σημεῖον, σημείου, τό (σημαίνω (or σῆμα)), from Aeschylus and Herodotus down, Hebrew ΰεϊ, a sign, mark, token; 1. universally, that by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others and known: Mat_26:48; Luk_2:12; 2Th_3:17; σημεῖον περιτομῆς (explanatory genitive (cf. Buttmann, § 123, 4)), equivalent to σημεῖον, ὁ ἐστι περιτομή, circumcision which should be a sign of the covenant formed with God, Rom_4:11; τά σημεῖα τοῦ ἀποστόλου, the tokens by which one is proved to be an apostle, 2Co_12:12; a sign by which anything future is pre-announced, Mar_13:4; Luk_21:7; τό σημεῖον τῆς σής παρουσίας, genitive of the object, Mat_24:3; τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, the sign which indicates that the Messiah will shortly, or forthwith, come from heaven in visible manifestation, Mat_24:30; with a genitive of the subjunctive τά σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν, i. e. the indications of future events which οἱ καιροί furnish, what οἱ καιροί portend, Mat_16:3 (T brackets WH reject the passage); a sign by which one is warned, an admonition, 1Co_14:22. used of noteworthy personages, by whom God forcibly admonishes men and indicates to them what he would have them do: thus σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον is said of Jesus Christ, Luk_2:34; Ἰωνᾶς ἐγένετο σημεῖον τοῖς Νινευίταις (Jon_3:4), Luk_11:30; hence, τό σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ, Luk_11:29, is equivalent to τό σημεῖον like to that ὅς ἦν Ἰωνᾶς, i. e. to the sign which was given by the mission and preaching of Jonah, to prompt men to seek salvation (Winer's Grammar, 189 (177)); in the same sense, ὁ υἱός τοῦ ἀνθρώπου says that he will be a σημεῖον, to the men of his generation, Luk_11:30; but in Mat_12:39; Mat_16:4 τό σημεῖον Ἰωνᾶ is the miraculous experience which befell Jonah himself, cf. Mat_12:40; that Luke reproduces Christ's words more correctly than Matthew is shown by De Wette and Bleek on Mat_12:40, by Neander, Leben Jesu, p. 265f edition 1 (English translation, (3rd edition N. Y. 1851) § 165, p. 245f), and others; (but that Luke's report is less full than Matthew's, rather than at variance with it, is shown by Meyer, Weiss, Keil, and others (on Matthew, the passage cited)). 2. a sign, prodigy, portent, i. e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature; a. of signs portending remarkable events soon to happen: Luk_21:11; Luk_21:25; Act_2:19; Rev_12:1; Rev_12:3; Rev_15:1. b. of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God's: Mat_12:38; Mat_16:1; Mat_16:4; Mar_8:11; Mar_16:17; Mar_16:20; Luk_11:16; Luk_11:29; Luk_23:8; Joh_2:11; Joh_2:18; Joh_2:23; Joh_3:2; Joh_4:54; Joh_6:2; Joh_6:14; Joh_6:26; Joh_6:30; Joh_7:31; Joh_9:16; Joh_10:41; Joh_11:47; Joh_12:18; Joh_12:37; Joh_20:30; Act_2:22; Act_2:43; Act_8:6; 1Co_1:22; but time power διδόναι σημεῖα, by which men are deceived, is ascribed also to false teachers, false prophets, and to demons: Mat_24:24; Mar_13:22; Rev_13:13; Rev_16:14; Rev_19:20; 2Th_2:9. σημεῖα καί τέρατα (εΜξΙτΐϊΔιν ΰΙϊεϊ) or (yet less frequent) τέρατα καί σημεῖα (terms which differ not in substantial meaning but only in origin; cf. Fritzsche, Romans, vol. iii., p. 270f; (Trench, § xci.)) are found conjoined: Mat_24:24; Mar_13:22; Joh_4:48; Act_2:19; Act_2:43; Act_4:30; Act_5:12; Act_6:8; Act_7:36; Act_14:3; Act_15:12; Rom_15:19; 2Th_2:9, (Deu_28:46; Deu_34:11; Neh_9:10; Isa_8:18; Isa_20:3; Jeremiah 39:20 (); Wis_8:8 Wis_10:16; Polybius 3, 112, 8; Philo, vit. Moys. 1:16; Josephus, Antiquities 20, 8, 6; b. j. prooem. 11; Plutarch, Alex. 75; Aelian v. h. 12,57); with καί δυνάμεσιν added, 2Co_12:12; Heb_2:4; σημεῖα καί δυνάμεις, Act_8:13; δυνάμεις καί τέρατα καί σημεῖα, Act_2:22; διδόναι σημεῖα (see δίδωμι, B. II. 1 a.): Mat_24:24; Mar_13:22 (here Tdf. ποιεῖν, σημεῖον, see ποιέω, I. 1 c.); σημεῖα are said γίνεσθαι διά τίνος in Act_2:43; Act_4:1-37 :(),; (here ποιεῖν σημεῖον, see above); τό σημεῖον τῆς ἰάσεως, the miracle, which was the healing, Act_4:22.

