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βοτάνη (botanē)

botanē

crop

G1008 · Greek · New Testament · 1 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
1 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The noun botanē refers to green vegetation, specifically grass or fodder used for feeding livestock. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Hebrews 6:7, where it describes land that yields useful crops.

Its root connects to the verb for seeing or perceiving, suggesting a plant recognized by its visible growth. The word distinguishes itself from cultivated garden vegetables by emphasizing wild or field-grown herbage suitable for animal consumption.

This single usage highlights agricultural imagery familiar to first-century readers. The author of Hebrews employs it to illustrate how land that produces valuable food receives blessing, while barren ground faces rejection. The term grounds spiritual lessons in everyday rural experience.

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

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word botanē refers to the green vegetation or grass that sustains livestock in the fields. In Hebrews 6:7, this image illustrates how land that receives rain and produces useful crops brings blessing to those who work it. This simple agricultural scene reminds us that God values fruitfulness and readiness to serve.

For your faith, this suggests that a life rooted in God's provision will naturally yield good results. Just as the earth responds to rain by growing food, your spirit can grow when you remain connected to divine grace. It is an encouragement that your efforts, when aligned with God’s will, are seen and blessed.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • vegetation1×

Forms in the text

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

  • βοτάνην1×

Key Verses

  • Hebrews 6:7
    For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;

    This verse uses botanē to contrast fruitful land that receives God's blessing with barren ground, highlighting the spiritual principle of responsiveness to divine provision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does botanē mean in the Bible?

Botanē is a Greek noun meaning crop or green vegetation, specifically grass used for feeding animals. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 6:7, where it describes land that yields useful produce.

Why is botanē important in Hebrews 6?

In Hebrews 6:7, botanē helps illustrate the spiritual truth that land which responds to rain and produces crops receives God's blessing. This agricultural metaphor encourages believers to remain fruitful and responsive to God’s grace.

How is botanē different from other words for plants?

Unlike terms for cultivated garden vegetables, botanē refers to wild or field-grown herbage suitable for livestock. It emphasizes natural growth in open fields rather than tended garden produce.

Every Occurrence (1 verses across 1 books)