The Sign — The Mark — the Sēmeion
Letters and Images as Signs
The Greek noun sēmeion means “a Mark.” The Greek verb sēmainōn means “to give a Mark.” The word appears fifty times in the gospels, twenty three times in Acts and the Epistles, and eight times in Revelation for a total of seventy four times in the New Testament. And what exactly is a mark? It’s a logo, a hallmark, a striking image, a “sign” that you draw. Just look at all the products you buy, sports teams you cheer for, for political parties you want in power. Virtually every one has a mark you can identify by sight. For republicans its an elephant, for democrats its a donkey, for nazis it was a swastika, for Christians its the cross. Here is a small sample of verses where the word appears:
The Gospels
| Mt 12:38 | Then some of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we desire to see a Sign from you. |
| Mt 12:39 | But having answered he said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks a Sign … and a Sign will not be given to it … except the Sign of the prophet Jona. |
| Mk 08:11 | And the Pharisees came out and they began to argue with him seeking a Sign from him from Heaven … |
| Mk 08:12 | And groaning up to his Spirit he says … Why (does) this Generation seek a Sign? … Amen!… I say to you in no way will a Sign be given to this Generation! |
| Mk 13:04 | Tell us … what shall be the Sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? |
| Mk 13:22 | false Christs and false prophets shall rise up, and shall show Signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the chosen. |
| Mk 16:17 | And these Signs will accompany the ones having faith … In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues. |
| Mk 16:20 | And they went forth, preached everywhere, the Lord working with, and confirming the Word through the accompanying Signs. |
Revelation
| Rev 12:01 | And there appeared a great Sign in heaven … a woman clothed with the sun |
| Rev 12:03 | And there appeared another Sign in heaven … and behold a great red dragon … |
| Rev 13:13 | And he does great Signs … so that he makes fire come down from heaven … |
| Rev 13:14 | And he deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those Signs … |
| Rev 15:01 | And I saw another Sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues |
| Rev 16:14 | For they are the spirits of devils, working Signs, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world |
| Rev 19:20 | And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that made Signs before him |
The Epistles
| 1Co 01:22 | the Jews require a Sign … and the Greeks seek wisdom. |
| 1Co 14:22 | tongues are for a Sign … not for those who believe, but for them that don’t believe. |
| Acts 4:30 | By stretching forth your hand to heal … and that Signs and wonders may be done by the name of your holy child Jesus. |
| Acts 5:12 | And by the hands of the apostles many Signs and wonders were done among the people. |