σημεῖον sēmeion 77x a sign, a mark, token, by which anything is known or distinguished, Mat_16:3 ; Mat_24:3 ; 2Th_3:17 ; a token, pledge, assurance, Luk_2:12 ; a proof, evidence, convincing token, Mat_12:38 ; Mat_16:1 ; Joh_2:18 ; in NT a sign, wonder, remarkable event, wonderful appearance, extraordinary phenomenon, 1Co_14:22 ; Rev_12:1 ; Rev_12:3 ; Rev_15:1 ; a portent, prodigy, Mat_24:30 ; Act_2:19 ; a wonderful work, miraculous operation, miracle, Mat_24:24 ; Mar_16:17 ; Mar_16:20 ; meton. a sign, a signal character, Luk_2:34 miracle; sign.

σημεῖον , -ου , τό , [in LXX chiefly for H226 ;] a sign, mark, token; (a) of that which distinguishes a person or thing from others: Mat_26:48 Luk_2:12 , 2Th_3:17 ( cf. Deiss., LAE , 153.2); seq . gen . epexeg ., Rom_4:11 ; c . gen . obj., Mat_24:8 ; Mat_24:30 , 2Co_12:12 ; c . gen . subj., Mat_16:3 ; (b) a sign of warning or admonition: Mat_12:39 ; Mat_16:4 , Luk_2:34 ; Luk_11:29-30 , 1Co_14:22 ; (c) a sign portending future events ( Soph ., Plat . al. ): Mar_13:4 , Luk_21:7 ; Luk_21:11 ; Luk_21:25 , Act_2:19 , Rev_12:1 ; Rev_12:3 ; Rev_15:1 ; (d) of miracles and wonders ( MM , xxii), regarded as signs of a divine authority: Mat_12:38-39 ; Mat_16:1 ; Mat_16:4 Mar_8:11-12 Luk_11:16 ; Luk_11:29 ; Luk_23:8 , Joh_2:11 ; Joh_2:18 ; Joh_2:23 ; Joh_4:54 ; Joh_6:30 ; Joh_10:41 ; Joh_12:18 , Act_4:16 ; Act_4:22 ; pl ., Mar_16:17 ; Mar_16:20 , Joh_2:11 ; Joh_2:23 ; Joh_3:2 ; Joh_6:2 ; Joh_6:14 ; Joh_6:26 ; Joh_7:31 ; Joh_9:16 ; Joh_11:47 ; Joh_12:37 ; Joh_20:30 , Act_8:6 , 1Co_1:22 ( Lft., Notes , 162); the same ascribed to false teachers and demons: Mat_24:24 , Mar_13:22 , 2Th_2:9 , Rev_13:13-14 ; Rev_16:14 ; Rev_19:20 ; σ . καὶ τέρατα (τ . καὶ σ .; cf. Tr., Syn. , § xci), Mat_24:24 , Mar_13:22 , Joh_4:48 , Act_2:19 ; Act_2:43 ; Act_4:30 ; Act_5:12 ; Act_6:8 ; Act_7:36 ; Act_14:3 ; Act_15:12 , Rom_15:19 , 2Th_2:9 ; id . seq . καὶ δυνάμεις , 2Co_12:12 , Heb_2:4 ; σ . καὶ δυνάμεις , Act_8:13 ; δ . καὶ τ . καὶ σ ., Act_2:22 ; σ . διδόναι , Mat_24:24 , Mar_13:22 .†

