σπέρμα (sperma)
sperma
seed: offspring
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 40 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word sperma denotes seed in both its literal and metaphorical senses. In the Gospels, Jesus uses it to describe agricultural growth, such as the mustard seed’s small beginning that becomes a large shrub (Mark 4:31) or the wheat sown in a field (Matthew 13:24). This concrete image grounds his teaching in familiar rural life, where a tiny kernel holds the potential for abundant harvest.
Beyond botany, the term frequently refers to human offspring and lineage. It appears in discussions of family history, such as when Jesus is identified as coming from the line of David (Romans 1:3) or when Paul argues that believers are Abraham’s spiritual children through faith (Galatians 3:29). The word bridges physical descent and theological identity, showing how ancient concepts of ancestry carried deep religious weight.
A notable distinction arises in Galatians 3:16, where Paul highlights the singular form of sperma to refer specifically to Christ. While the plural often denotes many descendants, the singular points to one central figure who fulfills the promise. This grammatical nuance allows a single word to carry both collective heritage and individual fulfillment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sperma connects the smallest physical beginnings with the largest spiritual promises. In Jesus’ parables, a tiny mustard seed grows into a shelter for many birds, showing how God’s Kingdom starts small but holds vast potential. This image invites you to trust that your own small acts of faith or kindness are not wasted, but are part of a larger, growing reality.
Beyond agriculture, the term describes lineage and identity. It reminds us that we belong to a long story of promise, from Abraham to Christ. Whether you view this as physical ancestry or spiritual heritage, the word assures us that God’s commitments endure across generations. You are part of a family defined not by blood alone, but by shared hope and faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 40 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- seed21×
- offspring.3×
- descendants3×
- seeds2×
- seed,2×
- offspring2×
- to seeds1×
- seeds,1×
- seed.1×
- offspring;1×
- of seed1×
- descendants,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σπέρμα17×
- σπέρματος8×
- σπέρματι4×
- σπέρμα.4×
- σπέρματί2×
- σπέρμα,2×
- σπερμάτων2×
- σπέρματι,1×
- σπέρμασιν1×
- σπέρμα·1×
- σπερμάτων,1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 13:32
which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”
This verse uses the word to illustrate how the Kingdom of Heaven begins with something seemingly insignificant yet grows into a place of shelter and growth.
-
Romans 4:16
For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
Paul expands the meaning here, showing that the promise extends to all who share Abraham’s faith, not just those bound by legal requirements.
-
John 7:42
Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
This occurrence ties the Messiah’s identity directly to the specific lineage of David, grounding theological claims in historical descent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word sperma mean?
How is sperma used in the Gospels?
Does sperma refer only to biological children?
Every Occurrence (40 verses across 13 books)
Matthew 7 verses
He 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 13:32which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that…
Matthew 13:37He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,
Matthew 13:38the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the…
Matthew 22:24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up…
Matthew 22:25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother.