἐσπαρμενος ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, the ideas and precepts that have been implanted like seed in their hearts, i. e. received in their hearts, Mark 14:15 (here Tr text WH εἰς αὐτούς into their hearts T L marginal reading ἐν αὐτοῖς); οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ παρά τήν ὁδόν σπαρείς, this one experiences the fate of the seed sown by the wayside, Matthew 13:19; add, 20-23; Mark 4:16, 18, 20. τό σῶμα, the body, which after death is committed like seed to the earth, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; καρπόν δικαιοσύνης, i. e. that seed which produces καρπόν δικαιοσύνης (see καρπός, 2 b.), James 3:18; σπείρειν τίνι τί, to give, manifest, something to one, from whom we may subsequently receive something else akin to a harvest (θερίζομεν), 1 Corinthians 9:11. (Compare: διασπείρω, ἐπισπείρω.) The verb σπείρω (4687) draws its imagery from the regular rhythm of agrarian life in the ancient Near East. Sowing preceded the early rains and was performed by hand, the farmer casting seed broadly over ploughed soil. Harvest followed months later, linking labour, patience, prayer for rain, and trust in God’s providence (compare Deuteronomy 11:14). Every New Testament use of σπείρω taps into this shared experience, turning a familiar task into a living illustration of spiritual realities. Primary Usage in the Teachings of Jesus 1. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8) 2. The Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) 3. Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31; Mark 4:31-32) 4. Non-Parabolic Teaching Sowing and Reaping as a Moral and Spiritual Law 1. Pauline Epistles 2. General Epistles 3. Johannine Insight Eschatological Application: Resurrection Paul’s longest reflection on σπείρω appears in 1 Corinthians 15:36-44. The burial of the believer’s body is described as sowing: Sowing therefore provides the canonical analogy for bodily resurrection—continuity with transformation, mortality giving way to immortality through Christ’s victory. Sowing in Ministry and Stewardship Beyond evangelism, σπείρω accents lifestyle investment: time, treasure, and talents placed in God’s field. Luke 19:21-22 and Matthew 25:24-26 quote hesitant servants who wrongly accuse their master of “reaping where you did not sow,” contrasting faithful risk with fearful inaction. Proper stewardship requires courageous sowing that trusts God for increase. Community Ethics and Mercy Peacemaking, restoration of the fallen (Galatians 6:1-2), and everyday kindness operate under the sowing motif. The church is pictured as a field where righteous deeds, shepherding, and sound teaching germinate and mature (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). The Blessing of Divine Provision 2 Corinthians 9:10 reassures believers that God not only receives the seed of faith but “will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” Material and spiritual sufficiency flow from the divine storehouse, refuting scarcity-driven anxiety and fostering glad dependence. Canonical Harmony and Theological Consistency Across Gospel narrative, Pauline argument, and wisdom exhortation, σπείρω maintains a unified message: God’s word and works, once sown, inevitably accomplish His purpose (compare Isaiah 55:10-11). Human agency co-operates without eclipsing sovereign oversight; judgment and reward respect the quality of the seed and soil alike. Historical Interpretation in Church Tradition Early exegetes—Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Augustine—identified the sower primarily with Christ and secondarily with His commissioned ministers. Medieval homilies applied sowing imagery to sacramental life, while Reformers restored the prominence of the preached word as seed. Modern missionaries likewise adopted the metaphor to frame evangelistic strategy and patient discipleship. Practical Application For Contemporary Disciples • Receive the planted word with a cultivated heart. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:26 V-PIA-3PGRK: ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν NAS: of the air, that they do not sow, nor KJV: of the air: for they sow not, neither INT: that not they sow nor do they reap Matthew 13:3 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 13:3 V-PNA Matthew 13:4 V-PNA Matthew 13:18 V-APA-GMS Matthew 13:19 V-RPM/P-ANS Matthew 13:19 V-APP-NMS Matthew 13:20 V-APP-NMS Matthew 13:22 V-APP-NMS Matthew 13:23 V-APP-NMS Matthew 13:24 V-APA-DMS Matthew 13:25 V-IIA-3S Matthew 13:27 V-AIA-2S Matthew 13:31 V-AIA-3S Matthew 13:37 V-PPA-NMS Matthew 13:39 V-APA-NMS Matthew 25:24 V-AIA-2S Matthew 25:26 V-AIA-1S Mark 4:3 V-PPA-NMS Mark 4:3 V-ANA Mark 4:4 V-PNA Mark 4:14 V-PPA-NMS Mark 4:14 V-PIA-3S Mark 4:15 V-PIM/P-3S Mark 4:15 V-RPM/P-AMS Strong's Greek 4687 |
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