Definition
Semaino (Gr. σημαίνω = to indicate, to signify, to make clear by a sign) is the Greek verb that Noordzij uses for the communicative mode of the Holy Spirit through Scripture: a symbolic, typological ‘signal language’ that is audible and visible to those who have the Spirit as key. The Bible is not primarily a study book or history book but a ‘hearing book’ — a medium of signal language that the Spirit interprets to those who know Him. The semaino concept marks the difference between literal reading and spiritual understanding.
Usage in the Corpus
Cees and Anneke Noordzij
Noordzij explains the semaino principle as God’s fundamental communicative mode through Scripture: “In everything God’s Spirit points in symbolic language to heavenly realities and spiritual processes.” The Bible is thereby a ‘hearing book’: “The Bible is then not only a reading book or a study book, but a ‘hearing book’ — what the Spirit says to the churches. That applies to the whole Bible.”
The believer who does not know the Spirit can read the Bible but misses the signal language: “The readers of the Bible must therefore understand God’s ‘signal language’ in order to ‘hear’ and ‘see’ (= know) from it the stories and prophecies, the signs and wonders, the parables, the types, rites, and symbols.” Semaino is closely connected to the hermeneutical priority of the Spirit over the intellect: “First spiritual communication, then interpretation of the Bible.” Paul first received his revelations from God and afterwards found them confirmed in Scripture — not the other way around.
The semaino concept also underlies Noordzij’s distinction of the Bible as a ‘confirmation book’: “Paul often used quotations from the Old Testament to illustrate what he had received from God. What was revealed to him, he found confirmed in Scripture.” The Spirit speaks in signal language; Scripture confirms and illustrates. [Noordzij, The Word of God and Scripture, sections “The Language of God” and “Scripture: useful for teaching”]