A vineyard-keeper, also known as a vinedresser or husbandman, is an individual responsible for the cultivation and maintenance of a vineyard. This role is significant in biblical literature, symbolizing various spiritual truths and moral lessons. The vineyard-keeper's duties include planting, pruning, harvesting, and protecting the vineyard from pests and diseases, ensuring the production of quality grapes.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 5:1-7 · The Song of the Vineyard: This passage presents a parable where God is depicted as the vineyard-keeper, and Israel as the vineyard. "Let me sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill" (Isaiah 5:1). The vineyard-keeper's disappointment with the vineyard producing wild grapes instead of good fruit serves as a metaphor for Israel's unfaithfulness and injustice.

2. John 15:1-8 · The True Vine: Jesus uses the imagery of a vineyard to describe His relationship with His followers. "I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard" (John 15:1). Here, God the Father is the vineyard-keeper who prunes the branches (believers) to bear more fruit, emphasizing the importance of abiding in Christ to produce spiritual fruit.

3. Matthew 21:33-41 · The Parable of the Wicked Tenants: Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who plants a vineyard and leases it to tenants. When the landowner sends servants to collect the fruit, the tenants beat and kill them. Finally, they kill the landowner's son. This parable illustrates the rejection of God's messengers and His Son by the religious leaders of Israel. "There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower" (Matthew 21:33).

4. Song of Solomon 1:6 · Personal Labor: The Shulammite woman speaks of her labor in the vineyards, which prevented her from tending to her own vineyard, symbolizing her own life and beauty. "My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected" (Song of Solomon 1:6).

Symbolism and Themes:

· Divine Care and Judgment: The vineyard-keeper often represents God, who cares for His people, expecting them to bear fruit in righteousness. The failure to produce good fruit results in divine judgment, as seen in Isaiah 5 and Matthew 21.

· Spiritual Growth and Fruitfulness: The role of the vineyard-keeper in pruning and nurturing the vines symbolizes God's work in believers' lives, encouraging spiritual growth and fruitfulness. John 15 highlights the necessity of remaining connected to Christ, the true vine, to bear fruit.

· Responsibility and Stewardship: The vineyard-keeper's role underscores the themes of responsibility and stewardship. Believers are called to be faithful stewards of the spiritual and material resources entrusted to them, producing fruit that glorifies God.

· Rejection and Redemption: The parable of the wicked tenants in Matthew 21 illustrates the rejection of God's messengers and the ultimate sacrifice of His Son, pointing to the redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.

In summary, the vineyard-keeper is a rich biblical metaphor that conveys themes of divine care, judgment, spiritual growth, responsibility, and redemption. Through the imagery of the vineyard, Scripture communicates profound truths about God's relationship with His people and His expectations for their lives.289. ampelourgos -- a vinedresser
... gardener. Word Origin from ampelos and ergon Definition a vinedresser NASB
Word Usage vineyard-keeper (1). vinedresser, gardener. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/289.htm - 6k

Of the Affectionate Languishing of the Heart Wounded with Love.
... bringing me to such a languor, that as, on the one hand, I am like to a queen who
is beside her king, so on the other hand I am as a vineyard-keeper who, in a ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xv of the affectionate.htm

The Formation of the Old Testament Canon
... The story of Noah, the first vineyard-keeper, in ix.20-27, is taken entirely from
the prophetic history, but in x. two distinct lists of the nations are joined ...
/.../xiii the formation of the.htm

The Growth of the Old Testament Prophetic Histories
... This is followed by the primitive stories of the sons of God and the daughters of
men (Genesis 6:1-4), of Noah the first vineyard-keeper (ix.20-27), and of the ...
/.../the origin and permanent value of the old testament/vi the growth of the.htm

The Interpretation of the Early Narratives of the Old Testament
... The similar story of Noah, the first vineyard-keeper, preaches the first temperance
sermon in all literature, and also suggests the inevitable consequences of ...
/.../xiv the interpretation of the.htm

Vineyard-keeper (1 Occurrence)
Vineyard-keeper. Vineyard, Vineyard-keeper. Vineyards . Multi-Version
Concordance Vineyard-keeper (1 Occurrence). Luke ...
/v/vineyard-keeper.htm - 6k

Vineyards (55 Occurrences)

/v/vineyards.htm - 25k

Vineyard (69 Occurrences)

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