# sign, proof, reminder

## Definition:

A sign is an object, event, or action that communicates a special meaning.

* Signs can help people to remember a promise that God has made:

    * The rainbows God creates in the sky are signs to remind people that he has promised he will never again destroy all life with a worldwide flood.
    * God commanded the Israelites to circumcise their sons as a sign of his covenant with them.
    * In the Old Testament, God tells his people that he will “confirm” his covenant with them. This means he is stating that he will keep the promises he made in that covenant.

* Signs can reveal or point to something:

    * An angel gave shepherds a sign that would help them know which baby in Bethlehem was the newborn Messiah.
    * Judas kissed Jesus as a sign to the religious leaders that Jesus was the one they should arrest.

* Signs can prove that something is true:
    * The miracles performed by the prophets and apostles were signs that proved they were speaking God’s message.
    * The miracles that Jesus performed were signs that proved he was truly the Messiah.

## Translation Suggestions:

* Depending on its context, “sign” could also be translated as “signal” or “symbol” or “mark” or “evidence” or “proof” or “gesture.”
* To “make signs with the hands” could also be translated as “motion with the hands” or “gesture with the hands” or “make gestures.”
* In some languages, there may be one word for a “sign” that proves something and a different word for a “sign” that is a miracle.

(See also: [miracle](../kt/miracle.md), [apostle](../kt/apostle.md), [Christ](../kt/christ.md), [covenant](../kt/covenant.md), [circumcise](../kt/circumcise.md))

## Bible References:

* [Acts 02:18-19](rc://en/tn/help/act/02/18)
* [Exodus 04:8-9](rc://en/tn/help/exo/04/08)
* [Exodus 31:12-15](rc://en/tn/help/exo/31/12)
* [Genesis 01:14](rc://en/tn/help/gen/01/14)
* [Genesis 09:12](rc://en/tn/help/gen/09/12)
* [John 02:18](rc://en/tn/help/jhn/02/18)
* [Luke 02:12](rc://en/tn/help/luk/02/12)
* [Mark 08:12](rc://en/tn/help/mrk/08/12)
* [Psalms 089:5-6](rc://en/tn/help/psa/089/005)


## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H226, H852, H2368, H2858, H4150, H4159, H4864, H5251, H5824, H6161, H6725, H6734, H7560, G364, G880, G1213, G1229, G1718, G1730, G1732, G1770, G3902, G4102, G4591, G4592, G4953, G4973, G5280
