ἀμπελουργός (ampelourgos)
ampelourgos
a vine-worker
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun ampelourgos refers to a vine-worker or vinedresser, someone who tends to grapevines with specialized care. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, in Luke 13:7, where it describes the owner of a vineyard asking his laborer why he has found no fruit from a specific tree for three years.
The word is a compound formed from ampelos, meaning "vine," and ergos, relating to "work" or "labor." This etymology highlights the active, physical nature of the role. The worker is not merely an observer but an engaged cultivator responsible for the health and productivity of the vines.
In its single biblical occurrence, the term underscores the expectation of fruitfulness within a relationship of care. The vineyard owner’s question to the ampelourgos reflects a standard agricultural reality: diligent work should yield results. This usage provides a concrete image for understanding spiritual accountability and the purpose of divine nurture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ampelourgos describes a vine-worker who tends to grapevines with specialized care. In Luke 13:7, the owner asks this laborer why no fruit has appeared on a fig tree after three years of attention. This image reminds us that spiritual growth requires consistent effort and divine nurture.
God’s desire for fruitfulness is not arbitrary but rooted in relationship. Just as a vinedresser prunes and waters, God provides the conditions for life to flourish. When we feel stuck or unproductive, this word invites us to trust His patient work rather than despair.
Fruitfulness here means living out love, joy, and peace in daily life. It is not about perfection but persistence. The vine-worker’s diligence reflects God’s own faithfulness to sustain us until the harvest comes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- vinedresser;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀμπελουργόν·1×
Key Verses
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Luke 13:7
He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down! Why does it waste the soil?’
This verse highlights the expectation of fruitfulness after three years of care, showing that divine patience does not negate accountability.