Quick Definition
σφραγίζω v. I set a seal upon
Strong's Definition
from 4973; to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively); by implication, to keep secret, to attest
KJV Usage: (set a, set to) seal up, stop
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | κατασφραγίζω · σφραγίς
6.55 · Artifacts · Instruments Used in Marking and Writing
to seal, to put a seal on, to make secure to use a seal to close or to make something secure For a discussion of some of the translational problems involved with ‘seal,’ see 6.54.
33.484 · Communication · Non-Verbal Communication
to mark, to seal (derivative of σφραγίς[c] ‘mark, seal,’ 33.483) to put a mark on something, primarily to indicate ownership but possibly also to mark group identity
2CO 1:22 · EPH 1:13 · EPH 4:30 · REV 7:3 · REV 7:4 · REV 7:4 · REV 7:5 · REV 7:8
57.87 · Possess, Transfer, Exchange · Give
to turn over to in a secure way, to give in a secure manner to arrange to give something to someone in a secure manner For a somewhat different interpretation of σφραγίζω in ROM 15:28, see 15.189.
15.189 · Linear Movement · Carry, Bear
to take safely to, to deliver safely (a figurative extension of meaning of σφραγίζω[a] ‘to seal,’ 6.55) to deliver something safely to a destination It is also possible that σφραγισάμενος in ROM 15:28 serves to confirm the significance of the collection which has been raised. For a somewhat different interpretation of σφραγίζω in ROM 15:28, see 57.87.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
σφραγίζω (Rev. vii. 3 Rec.) ; 1 aor. ἐσφράγισα; 1 aor. mid. ptep. σφραγισάμενος ; Pass., pf. ptep. ἐσφραγισμένος ; 1 aor. ἐσφραγίσθην ; [in 2 Co. xi. 10 Rec." gives the form odpayicera “de coniectura vel errore” (Tdf.; see his note ad loc.)]; (σφραγίς, q-v-); Sept. for DNM; to set a seal upon, mark with a seal, to seal; a. for security: τί, Mt. xxvii. 66; sc. τὴν ἄβυσσον, to close it, lest Satan after being cast into it should come out; hence the addition ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ, over him i.e. Satan, Rev. xx. 3, (ἐν ᾧ —i. 6. δώματι ---- κεραυνός ἐστιν ἐσφραγισμένος, Aeschyl. Eum. 828; mid. σφραγίζομαι τὴν θύραν, Bel and the Dragon 14 Theodot.). b. Since things sealed up are concealed (as, the contents of a letter), σφραγίζω means trop. to hide (Deut. xxxii. 34), keep in silence, keep secret: τί, Rev. x. 4; xxii. 10, (τὰς ἁμαρτίας, Dan. ix. 24 Theodot.; ras ἀνομίας. Job xiv. 17; τοὺς λόγους σιγῇ. Stob. flor. 34, 9 p. 215; θαύματα πολλὰ copy σῴφρηγίσσατο σιγῇ, Nonn. paraphr. evang. Ioan. 21,140). ο. in order to mark a person or thing; hence fo set a mark upon by the impress of a seal, to stamp: angels are said oppayite twas ἐπὶ τῶν μετώπων, i.e. with the seal of God (see σφραγίς, c.) to stamp his servants on their foreheads as destined for eternal salvation, and by this means to confirm their hopes, Rev. vii. 3, οἵ. Ewald ad loe.; [B.D.s. vv. Cuttings and Forehead]; hence οἱ ἐσφραγισμένοι, fourteen times in Ree. vss. 4-8, four times by GLTTrWH, (δεινοῖσι σημάντροισιν ἐσφραγισμένοι, Eur. Iph. Taur. 1372); metaph.: τινὰ τῷ πνεύματι and ἐν τῷ Trv., respecting God, who by the gift of the Holy Spirit indicates who are his, pass., Eph. i. 13; iv. 30; absol., mid. with τινά, 2 Co. i. 22. d. in order to prove, confirm, or attest a thing; hence trop. to confirm, authenticate, place beyond doubt, (a written document τῷ δακτυλίῳ, Esth. viii. 8) : foll. by ὅτε, Jn. iii. 33; τινά, to prove by one’s testimony to a person that he is what he professes to be, Jn. vi. 27. Somewhat unusual is the expression σφραγισάμενος αὐτοῖς τὸν καρπὸν τοῦτον, when I shall have confirmed (sealed) to them this fruit (of love), meaning apparently, when I shall have given authoritative assurance that this money was collected for their use, Ro. xv. 28. [Comp.: xaraσφραγίζω.}
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
σφραγίζω sphragizō 15x
to seal, stamp with a seal, Mt. 27:66; Rev. 20:3; to seal up, to close up, conceal, Rev. 10:4; 22:10; to set a mark upon, distinguish by a mark, Eph. 1:13; 4:30; Rev. 7:3, 4, 5, 8; to seal, to mark distinctively as invested with a certain character, Jn. 6:27; mid. to set one’s own mark upon, seal as one’s own, to impress with a mark of acceptance, 2 Cor. 1:22; to deliver over safely to someone, Rom. 15:28; absol. to set to one’s seal, to make a solemn declaration, Jn. 3:33*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
