Lexical Summary trugaó: To reap, to gather, to harvest Original Word: τρυγάω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gather. From a derivative of trugo (to dry) meaning ripe fruit (as if dry); to collect the vintage -- gather. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom trugé (ripe) Definition to gather in NASB Translation gather (1), gathered (1), pick (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5166: τρυγάωτρυγάω, τρύγω; 1 aorist ἐτρύγησα; (from τρύγη (literally, 'dryness') fruit gathered ripe in autumn, harvest); from Homer down; the Sept. several times for בָּצַר, אָרָה, קָצַר; to gather in ripe fruits; to gather the harvest or vintage: as in the Greek writings, with the accusative of the fruit gathered, Luke 6:44 Revelation 14:18; or of the plant from which it is gathered, Revelation 14:19. Topical Lexicon Agricultural Background The verb points to the vintage season in the Mediterranean world, when clusters of fully-ripened grapes were gathered by hand and carried to the press. In Israel the grape harvest fell between late August and early October, following the grain and fig harvests. It was a time of celebration (Judges 9:27) but also of labor, and the quality of the vintage determined wine production for the coming year. The action implied is decisive, deliberate, and cannot be postponed once the crop reaches peak maturity. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Luke 6:44—present tense, describing what people “gather.” Fruitfulness and Discernment (Luke 6:44) “For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes picked from a bramble bush” (Luke 6:44). Jesus uses the common knowledge of the vintage to illustrate spiritual discernment. Disciples can judge teachers by the moral and doctrinal produce of their lives; good seed yields good fruit, and counterfeit spirituality cannot hide behind religious language for long. The vintage imagery underlines that fruit inspection is not instantaneous; character ripens over time, yet when mature it is unmistakable. Eschatological Harvest of Wrath (Revelation 14:18-19) “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe” (Revelation 14:18). “So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath” (Revelation 14:19). Here the vintage becomes an apocalyptic symbol. The earth itself is pictured as a sprawling vine whose rebellion has reached full measure. Once Heaven pronounces the crop “ripe,” judgment is swift and unrelenting. The pressing of the grapes into the “winepress of God’s wrath” recalls Isaiah 63:2-3 and Joel 3:13, showing prophetic continuity and emphasizing that divine patience has a terminus. Old Testament Continuity Prophets often portrayed Israel as a vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21) and their enemies as grapes destined for trampling (Jeremiah 25:30). The New Testament usages draw upon this reservoir of imagery: fruitfulness anchors covenant blessing, while overripe grapes signal judgment. The linkage of vintage and accountability is therefore deeply rooted in Scripture. Theological Themes • Divine Sovereignty: God alone determines the moment of harvest, both for blessing (Luke) and for retribution (Revelation). Ministry Implications Pastors and teachers must cultivate genuine fruit, knowing congregations will inevitably “taste” their doctrine and life. Evangelists should feel urgency: the eschatological vintage draws nearer, and the gospel is God’s provision for escape from the coming wrath. Discipleship involves pruning (John 15:2) so that believers may bear fruit worthy of repentance before the final harvest. Hope in Christ While Revelation 14 depicts severe judgment, it presupposes the completed work of Jesus Christ, who drank the cup of wrath for all who trust Him (Matthew 26:39; Romans 5:9). Those united to Christ will stand in the new creation where “new wine” gladdens eternal fellowship (Matthew 26:29). Thus the same vintage imagery that warns the ungodly also reassures the faithful that God’s purposes ripen perfectly and culminate in joyful celebration for His redeemed people. Forms and Transliterations ετρύγησα ετρύγησαν ετρυγήσατε ετρύγησε ετρυγησεν ἐτρύγησεν τρυγάν τρυγηθείη τρυγήσατε τρυγήσεις τρυγήσετε τρυγήσης τρυγησον τρύγησον τρυγηταί τρυγηταίς τρυγητόν τρυγητός τρυγητού τρυγητώ τρυγίας τρυγών τρυγώντες τρυγώσι τρυγωσιν τρυγώσιν τρυγῶσιν etrugesen etrugēsen etrygesen etrygēsen etrýgesen etrýgēsen trugeson trugēson trugosin trugōsin trygeson trygēson trýgeson trýgēson trygosin trygôsin trygōsin trygō̂sinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 6:44 V-PIA-3PGRK: βάτου σταφυλὴν τρυγῶσιν NAS: nor do they pick grapes KJV: of a bramble bush gather they grapes. INT: a bramble grapes gather they Revelation 14:18 V-AMA-2S Revelation 14:19 V-AIA-3S Strong's Greek 5166 |
    |