Lexical Summary amaó: To reap, to harvest Original Word: ἀμάω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mow down. From hama; properly, to collect, i.e. (by implication) reap -- reap down. see GREEK hama NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition to reap NASB Translation mowed (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 270: ἀμάωἀμάω, (ῶ: 1 aorist ἤμησα; (from ἅμα together; hence, to gather together, cf. German sammeln; (others regard the beginning ἆ as euphonic and the word as allied to Latinmeto, English mow, thus making the sense of cutting primary, and that of gathering in secondary; cf. Vanicek, p. 673)); frequent in the Greek poets, to reap, mow down: τάς χώρας, James 5:4. Topical Lexicon Root Meaning and Agricultural Context The verb ἀμάω communicates the concrete action of cutting grain or grass at harvest. In the first-century Mediterranean world, the sickle’s sweep was synonymous with sustenance, wealth, and the turning of seasons. Reaping demanded strength, coordination, and hired laborers who worked from dawn until the bundles were stacked for threshing. Because the work was seasonal and intensive, day-laborers relied on immediate payment to feed their households before nightfall. Old Testament Background Though ἀμάω is Greek, its imagery echoes Hebrew harvest laws that protected workers and the poor. Moses commanded, “You shall not oppress a hired servant…you are to give him his wages each day before the sun sets” (Deuteronomy 24:14-15). The gleaning statutes of Leviticus 19:9-10 and the redemption account of Ruth underline God’s concern that landowners treat harvesters with righteousness, reflecting His covenant character. Usage in the New Testament: James’s Prophetic Warning James 5:4 contains the only New Testament occurrence: “Look, the wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you”. The participle ἀμησάντων pictures men still weary from swinging their sickles while their rightful pay remains in the vaults of wealthy landowners. James frames the unpaid wages as an indictment echoing the blood of Abel (Genesis 4:10). The Lord of Hosts Himself testifies on behalf of the defrauded. Theology of Labor and Justice By choosing harvest vocabulary, James joins a scriptural chorus that identifies God as both provider (Psalm 104:14) and just Judge (Psalm 98:9). Reaping becomes a moral test: Christ’s Teaching on Harvest and Judgment Jesus often turned harvest scenes into eschatological parables. In Matthew 13:39-43 the harvest marks the consummation of the age when angels separate wheat from weeds. While ἀμάω itself is not used, the shared field imagery clarifies James’s point: earthly injustice will not survive the universal reaping performed by the Son of Man (Matthew 25:31-46). Ministry Application 1. Economic Integrity: Churches and Christian businesses should pay workers promptly and fairly, guarding the reputation of the gospel. Historical Notes on Harvest Practices • First-century Judean fields were commonly reaped with short iron sickles; a strong laborer could cut one korban (about a sheaf) every few minutes. Related Concepts and Words Therízō (Strong’s 2325) – to reap, often figuratively for gathering souls (John 4:38). Misthós (Strong’s 3408) – wages, reward; central to James 5:4. Kérugma – proclamation; prophetic denunciations of social sin accompany calls to repentance. Together these terms frame a biblical ethic of work and recompense. Summary At first glance ἀμάω appears minor, surfacing only once in the Greek New Testament. Yet its inclusion in James 5:4 anchors a sweeping biblical principle: the God who supplies harvests also defends harvesters. Every sickle stroke obliges employers to mirror divine justice, and every unpaid coin becomes evidence in God’s court. The harvest field therefore stands not only for provision but also for accountability, urging believers toward integrity, compassion, and readiness for the final reaping. Forms and Transliterations αμησαντων αμησάντων ἀμησάντων αμήσατε αμήσετε αμήση αμήσης αμήσητε ημβλύνθησαν ημβλυώπουν amesanton amesánton amēsantōn amēsántōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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