σείω (seiō)
seiō
to shake
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb seio means to shake or cause to tremble. In the New Testament it describes physical shaking as well as emotional agitation. For example, Matthew 27:51 records the earth shaking at Jesus’ death, while Revelation 6:13 speaks of a great earthquake that shakes the sky. The word captures both literal movement and the inner disturbance of fear or awe.
It is used metaphorically to describe minds stirred by shock or terror. In Matthew 28:4, guards tremble before the angel, and in Matthew 21:10, Jerusalem itself seems shaken by Jesus’ arrival. The sources note its use in Hebrews 12:26, where God promises to shake not only earth but heaven, signaling a profound change that removes what is temporary.
This word appears five times in Scripture, mostly in Matthew and Revelation. Its root sense of physical shaking extends naturally into spiritual or psychological unrest. Translators often render it as “shake,” “tremble,” or “agitate,” depending on context. The term carries weight when applied to creation itself, suggesting that even the natural world responds to divine action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word seio reminds us that creation itself responds to God’s presence. Whether it is the earth trembling at the moment of Christ’s death or the guards falling back in awe, this verb captures a reality deeper than physical movement. It shows us that the spiritual world is not distant; it presses into our own, stirring both the ground beneath our feet and the hearts within us.
For your daily life, this word offers comfort rather than fear. When circumstances feel unstable or when you face situations that shake your confidence, remember that God holds the power to shake even the heavens. His purpose is not to destroy but to remove what is temporary so that we might rest in what is eternal. You are held by a voice that can move mountains, and that same voice speaks peace to your soul.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will shake1×
- was stirred1×
- was shaken,1×
- trembled1×
- being shaken,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐσείσθησαν1×
- ἐσείσθη,1×
- ἐσείσθη1×
- σείσω1×
- σειομένη,1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 12:26
whose 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.”
This verse uses the word to describe God’s promise to shake both earth and heavens, signaling a divine purification that removes the temporary to establish what is permanent.
-
Matthew 27:51
Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
Here the earth shaking accompanies the tearing of the temple veil, marking the moment Jesus’ death opened direct access to God for all people.
-
Matthew 28:4
For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
The guards shake not from a natural cause but from the overwhelming presence of the angel at the empty tomb, showing how divine power can still human strength.