Speirō σπείρω

Speirō (Greek σπείρω, Strong's G4687) is a Greek verb meaning “to sow”. It occurs 52 times in 41 verses of the New Testament.

Definition

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Greek (based on Abbott-Smith), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Topics

• Sowing and reaping

Verses

Every verse with Speirō, with the English words that translate it highlighted (KJV or BSB; other translations show the KJV here).

Matthew

• Matthew 6:26
  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
• Matthew 13:3
  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
• Matthew 13:4
  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
• Matthew 13:18
  Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.Consider, then, the parable of the sower:
• Matthew 13:19
  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
• Matthew 13:20
  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
• Matthew 13:22
  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
• Matthew 13:23
  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”
• Matthew 13:24
  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
• Matthew 13:27
  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
• Matthew 13:31
  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.
• Matthew 13:37
  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
• Matthew 13:39
  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
• Matthew 25:24
  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
• Matthew 25:26
  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.

Mark

• Mark 4:3
  Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
• Mark 4:4
  And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
• Mark 4:14
  The sower soweth the word.The farmer sows the word.
• Mark 4:15
  And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
• Mark 4:16
  And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
• Mark 4:18
  And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,
• Mark 4:20
  And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”
• Mark 4:31
  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.
• Mark 4:32
  But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

Luke

• Luke 8:5
  A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.
• Luke 12:24
  Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!
• Luke 19:21
  For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’
• Luke 19:22
  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

John

• John 4:36
  And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.
• John 4:37
  And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.

1 Corinthians

• 1 Corinthians 9:11
  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?
• 1 Corinthians 15:36
  Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
• 1 Corinthians 15:37
  And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else.
• 1 Corinthians 15:42
  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
• 1 Corinthians 15:43
  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
• 1 Corinthians 15:44
  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 9:6
  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
• 2 Corinthians 9:10
  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Galatians

• Galatians 6:7
  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
• Galatians 6:8
  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

James

• James 3:18
  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

Notes

1. Definition and verse list from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament (TAHOT) and Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Brief Lexicons, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.
2. English renderings from the public-domain KJV with Strong's numbers (eBible.org) and the Berean Standard Bible interlinear (public domain).