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ἀποθήκη (apothēkē)

apothēkē

storehouse

G0596 · Greek · New Testament · 6 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
6 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The noun apothēkē refers to a storehouse or granary, a secure place where grain and other valuable goods are kept safe from loss or theft. In the New Testament, this term appears six times, primarily within the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, grounding its meaning in the agricultural reality of first-century Palestine.

Jesus uses this concrete image to teach about God’s provision and human anxiety. In Matthew 6:26, He points out that birds do not sow or reap into apothēkai, yet their Father feeds them, illustrating that divine care extends beyond material storage. Similarly, in the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:30), the master commands that both be gathered together before the harvest, with the wheat brought into the storehouse for preservation.

The word also carries a tone of final judgment when John the Baptist describes the coming Messiah. In Matthew 3:12 and Luke 3:17, the chaff is burned up while the wheat is gathered into the apothēkē, symbolizing the separation of the righteous who are preserved for God’s kingdom.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word apothēkē describes a secure storehouse where grain was kept safe from theft and spoilage. In first-century Palestine, this structure represented stability and survival. When Jesus used this image, He spoke to people who understood the anxiety of relying on a good harvest for their next meal.

Scripture contrasts two kinds of storage. The rich man in Luke 12 planned to build larger barns to secure his future, yet he lost his life that very night. In contrast, Jesus points out that birds do not store food in barns, yet God feeds them. This teaches us that our security does not rest in the size of our reserves, but in the faithfulness of our Creator.

There is a deeper hope in this imagery as well. John the Baptist described the Messiah gathering wheat into His storehouse while burning the chaff. For those who trust in Christ, this image promises preservation and eternal safety. You are valued by God far more than the birds or the grain, and your life is held securely in His hands.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • barn3×
  • barns —1×
  • barns1×
  • barn —1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • ἀποθήκην3×
  • ἀποθήκη,1×
  • ἀποθήκας,1×
  • ἀποθήκας1×

Key Verses

  • Matthew 6:26
    See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

    Jesus uses the absence of barns in birds to highlight that God’s provision does not depend on human storage efforts.

  • Luke 12:18
    He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

    The rich man’s plan to build bigger barns illustrates the futility of trusting in accumulated wealth for security.

  • Matthew 3:12
    His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

    John the Baptist uses the storehouse as a metaphor for the final preservation of the righteous by the coming Messiah.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does apothēkē mean in the Bible?

It is a Greek noun meaning a storehouse, barn, or granary. In the New Testament, it refers to a secure place where grain and valuable goods were kept safe from loss or theft.

Why does Jesus mention barns in Matthew 6?

Jesus mentions that birds do not gather into barns to show that God provides for creation without the need for human anxiety or extensive storage. It encourages trust in God’s daily care.

How is apothēkē used in the parable of the wheat and tares?

In Matthew 13:30, the master commands that the wheat be gathered into the barn at harvest. This symbolizes the final separation where the righteous are preserved safely while the wicked are judged.

Every Occurrence (6 verses across 2 books)

Matthew 3 verses
Matthew 3:12

His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into…

Matthew 6:26

See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds…

Matthew 13:30

Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel…

Luke 3 verses