Quick Definition
σείω v. I shake
Strong's Definition
apparently a primary verb; to rock (vibrate, properly, sideways or to and fro), i.e. (generally) to agitate (in any direction; cause to tremble); figuratively, to throw into a tremor (of fear or concern)
KJV Usage: move, quake, shake
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | ἀνασείω · διασείω · κατασείω · σεισμός
16.7 · Non-Linear Movement
to shake to cause something to move back and forth rapidly, often violently In some languages there are quite distinct terms for shaking, depending upon the vigor of the motion and/or the objects which are shaken. Accordingly, one must exercise care in selecting terms which will accurately and adequately represent the nature of the shaking in the various contexts. For example, in HEB 12:26 the shaking would presumably involve some kind of reverberation, but in REV 6:13 the action of the wind suggests whipping something back and forth.
25.233 · Attitudes and Emotions · Worry, Anxiety, Distress, Peace
to stir up, to cause an uproar, to cause great anxiety (a figurative extension of meaning of σείω[a] ‘to shake,’ 16.7) to cause extreme anxiety and apprehension, implying accompanying movement
16.6 · (σείομαι) · Non-Linear Movement
to tremble, trembling, to quiver, to shake to shake or tremble, often with the implication of fear and/or consternation In a number of languages there are two distinct terms for trembling, one relating to illness (as in the case of epileptic seizures or the chills and fever associated with malaria) and the other associated with fear.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
σείω ; fut. σείσω (Heb. xii. 261, Τ Tr WH); Pass., pres. ptep. σειόμενος ; 1 aor. ἐσείσθην; fr. Hom. down; Sept. chiefly for wy1; to shake, agitate, cause to tremble: Rev. vi. 13; τὴν γῆν, Heb. xii. 26 after Hag. ii. 6; ἐσείσθη ἡ γῆ, Mt. xxvii. 51 (Judg. v. 4; 2S. xxii. 8); σεισθῆναι ἀπὸ φόβυυ, of men, to be thrown into a tremor, fo quake for fear, Mt. xxviii. 4; metaph. fo agitate the mind: ἐσείσθη ἡ πόλις, [R. V. was slirred] i. 6. its inhabitants, Mt. xxi. 10. [Comp.: ἀνα-, δια-, kara- σείω.}
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
σείω seiō 5x
to shake, agitate, Heb. 12:26; pass. to quake, Mt. 27:51; 28:4; Rev. 6:13; met. to put in commotion, agitate, Mt. 21:10
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
σείω
[in LXX chiefly for רעשׁ ;]
to shake, move to and fro: τ. γῆν, He 12:26 (LXX); pass., ἡ γῆ, Mt 27:51 (LXX); συκῆ, Re 6:13. Metaph., to agitate, stir up, with fear or some other emotion: Mt 21:10 28:4 (cf. ἀνα-, δια-, κατα-σείω).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
σείω, “shake”: P Lond 4613 (iv/a.p.) (=I. p. 79) ὁ σείσας τὴν οἰκουμένην, Aazhel 10467 σίσασα λόφον. The verb is used metaphorically in BGU I. 4289 (ii/a.p.) ἔ]σεισεν τοὺς περὶ αὐτόν, and P Oxy X. 1252 γεοίοϑτ (A.D. 288-95) δηλοῦμεν ὡς μηδὲν ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ σεσεῖσθαι, “we affirm that nothing has been extorted from us by him”: for the mixed construction the editors compare Ac 27! MGr (σείζω).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
σείω (seiō) — to shake. σείω, [Refs 8th c.BC+], poetry σίω [Refs 6th c.BC+]: Ep imperfect σεῖον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Ionic dialect σείασκον (ἀνασ-) [Refs]: future σείσω [LXX+5th c.BC+]: aorist ἔσεισα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Epic dialect σεῖσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect σέσεικα (κατα-) [Refs 4th c.BC+] —middle, aorist ἐσεισάμην (ἀπ-) [Refs 6th c.BC+]; Epic dialect σείσατο [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, aorist ἐσείσθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect σέσεισμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—shake, move to and fro, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; σ. ἐγχείας, ἔγχεα, μελίην, shake the poised spear, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; αἰγίδα [Refs]; σανίδας σ. shake the door, [Refs]; of chariot horses, σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες [Refs 8th c.BC+]; σ. λόφον, of a warrior, [Refs 7th c.BC+]; ἡνίας χεροῖν σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. χαίτην, etc., [Refs 6th c.BC+]; κάρα σ., as sign of discontent, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but of one dancing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄκρᾳ τῇ οὐρᾷ σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. of earthquakes, which were attributed to Poseidon [Refs 5th c.BC+]; βρονταῖς χθόνα σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+] there was an earthquake, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. metaphorically, agitate, disturb, πόλιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. τὴν καρδίαν turn the stomach, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. τὴν κεφαλήν cause a concussion of.. , [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, ἐσείσθη τὴν καρδίαν [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
4. in Attic dialect, accuse falsely or spitefully, so as to extort hushmoney, blackmail, σ. καὶ ταράττων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἑτέρους τῶν ὑπευθύνων ἔσειε καὶ ἐσυκοφάντει [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so perhaps σείειν κατ᾽ ἀγοράν [Refs 4th c.AD+]:—passive, to be extorted, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
II. passive, shake, heave, quake, of the earth, ἐσσείοντο πόδες Ἴδης [Refs 8th c.BC+]: metaphorically, to be shaken to its foundation, τὸ τερπνὸν πιτνεῖ.. σεσεισμένον [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. generally, move to and fro, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὄρχος σειόμενος φύλλοισι an orchard waving with foliage, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὀδόντων οἱ πλεῦνες ἐσείοντο his teeth were loose, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. middle, shake something of one's own, from oneself, etc., σεισαμένας πτερὰ ματρός [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
III.2. shake oneself, shake, stir, Ἥρη σείσατο εἰνὶ θρόνῳ [Refs 8th c.BC+]