σπείρω (speirō)
speirō
to sow
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 41 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb speirō means to scatter seed, describing the agricultural act of sowing. In the New Testament, it appears in literal contexts such as Jesus’ observation that birds eat what is scattered on the path (Matthew 13:4) and Paul’s reference to God providing seed to the sower (2 Corinthians 9:10). The word captures the physical motion of distributing grain across soil, a routine task familiar to first-century listeners.
Beyond farming, speirō carries significant metaphorical weight. Jesus uses it to explain how people receive his message, noting that the seed falls on different types of ground (Matthew 13:23). Paul extends this imagery to describe spiritual investment, asking if those who planted spiritual truths should reap a material harvest (1 Corinthians 9:11). The word also frames moral cause and effect in Galatians 6:7, where sowing to the flesh yields corruption.
Its etymological root suggests an idea of extending or spreading out. This physical dispersion mirrors the theological concept that actions, whether good or bad, spread their influence outward. Translators consistently render it as "sow," preserving the connection between the initial act and the eventual harvest, a pattern seen from the Parable of the Sower to Paul’s teachings on generosity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The act of sowing is a quiet beginning. It involves scattering seed into soil, trusting that life will emerge from what looks like loss or dispersion. In the Gospels, Jesus uses this familiar agricultural image to describe how His message enters our hearts. We might feel small or unnoticed when we share faith, but the parable reminds us that the value lies not in the size of the seed, but in the power of the One who sows it.
This word also speaks to the rhythm of our daily choices. Just as a farmer expects a harvest based on what he plants, our lives yield results from what we invest. Whether we scatter kindness or worry, the outcome follows the initial action. This isn't about earning favor through effort, but about understanding how our habits shape our spiritual landscape over time.
When you feel like your efforts are hidden in the ground, remember that growth happens unseen before it becomes visible. You are part of a story where every small act of faith matters. Trust that the God who provides the seed also ensures the harvest comes in His perfect timing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 41 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sowing12×
- having been sown,4×
- It is sown4×
- you sow2×
- they sow2×
- is sown2×
- is sowing2×
- having sown2×
- you sow,1×
- you did sow.1×
- you did sow1×
- to sow;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σπείρων11×
- σπείρεται6×
- σπαρείς,3×
- ἔσπειρας2×
- ἐσπαρμένον2×
- σπείρουσιν2×
- σπείρεις,2×
- σπείρειν2×
- ἔσπειρεν1×
- ἔσπειρας.¶1×
- ἔσπειρα·1×
- ἔσπειρα1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 13:4
As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.
This verse illustrates the vulnerability of the message when it meets resistance, showing how external forces can interrupt the initial act of sowing.
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Matthew 13:23
What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”
Here the word defines the ideal outcome: hearing and understanding the word leads to a significant harvest, highlighting the importance of receptive hearts.
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Mark 4:14
The farmer sows the word.
This occurrence explicitly identifies the farmer as the sower of God's word, clarifying that the source of spiritual truth is divine rather than human effort.
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Matthew 13:39
The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
The verse contrasts the good sower with the enemy, showing how the same act of scattering can have opposite spiritual origins and results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word speirō mean?
How is speirō different from other words for planting?
Where does this word appear in the New Testament?
Every Occurrence (41 verses across 8 books)
Matthew 15 verses
See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds…
Matthew 13:3He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.
Matthew 13:4As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.
Matthew 13:18“Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.
Matthew 13:19When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which…
Matthew 13:20What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;
Matthew 13:22What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of…
Matthew 13:23What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and…
Matthew 13:24He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
Matthew 13:27The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these…
Matthew 13:31He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took,…
Matthew 13:37He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,
Matthew 13:39The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
Matthew 25:24“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you…
Matthew 25:26“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where…