Strong’s G5480: A stamp, engraving, or mark of ownership made by carving or etching. From charasso, meaning “to engrave.” Used particularly in religious and commercial contexts for official seals, stamps on documents, and marks of ownership or authority.

U- Unveiling the Word

χάραγμα represents more than just a simple mark or stamp – it carries profound implications in both biblical and historical contexts. In ancient times, it denoted an official seal or stamp used to authenticate documents and denote ownership. In the New Testament, its most significant usage appears in Revelation, where it takes on apocalyptic significance as the “mark of the beast.” This mark symbolizes allegiance and worship, contrasting with God’s seal on His people. The early church understood χάραγμα as a symbol of ultimate authority and ownership, whether divine or demonic. Today, this word continues to provoke discussion about faithfulness to God versus worldly systems and the cost of discipleship.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χάραγμα, charagma, /khar’-ag-mah/
• Detailed pronunciation: KHAR (as in “char”) – AG (as in “ag-ony”) – mah (as in “ma”)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Root: χαράσσω (charasso) – to engrave, scratch, or carve
• Suffix: -μα (-ma) – indicates the result of an action
• Together forms χάραγμα meaning “that which is engraved”

D – Defining Meanings

• An engraving or etching
• A stamp or imprinted mark
• A symbol of ownership or authority
• An official seal or imperial mark

For compound words:
While not a compound word, the formation combines the verbal stem χαραγ- with the substantive suffix -μα

Translation Options:

• Mark – Best captures the general sense of an identifying symbol
• Stamp – Emphasizes the official nature of the mark
• Engraving – Highlights the permanent nature of the marking

E – Exploring Similar Words

• σφραγίς (sphragis) /sfra-GEES/ – a seal or signet, differs in emphasizing authentication rather than ownership – See G4973
• στίγμα (stigma) /STIG-ma/ – a mark or brand, specifically referring to marks made by puncturing – See G4742
• σημεῖον (semeion) /say-MI-on/ – a sign or token, broader in meaning than physical marks – See G4592

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features as a Noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Neuter
• Declension: 3rd

The word follows standard neuter noun patterns:
Singular: χάραγμα (nom/acc), χάραγματος (gen), χάραγματι (dat)
Plural: χάραγματα (nom/acc), χαραγμάτων (gen), χάραγμασι(ν) (dat)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

χάραγμα appears prominently in ancient commercial and religious contexts. BDAG emphasizes its use as an official mark of identification, while Thayer’s highlights its connection to imperial authority. LSJ provides evidence of its use in secular Greek for commercial transactions. Vine’s notes its significance in apocalyptic literature, particularly in Revelation. Moulton and Milligan’s papyri findings show its common usage in business documents and official seals. The word carries strong connotations of ownership and authority, making it particularly suitable for its theological usage in Revelation, where it symbolizes complete allegiance to an authority – either divine or demonic.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Acts 17:29: “Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image [χάραγμα] formed by the art and imagination of man.”

Additional References:
Revelation 13:16, Revelation 13:17, Revelation 14:9, Revelation 14:11, Revelation 15:2, Revelation 16:2, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:4

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

χάραγμα serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate choice every person faces – whether to bear the mark of allegiance to the world’s system or to remain faithful to King Jesus. Its use in Revelation particularly highlights the stark contrast between those who receive the mark of the beast and those who bear the seal of God. This word teaches us about the reality of spiritual allegiance and the importance of maintaining unwavering faithfulness to our King. The good news is that through Jesus, we are marked as God’s own possession, sealed by His Spirit, and destined for eternal life with Him.

D – Did You Know?

• In ancient times, χάραγμα was used on commercial documents to validate transactions, similar to modern notary seals
• Slaves in antiquity were sometimes marked with a χάραγμα to show ownership
• The word appears more frequently in Revelation than in any other biblical book

Strong’s G5480: A stamp, engraving, or mark of ownership made by carving or etching. From charasso, meaning “to engrave.” Used particularly in religious and commercial contexts for official seals, stamps on documents, and marks of ownership or authority.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: mark, seal, ownership, authority, apocalyptic, revelation, beast, allegiance, worship, engraving, stamp, authentication​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​