Lexical Summary euphoreó: To bear well, to bring forth abundantly, to be fruitful. Original Word: εὐφορέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bring forth abundantly. From eu and phoreo; to bear well, i.e. Be fertile -- bring forth abundantly. see GREEK eu see GREEK phoreo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom eu and phoreó Definition to bear well, i.e. to be fruitful NASB Translation very productive (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2164: εὐφορέωεὐφορέω, ἐυφόρω: 1 aorist ἐυφόρησα (Lachmann ἠυφόρησα, see references in εὐδοκέω, at the beginning); (εὔφορος (bearing well)); to be fertile, bring forth plentifully: Luke 12:16. (Josephus, b. j. 2, 21, 2; Hippocrates, Geoponica, others.) Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Nuance The verb pictures land yielding beyond ordinary expectation—an overflowing, prosperous harvest that points to divine favor rather than mere agronomic skill. In the Mediterranean world, where rainfall was uncertain and harvests could swing between scarcity and surplus, such language instantly evoked God-given plenty (compare Deuteronomy 7:13; Psalm 65:9-13). Canonical Occurrence and Immediate Context (Luke 12:16) “Then He told them a parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundant harvest.’” The solitary New Testament usage anchors the term in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21). Jesus contrasts earthbound security with heavenly treasure. The bumper crop, though ostensibly a blessing, exposes the farmer’s spiritual bankruptcy: he expands barns but not generosity; he consults himself but not God; he plans for years yet faces eternity that very night. The verb thus functions as narrative irony—material overflow reveals spiritual emptiness. Old Testament Resonance • Genesis 26:12—Isaac reaps a hundredfold during famine, teaching that prosperity comes from the Lord. These parallels cast the Luke 12 field as a test of covenant faithfulness; abundance should trigger gratitude and sharing toward the poor (Deuteronomy 24:19-22). Theological Implications 1. Divine Sovereignty in Provision: The ground, not the farmer, is the agent in Jesus’ sentence, emphasizing God’s initiative (see 1 Corinthians 3:7). Historical and Agrarian Background First-century Galilean farmers typically depended on rainfall between October and April. An extraordinary yield suggested optimum weather patterns and fertile soil. Barn construction required substantial timber and labor; replacing existing granaries underlined how extraordinary the crop was. Listeners would recognize both the logistical triumph and the social temptation to hoard. Intertextual Echoes of Fruitfulness • John 15:5—abiding in Christ “bears much fruit,” relocating the notion of abundance from soil to spiritual union. Christological Focus In Luke, Jesus often places wealth parables next to teachings on discipleship (Luke 12:22-34). The abundant field serves as narrative foil: earthly harvest versus heavenly kingdom. Jesus, the greater Provider (Luke 9:12-17; John 6:35), calls disciples to transfer trust from barns to the living Bread. Eschatological Warning The verb’s sole appearance underscores the momentary glitter of prosperity before impending judgment. The farmer’s midnight summons (“This very night your life will be required of you”) anticipates final accountability when “each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). Ministerial Applications • Preaching: Use the verb to challenge congregations on stewardship, highlighting that increase is meant for kingdom advance. Devotional Reflection Pray that any material “abundant harvest” entrusted to you becomes seed for eternal dividends—souls reached, needs met, Christ exalted. Let the field’s yield remind you of a greater harvest when “those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy” (Psalm 126:5). Forms and Transliterations ευφορησεν ευφόρησεν εὐφόρησεν euphoresen euphorēsen euphóresen euphórēsenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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