σφραγίζω
[in LXX chiefly for חתם (De 32:34, al.), also for סתם (Da TH 8:26) ;]
to seal,
for security: Mt 27:66, Re 20:3; τ. καρπὸν τοῦτον, fig. (cf. Deiss., BS, 238 f.; MM, xxiv; DB, iv, 427a), Ro 15:28;
for concealment, hence, metaph., to hide (Da TH 9:24, Jo 14:17): Re 10:4 22:10;
for distinction, Re 7:3-8; metaph., Eph 1:13 4:30; mid., II Co 1:22;
for authentication (Es 8:8): Jo 3:33 6:27 (cf. κατα-σφραγίζω).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
σφραγίζω, κε 568]. In P Oxy VI. 9325 (late ii/A.D.) ἂν ἔρχῃ ἄφες ἀρτάβας ἕξ is τοὺς σάκκους σφραγίσας λαχανοσπέρμου ἵνα πρόχιροι ὦσι, ““1ξ you come, take out six artabae of vegetable-seed, sealing it in the sacks in order that they may be ready’ (Edd.), we have clear confirmation of Deissmann’s view (BS p. 238f.) that by Paul’s καρπὸν σφαγίζεσθαι in Rom 157° we are to understand the Apostle as meaning that all the proper steps had been taken with regard to the collection. ‘‘If the /frzzt is sealed, then everything is in order: the sealing is the last thing that must be done prior to delivery.” Cf. also P Hib I. 3915 (B.C. 265) where with reference to the embarkation upon a government transport of a quantity of corn, instructions are given that the shipmaster is to write a receipt, and further— δεῖγμα σφραγισάσ(θ]ω, ‘let him seal a sample,” obviously to prevent the corn from being tampered with during its transit (Edd.). Other exx. of the verb with varied applications are BGU I. 24878 (i/A.D.) πέμψας por διὰ Σαβείνου ἐσφραγισμένας
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
σφραγίζω (sphragizō) — to seal. σφρᾱγ-ίζω, Ionic dialect σφρηγίζω, close or enclose with a seal, σφραγίζεις λύεις τ᾽ ὀπίσω.. πεύκην (={δέλτον}) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ σιτάριον [Refs 1st c.AD+]:—middle, τὸν θησαυρόν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; μόνη δὲ κλῇθρ᾽ ἐγὼ σφραγίζομαι [LXX+5th c.BC+]; δεῖγμα σφραγισάσθω let him seal up with his seal a sample (of the corn), [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:—passive, ἐν ᾧ [δώματι] κεραυνός ἐστιν ἐσφραγισμένος [LXX+4th c.BC+]; οὐ δύναμαι ἀναγνῶναι [τὸ βιβλίον]· ἐσφράγισται γάρ[LXX+3rd c.BC+]; ἐσφραγίσθη γῇ λευκῇ [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. authenticate a document with a seal, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —middle [Refs]; ἵνα μὴ κυριεύσας (i.e. τῆς σφραγῖδος) κοινὴν ἐπιστολὴν κατὰ πάντων γράψας σφραγίσηται αὐτῇ τῇ σφραγῖδι [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; ἐξαποστεῖλαι εἰς Ῥόδον τοῦδε τοῦ ψηφίσματος ἀντίγραφον, σφραγισαμένους τῇ δημοσίᾳ σφραγῖδι [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; τὸ βιβλίον τῆς κτήσεως τὸ ἐσφραγισμένον [LXX+2nd c.BC+]
3. certify an object after examination by attaching a seal [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπεθεώρησα μόσχον ἕνα.. καὶ δοκιμάσας ἐσφράγισα ὡς ἔστιν καθαρός Wilcken [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
4. middle, seal an article to show that it is pledged, ἐγγύην σ. [Refs 1st c.AD+]: absolutely, make an impression with a seal for any purpose, καθάπερ οἱ σφραγιζόμενοι τοῖς δακτυλίοις [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. metaphorically senses:
II.1. close up as if with a seal, in passive, ἐσφραγισμένην ἀκριβῶς οὐλήν a fully closed cicatrix, [Refs 2nd c.AD+] — middle, οὓς.. ἀφθόγγων στομάτων σφρηγίσσατο δεσμῷ, i.e. made them mute, [Refs 4th c.AD+]
II.2. accredit as an envoy, etc., τινα [NT]:—middle, ὁ χρίσας ἡμᾶς θεός, καὶ -ισάμενος ἡμᾶς [NT]
II.3. set a seal of approval upon, confirm, [NT+1st c.AD+]:—frequently in middle, σ. ποιητικαῖς φωναῖς [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; σ. αὐτοῖς τὸν καρπόν assure them of it, [NT]
II.4. generally, mark, ψάμμος.. νῶτον οὐκ ἐσφράγισεν the sand never marked his back, i.e. he never fell in the sand, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; δεινοῖς.. σημάντροισιν ἐσφραγισμένοι, of wounded persons, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σφραγιζομένη γελασίνοις marked with dimples, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.5. set an end or limit to, σφραγίσαι ἁμαρτίας [LXX+2nd c.AD+]:—middle, Ῥώμην ἀνερχομένῳ σφράγισαι ἠελίῳ[Refs] (Antip.); πάντα δι᾽ ἀλλήλων ὁ πολὺς σφραγίζεται αἰών, i.e. the death of one creature is the birth of another, Archelaus cited in [Refs 3rd c.BC+]