Lexical Summary drepanon: Sickle Original Word: δρέπανον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sickle. From drepo (to pluck); a gathering hook (especially for harvesting) -- sickle. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom drepó (to pluck) Definition a sickle, a pruning hook NASB Translation sickle (8). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1407: δρέπανονδρέπανον, δρεπανου, τό (equivalent to δρεπάνη, from δρέπω, to pluck, pluck off), a sickle, a pruning-hook, a hooked vine-knife, such as reapers and vine-dressers use: Mark 4:29; Revelation 14:14-19. (Homer and subsequent writings; the Sept..) Topical Lexicon Term overview Strong’s Greek 1407 denotes a hand-held curved blade used to cut ripened grain. Scripture employs the image both literally and figuratively, anchoring it in everyday agrarian life while elevating it as a prophetic sign of divine harvest. Old Testament background Long before the New Testament era, the sickle symbolized the moment when God’s provision matured into sustenance. Mosaic law regulated harvest ethics (Leviticus 19:9-10), and prophets later adopted the implement as an emblem of decisive divine action: “Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe” (Joel 3:13). The Septuagint often renders the Hebrew term ḥermēš with δρέπανον, establishing a linguistic bridge that the New Testament would cross. Agricultural imagery in first-century Palestine Reaping required attentiveness to seasons, weather, and laborers. The sickle therefore spoke of urgency—once grain turned golden, delay meant loss. Listeners immediately grasped that a sharpened blade signaled both completion and accountability. Jesus and the Apostles tapped into this shared experience to convey spiritual truth. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Mark 4:29 Though only eight in number, these occurrences frame the entire scope of redemptive history—from the present age of gospel growth to the consummation of all things. Mark 4:29 — the parable of the growing seed “But as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Here the instrument marks the climax of a mysterious yet certain process. The seed grows “all by itself” (verse 28), underscoring God’s sovereign, often unseen work in hearts. Only when maturity is reached does the reaper act. The verse quietly anticipates both individual conversions and the ultimate gathering of the redeemed. Revelation 14:14-19 — the final harvest John sees “One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand” (14:14). At angelic command He reaps, followed by another angel who gathers “the clusters of the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe” (14:18). Two interwoven harvests emerge: • Grain harvest (14:14-16) — often interpreted as the ingathering of the righteous. The dual imagery harmonizes with Jesus’ own teaching that wheat and tares grow together until the end (Matthew 13:24-30). The sickle thus embodies both deliverance and doom, depending on one’s relationship to Christ. Theological themes 1. Sovereign timing: God alone determines when the crop is “ripe.” Human calendars cannot hasten or hinder His schedule (Acts 1:7). Practical ministry applications • Evangelism: Jesus’ call, “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields” (John 4:35), gains sharper focus in light of the coming sickle. Proclamation is rescue before the blade descends. Contemporary Christian reflection Modern believers, distant from agrarian rhythms, risk dulling the edge of this imagery. Yet global food systems still depend on timely harvest; likewise, spiritual destinies hinge on decisive moments. The sickle warns against complacency and comforts those longing for justice. It calls congregations to active participation in God’s field while time remains. Related concepts Harvest (θερισμός) • Reap/Reaper (θερίζω, θεριστής) • Firstfruits (ἀπαρχή) • Wheat and Tares • Vintage and Winepress • Day of the Lord In sum, Strong’s Greek 1407 is more than an ancient tool; it is a Spirit-given metaphor that unites daily labor, kingdom growth, and eschatological fulfillment under the sovereign hand of the Lord of the harvest. Forms and Transliterations δρέπανα δρεπάνοις δρεπανον δρέπανον δρέπανόν δρεπάνω δρομεύς δρομέως drepanon drépanon drépanónLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 4:29 N-ANSGRK: ἀποστέλλει τὸ δρέπανον ὅτι παρέστηκεν NAS: puts in the sickle, because KJV: he putteth in the sickle, because INT: he sends the sickle for has come Revelation 14:14 N-ANS Revelation 14:15 N-ANS Revelation 14:16 N-ANS Revelation 14:17 N-ANS Revelation 14:18 N-ANS Revelation 14:18 N-ANS Revelation 14:19 N-ANS |
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