σείω
seiō
to shake
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word σείω (seiō) translates to "to shake". It is used five times in the Bible, conveying the idea of motion caused by external forces such as wind, water, or other disturbances. In the contexts where it appears, σείω seems to emphasize the intensity or rapidity of the movement, such as in Matthew 27:51, where an earthquake shakes the ground. The meaning and usage of σείω are straightforward, without any nuances or multiple connotations. It appears to describe a sudden, forceful movement or disturbance that affects the physical environment. Given its relatively limited occurrences in the Bible, σείω does not hold a significant or central role in the narrative or theological themes. However, it provides a tangible detail that enriches the descriptive power of the passages in which it is found.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences across the text
When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”
Matthew 27:51Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
Matthew 28:4For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
Hebrews 12:26whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”
Revelation 6:13The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind.