verb
sēmainamō
Greekσημαίνω (sēmainō)
Strong’sG4591
I signify, indicate
stem sēmain-6 times in the New Testamentin 3 of 27 books3 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
σημαίνω
(< σῆμα, a sign), [in LXX for רוּעַ hi., תָּקַע, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4591 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidsay-mah'-ee-no
of uncertain derivation); to indicate
Fromfrom σῆμα (a mark;
King Jamessignify.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Forms in the New Testament
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| sēmainataἐσήμανεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | predicted | 2× |
| sēmainaraσημᾶναι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | indicate | 1× |
| sēmainarōtosσημαίνων | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | indicate | 3× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 2 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | sēmainamō | sēmainame | sēmainami | sēmainama | sēmainamē | sēmainamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | sēmainasō | sēmainase | sēmainasi | sēmainasa | sēmainasē | sēmainaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sēmainatō | sēmainate | sēmainati | sēmainata2×ἐσήμανεν | sēmainatē | sēmainatelē |
| we 1st person plural | sēmainanō | sēmainane | sēmainani | sēmainana | sēmainanē | sēmainanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | sēmainavō | sēmainave | sēmainavi | sēmainava | sēmainavē | sēmainavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | sēmainalō | sēmainale | sēmainali | sēmainala | sēmainalē | sēmainalelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | sēmainameiō | sēmainameia | sēmainameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | sēmainaseiō | sēmainaseia | sēmainaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sēmainateiō | sēmainateia | sēmainateiē |
| we 1st person plural | sēmainaneiō | sēmainaneia | sēmainaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | sēmainaveiō | sēmainaveia | sēmainaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | sēmainaleiō | sēmainaleia | sēmainaleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | sēmainasōr | sēmainasar | sēmainasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sēmainatōr | sēmainatar | sēmainatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | sēmainavōr | sēmainavar | sēmainavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | sēmainalōr | sēmainalar | sēmainalēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | sēmainamoiō | sēmainamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | sēmainasoiō | sēmainasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | sēmainatoiō | sēmainatoia |
| we 1st person plural | sēmainanoiō | sēmainanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | sēmainavoiō | sēmainavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | sēmainaloiō | sēmainaloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | sēmainarō | sēmainari | sēmainara1×σημᾶναι | sēmainarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 3 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | sēmainarōtos3×σημαίνων | sēmainaritos | sēmainaratos | sēmainarētos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
sēmain is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
6 occurrences, every one of them listed
sēmainata“predicted”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Acts 11:28“predicted”anistanaratos de henos ek autoiu onome Hagabos sēmainata dia teu pneumeu liman megan mellarō eri epi holan tan oikoumenan; hotinas gineta epi Klaudiou.One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. ( This happened under Claudius.)
Revelation 1:1“made … known”Apokalupsias Iēsu Christou, han dōata auto tos theos deiknuara toi douloi autou, heim datō ginera en tache, kai sēmainata apostelaratos dia tou angelou autou to doulo autou Iōanno,This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,
sēmainara“indicate”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
Acts 25:27“indicate”alogem gar mi dokatō pemparōton desmion mē kai tain kata autou aitiain sēmainara.For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”
sēmainarōtos“indicate”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine3×
John 12:33“indicate”houtem de legate sēmainarōtos poio thanato mellate apothnēskarō.He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
John 18:32“indicating”hina tos logos tou Iēsu plēriteia hon legata sēmainarōtos poio thanato mellate apothnēskarō.This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
John 21:19“indicate”houtem de legata sēmainarōtos poio thanato doxazati ton theon. kai houtem legaratos legatō auto; Akolouthasōr mi.Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”