σπείρω

I sow, spread, scatter

Definition

The verb σπείρω primarily means 'to sow' or 'to scatter seed' in a literal agricultural sense, as seen in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-4). Figuratively, it extends to the act of spreading or disseminating something, such as the preaching of the word of God (Matthew 13:19) or the scattering of people (John 7:35). In a negative sense, it can refer to sowing discord or strife (2 Corinthians 9:6, Galatians 6:7-8). The word also carries the metaphorical idea of producing a future result, where what is sown determines what is reaped.

Biblical Usage

σπείρω is used 42 times in the New Testament, predominantly in the Synoptic Gospels, especially in Matthew's and Luke's accounts of Jesus's agricultural parables. It appears frequently in Matthew 13, explaining the kingdom of heaven. Paul uses it metaphorically in his letters to discuss spiritual principles of sowing and reaping (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:36-38, 2 Corinthians 9:6). The usage consistently bridges literal farming with spiritual truths about the word of God, human actions, and their consequences.

Etymology

Derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sper-, meaning 'to strew, sow.' It is the source of the English word 'spore.' In Greek, it is the basic verb for sowing seed and is related to σπόρος (sporos, G4703) meaning 'seed' or 'sowing.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it is central to Jesus's teaching on the kingdom of God in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), illustrating how different hearts receive the gospel. It underpins the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, a key concept in understanding God's moral order, human responsibility, and future judgment (Galatians 6:7-8). Understanding σπείρω enriches reading by highlighting the intentionality and consequential nature of spreading God's word and living a faithful life.

In the agrarian society of first-century Palestine, sowing was a fundamental, hands-on activity familiar to most listeners. Sowers typically scattered seed by hand onto plowed ground. This context makes Jesus's parables immediately accessible. The success of a crop was precarious, dependent on soil quality, weather, and birds, which amplifies the parable's imagery of varied receptivity and external threats to the word.

σκορπίζω (skorpizō, G4650) — emphasizes scattering widely, often of people or objects, sometimes with a destructive connotation. κατασπείρω (kataspeirō, G4626) — a compound verb meaning to sow or scatter upon or over. σπέρμα (sperma, G4690) — the noun for 'seed,' the object that is sown.

Word Details

Scripture References