σημεῖον [page 572] (1) sign, seal : cf. P Rev L xxvi. 5 (B.C. 259 8) ἀποδειξάτωσαν ] τὸ ἐπιβ [λ ]ηθὲν σημεῖον ἀσινέ [ς , let them exhibit the seal which has been appended unbroken. (2) outward distinguishing mark : cf. P Par 18 bis .10 (Roman) ἔστιν δὲ σημεῖον τῆς ταφῆς , BGU II. 427 .30 (A.D. 159) πέπρακα τὸν κάμηλον θήλιαν , ο [ὗ ] τὸ σημεῖον πρόκιται , and Preisigke 5679 .6 (A.D. 307) ὄνου λευ ]κῆς οὔσ̣ης , ἐχούσης σημεῖον̣ [ἐ ]πὶ [τοῦ τραχή ]λου . Similarly of a bodily mark disqualifying from the priesthood ib . 15 .27 (A.D. 155 6) Ἀγα̣[θ ]οκλῆς ἐπύθετο , εἴ τινα σημεῖα ἔχουσιν [οἱ παῖδες ἐπὶ τοῦ σώματος , BGU I. 347 .14 (A.D. 171 ) (= Chrest . I. p. 105 ) Σερηνια [νὸς ] ἐπ̣ύθετο . . . εἰ [σ ]ημ̣[εῖο ]ν̣ ἔχοι ὁ [παῖ ]ς . εἰπόντων ἄσημον αὐτὸν εἶναι . . . ἀρχιερεὺς . . . ἐκέλευσεν τὸν παῖ [δα περιτ ]μηθῆναι [κατὰ ] τὸ ἔθος , and so ib . 82 .9 (A.D. 185). In P Amh II. 39 .2 (late ii/B.C.) A military corps of youths are described as οἱ [ἐκ ] τοῦ σημείου νεανίσκοι , and for σημεῖον as an index of inward character, as in 2Co_12:12 , cf. a rescript of Hadrian Syll 384 (= .3 831) .14 (A.D. 117) ἡγούμην σημεῖα ἀγαθῶν ἀνδρῶν τὰ τοιαῦτα εἶναι . (3) In P Oxy II. 293 .6 (A.D. 27) οὔτε διὰ γραπτοῦ οὔτε διὰ σημε <ί >ου , the editors understand the meaning to be either by letter or by message, and so Wilcken Archiv iv. p. 259. Similarly in P Fay 128 .6 (iii/A.D.), P Oxy IV. 724 .3 (A.D. 155) of tachygraphic signs. In ib . XIV. 1635 .9 (B.C. 44 37), a document dealing with the cession of catoecic land, τοῖς ἄλλοις σημείοις seems to refer to boundary-marks rather than to title-deeds : cf. ib . III. 504 .15 (early ii/A.D.) and the note to P Ryl II. 159 .15 . See also Syll 929 (= .3 685) .70, .75 (B.C. 139). (4) For σημεῖον in its NT sense of miracle or wonder ( Mat_12:38 f. , al .), we may cite Syll 326 (= .3 709) .25 ( c . B.C. 107) προεσάμανε μὲν τὰν μέλλουσαν γίνεσθαι πρᾶξιν [διὰ τ ]ῶν ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι γενομένων σαμείων , and for the meaning proof, see the illiterate P Oxy XIV. 1683 .18 (late iv/A.D.) σημίου δὲ χάριν . Deissmann ( LAE 2 , p. 167) has pointed out that in 2Th_3:17 σημεῖον has the same force as the σύμβολον which in other cases was given to the bearer of a letter in proof of his commission, cf. e.g. P Passalacqua .15 (iii/B.C.) (= Witkowski Epp . .2 , p. 54) ἀπεδόθη τάδ᾽ αὐτῶι καὶ τὸ σύμβολον τῶν ἐγ .

σημεῖον σημεῖον, ου, τό, [Etym: σῆμα] "a sign, a mark, token", Hdt. , attic "a sign from the gods, an omen", Soph. , Plat. : esp. of "the constellations", Eur. "a sign or signal" to do a thing made by flags, Hdt. ; αἴρειν, κατασπᾶν τὸ ς. to make or take down "the signal for battle", Thuc. ; τὰ σημεῖα ἤρθη "the signals agreed upon" were made, id=Thuc. "an ensign or flag", on the admiral's ship, Hdt. ; on the general's tent, Xen. :—then, generally, "a standard, ensign", Eur. : hence, "a boundary, limit", Dem. "a device" upon a shield, Hdt. , Eur. ; upon ships, "a figure-head", Ar. "a signal, watchword", Thuc. in reasoning, "a sign or proof", Ar. , Thuc. , etc.:— σημεῖον δέ: or σημεῖον γάρ: (to introduce an argument) this is "a proof" of it, Dem. , etc.

σημεῖον, -ου, τό [in LXX chiefly for אוֹת ;] a sign, mark, token; __(a) of that which distinguishes a person or thing from others: Mat.26:48 Luk.2:12, 2Th.3:17 (cf. Deiss., LAE, 153.2); before genitive epexeg., Rom.4:11; with genitive obj., Mat.24:8, 30, 2Co.12:12; with genitive subj., Mat.16:3; __(b) a sign of warning or admonition: Mat.12:39 16:4, Luk.2:34 11:29-30, 1Co.14:22; __(with) a sign portending future events (Soph., Plat. al.): Mrk.13:4, Luk.21:7, 11 21:25, Act.2:19, Rev.12:1, 3 15:1; __(d) of miracles and wonders (MM, xxii), regarded as signs of a divine authority: Mat.12:38-39 16:1, 4 Mrk.8:11-12 Luk.11:16, 29 23:8, Jhn.2:11, 18 2:23 4:54 6:30 10:41 12:18, Act.4:16, 22; pl., Mrk.16:17, 20, Jhn.2:11, 23 3:2 6:2, 14 6:26 7:31 9:16 11:47 12:37 20:30, Act.8:6, 1Co.1:22 (Lft., Notes, 162); the same ascribed to false teachers and demons: Mat.24:24, Mrk.13:22, 2Th.2:9, Rev.13:13-14 16:14 19:20; σ. καὶ τέρατα (τ. καὶ σ.; cf. Tr., Syn., § xci), Mat.24:24, Mrk.13:22, Jhn.4:48, Act.2:19, 43 4:30 5:12 6:8 7:36 14:3 15:12, Rom.15:19, 2Th.2:9; id. before καὶ δυνάμεις, 2Co.12:12, Heb.2:4; σ. καὶ δυνάμεις, Act.8:13; δ. καὶ τ. καὶ σ., Act.2:22; σ. διδόναι, Mat.24:24, Mrk.13:22.† (AS)