Lexical Summary geórgeó: To till, to cultivate, to farm Original Word: γεωργέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to cultivate, tillFrom georgos; to till (the soil) -- dress. see GREEK georgos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom geórgos Definition to till NASB Translation tilled (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1090: γεωργέωγεωργέω, γεωργῷ: (present passive γεωργοῦμαι); (γεωργός, which see); to practise agriculture, to till the ground: τήν γῆν (Plato, Theag., p. 121 b.; Eryx., p. 392 d.; (others); 1 Esdr. 4:6; 1 Macc. 14:8); passive: Hebrews 6:7. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 1090 (γεωργέω) captures the action of cultivating ground so that it will yield a harvest. Although it appears only once in the Greek New Testament—Hebrews 6:7—the concept of tilling the soil permeates Scripture, providing rich metaphorical soil for teaching about divine grace, human responsibility, and persevering faith. Agricultural imagery throughout Scripture From Genesis to Revelation, farming language frames God’s relationship with His people. Adam is placed “to work the ground and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15), Israel is promised “a land flowing with milk and honey” conditioned on obedience (Deuteronomy 11:13-17), and the prophets frequently describe spiritual waywardness as barren fields (Jeremiah 4:3). Jesus adopts the same vocabulary: “the Parable of the Sower” (Matthew 13:3-23), the “vine and branches” (John 15:1-8), and the expectation of fruit-bearing servants (Luke 13:6-9). Paul calls believers “God’s field” (1 Corinthians 3:9), and James urges patience by pointing to the farmer waiting for seasonal rains (James 5:7). Against this backdrop, γεωργέω in Hebrews 6:7 stands as the climax of a well-established biblical motif: cultivated land evidences genuine faith by producing a crop; neglected land exposes unbelief. Contextual focus: Hebrews 6:7 The Epistle to the Hebrews warns Christians against drifting back into unbelief. The writer contrasts two types of ground: “For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives the blessing of God.” (Hebrews 6:7) Rain falls indiscriminately, symbolizing God’s gracious revelation through His Word and the Spirit. Yet only land that is “cultivated” (γεωργεῖται) yields fruit. The middle-voice nuance underscores purposeful action: the field is continuously worked for the benefit of others. The following verse (6:8) completes the warning—uncultivated soil produces “thorns and thistles” and faces burning. Thus γεωργέω anchors an exhortation to persevere in faith, not merely to experience grace but to respond with diligent obedience that blesses the community and delights the Lord. Old Testament antecedents The Greek verb γεωργέω saturates the Septuagint, especially in covenant passages: • Leviticus 25:3-4: cultivating cycles tied to Sabbath rest. These texts illuminate Hebrews 6 by showing that cultivation is both a privilege and a responsibility; unfruitfulness invites judgment. Jewish and Greco-Roman agricultural practice First-century hearers knew that productive harvests demanded back-breaking labor: plowing hard Mediterranean soils, removing stones, pruning vines, timing sowing around autumn and spring rains (Joel 2:23). Land left idle became quickly overrun with weeds and thorns. The author of Hebrews leverages this everyday reality—effortless fields do not exist—to illustrate that discipleship likewise involves ongoing attention, discipline, and dependence on God’s provision. Doctrinal and pastoral implications 1. Perseverance and assurance Genuine faith manifests in fruit over time. While salvation is by grace, an uncultivated life raises sober questions about spiritual reality (2 Corinthians 13:5). Regular intake of Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and trials function like rainfall and plowing, softening hearts and rooting truth (Colossians 3:16; 1 Peter 1:6-7). Hebrews 6:7 emphasizes usefulness “to those for whom” the land is tilled; Christians cultivate their lives not for self-promotion but for the blessing of the body (Ephesians 4:16). “Receives the blessing of God” evokes the agricultural principle of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7-9). Faithful laborers anticipate both present fruitfulness and future commendation (Matthew 25:21). Homiletical and devotional applications • Examine the soil: Are habitual sins, distractions, or superficial commitments choking spiritual growth? Related words and concepts • γεωργός (1092) – farmer (James 5:7; 2 Timothy 2:6) See also Matthew 13:18-23; John 12:24; Colossians 1:5-6; Revelation 14:15 Forms and Transliterations γεωργειται γεωργείται γεωργεῖται γεωργούντων georgeitai georgeîtai geōrgeitai geōrgeîtaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Hebrews 6:7 V-PIM/P-3SGRK: οὓς καὶ γεωργεῖται μεταλαμβάνει εὐλογίας NAS: it is also tilled, receives KJV: whom it is dressed, receiveth INT: whom also it is tilled partakes of blessing |
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