Greek word · G4601

σιγάω

sigaō

be silent

To be silent, keep quiet, stop speaking; also to keep something secret (Rom 16:25, 'kept secret'). It can mean lasting silence or falling silent for the moment, depending on context.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

σιγάω, -ῶ

(σιγή), [in LXX for חָרַשׁ, חָשָׁה, etc. ;]

1. intrans., to be silent, keep silence: Luke 9:36 18:39 20:26, Acts 12:17 15:12-13, 1 Corinthians 14:28 14:30 14:34.

2. Trans., to keep secret; pass., to be kept secret: Romans 16:25.†

SYN.: ἡσυχάζω, σιωπάω (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Corinthians 14:34

Range of meaning

To be silent, keep quiet, stop speaking; also to keep something secret (Rom 16:25, 'kept secret'). It can mean lasting silence or falling silent for the moment, depending on context.

Against the English

'Keep silence' (KJV) and 'remain silent' (NIV) can sound like a permanent state of not speaking at all. WEB's 'be quiet' is softer. None of these lets the reader see that the same verb occurs three times in a row in this paragraph.

Used elsewhere in the period

In this chapter: v. 28, the tongue-speaker 'should keep silent in the assembly' (sigatō en ekklēsia) if no one can interpret, and v. 30, the first prophet 'should be silent' (sigatō) when a revelation comes to another. Elsewhere: Luke 9:36, 18:39; Acts 15:12–13. BDAG gives both 'be silent' and 'stop speaking'.

From the study of Acts 15:12

Range of meaning

To be silent, keep quiet, stop speaking; also to keep something secret (Rom 16:25).

Against the English

KJV and WEB have 'kept silence', which reads like a steady state. The aorist here is better caught by BSB's 'fell silent': a change from noise to quiet.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke uses it of falling silent at a turning point: Luke 9:36; 20:26 (opponents 'fell silent', amazed at Jesus' answer); Acts 15:13 (when Barnabas and Paul 'had fallen silent'). Compare Acts 11:18, where the Jerusalem critics, after Peter's Cornelius report, 'fell quiet (hēsychasan) and glorified God'.

From the study of Romans 16:25

Range of meaning

To be silent, say nothing; in the passive, to be kept silent or left unspoken (BDAG s.v. σιγάω).

Against the English

Most versions turn it into 'kept secret' (KJV, ESV, NASB), 'hidden' (NIV) or 'concealed' (BSB). Only YLT keeps 'kept silent'.

How it drifted

Not drift in English so much as flattening: 'secret' and 'hidden' are images of sight, while Paul's word is about sound and speech.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in Luke 9:36, 20:26; Acts 15:12; 1 Cor 14:28–34 for people falling or staying silent. A silent God is a recurring complaint in Israel's laments (Ps 28:1; 83:1). Ignatius of Antioch (Magnesians 8:2) speaks of the Word 'proceeding from silence', a related idea.

Where it appears

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 9:36 ἐσίγησαν were silent

    After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.

  2. Luke 18:39 σιγήσῃ. he may be silent.

    Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

  3. Luke 20:26 ἐσίγησαν.¶ they became silent.

    And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people. And amazed at His answer, they fell silent.

Acts · 3

  1. Acts 12:17 σιγᾶν, to be silent,

    Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.

    Here: A present-tense infinitive giving the purpose of the gesture: 'to be quiet and stay quiet'. It is night, Peter is a fugitive, and the noise of a group at the gate could draw attention.

  2. Acts 15:12 ἐσίγησεν Kept silent

    The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

    Here: Aorist: a single moment. The assembly 'fell silent' or 'went quiet'. After the 'much debate' of 15:7 and Peter's speech, the arguing stops.

  3. Acts 15:13 σιγῆσαι being silent

    When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

1 Corinthians · 3

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:28 σιγάτω he should be silent

    But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

  2. 1 Corinthians 14:30 σιγάτω. should be silent.

    And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.

  3. 1 Corinthians 14:34 σιγάτωσαν· they should be silent;

    Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

    Here: A third-person command, 'let them be silent'. It is the same verb Paul has just used for a tongue-speaker with no interpreter (v. 28) and for a prophet who must yield to another (v. 30). In this chapter the verb means holding one's speech for the sake of order.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.