Lexical Summary ampelourgos: Vinedresser, Vine Worker Original Word: ἀμπελουργός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance vinedresser, gardenerFrom ampelos and ergon; a vine-worker, i.e. Pruner -- vine-dresser. see GREEK ampelos see GREEK ergon NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ampelos and ergon Definition a vinedresser NASB Translation vineyard-keeper (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 289: ἀμπελουργόςἀμπελουργός, , ὁ, ἡ (from ἄμπελος and ΑΡΓΩ), a vinedresser: Luke 13:7. (Aristophanes, Plutarch, Geoponica, others; the Sept. for כֹּרֵם.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Agricultural Background The term designates a worker entrusted with every aspect of vineyard care: planting, training, pruning, fertilizing, protecting from pests, and finally harvesting. In first-century Judea and Galilee, viticulture demanded year-round attention. The vinedresser’s patient labor, steady vigilance, and readiness to remove unproductive shoots made him an apt figure for lessons on divine oversight and human fruitfulness. Biblical Occurrence (Luke 13:7) In the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree the landowner “said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down! Why should it deplete the soil?’ ” (Luke 13:7). Although the word appears only here, the picture it paints is woven throughout Scripture: God inspects the lives of His covenant people, expects evidence of repentance, and gives merciful extensions before final judgment. Old Testament Foundations • Isaiah 5:1-7 portrays the LORD as the owner who “looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed,” highlighting Israel’s responsibility to bear righteous fruit. These passages establish the vineyard motif as a covenant framework: privilege, expectation, and accountability. New Testament Parallels • John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” Though a different Greek word (geōrgos) is used, the functions overlap: pruning, cleansing, and securing greater fruitfulness. Theological Themes Stewardship: The vinedresser answers directly to the landowner; likewise believers manage, not own, their gifts (1 Peter 4:10). Patience and Mercy: The request for one more year (Luke 13:8-9) shows divine longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9). Judgment: Continued barrenness invites decisive action—“Cut it down!”—illustrating that grace never nullifies holiness. Fruitfulness: Genuine repentance and Spirit-borne character (Galatians 5:22-23) satisfy the Owner’s search. Historical Ministry Significance Early Christian teachers appealed to vineyard imagery to call congregations toward perseverance under persecution and purity amid pagan culture. Patristic writings liken church leaders to vinedressers who prune false doctrine and nurture the faithful. Throughout revivals, preachers have invoked Luke 13 to urge timely repentance, reminding hearers that prolonged barrenness endangers both individual souls and entire assemblies. Practical Application for Today 1. Self-examination: Regularly ask whether attitudes and actions evidence growth in Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 13:5). Devotional Reflection The solitary use of this word suffices to remind the church that every life stands under the careful hand of the heavenly Vinedresser. His pruning may sting, yet it aims at an abundant harvest to the praise of His glory (Philippians 1:11). Forms and Transliterations αμπελουργοί αμπελουργον αμπελουργόν ἀμπελουργόν αμπελουργούς ampelourgon ampelourgónLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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