ἀγραυλέω (agrauleō)
agrauleō
to live outside
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb agrauleō describes the act of living or spending the night outdoors, essentially under the open sky. Derived from roots meaning "field" and "sky," it conveys a sense of bivouacking or dwelling in the fields rather than inside a house. This word appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in Luke 10:34.
In that passage, the Good Samaritan tends to the injured traveler on the roadside, an act of mercy performed in an exposed setting. The usage highlights a temporary, practical arrangement where shelter is unavailable or unnecessary for the immediate need. Translators typically render this as "stayed the night" or "lodged," capturing the simple reality of resting outside.
Its rarity in Scripture makes it a precise tool for describing specific historical contexts where open-air lodging was common. It reminds readers that biblical narratives often take place in settings where people lived close to the land and the elements, without the insulation of modern housing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word agrauleō paints a picture of life lived close to the earth, where shelter is often just the open sky. In Luke’s Gospel, this term captures the reality of shepherds who spend their nights in the fields with their flocks. It was not a romantic choice but a practical necessity, reflecting a world where people worked the land and rested under the stars.
For us today, this word reminds us that God often meets people in simple, everyday settings. The shepherds were not in a temple or a palace; they were outside, watching their sheep. Yet it was there that they received the good news of Jesus’ birth. Your own life may feel ordinary or exposed at times, but those are precisely the places where divine encounters can happen.
When we read about those who stayed in the field, we see that God’s grace is not limited by comfort or convenience. You do not need a perfect environment to experience His presence. Whether you are dealing with hardship or simply going about your daily routine, He sees you and speaks to you right where you are.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lodging in the fields1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀγραυλοῦντες1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 2:8
There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
This verse uses the related concept of staying in the field, highlighting how shepherds lived and worked outdoors, making them the first recipients of the angelic announcement.