θερισμός (therismos)
therismos
harvest
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun therismos refers to harvest, covering the physical act of reaping, the specific season when crops are gathered, and the resulting crop itself. In the New Testament, it appears eight times, primarily in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John, where Jesus uses this familiar agricultural image to describe spiritual realities.
While the word literally describes gathering grain, its most significant usage is figurative. In the Parable of the Weeds, Jesus identifies therismos as the end of the age, when angels separate the righteous from the wicked (Matthew 13:39). Similarly, in John 4:35, He points to a field ready for gathering, using the term to illustrate that people are prepared for spiritual harvest even before the disciples realize it.
This word connects everyday labor with divine judgment and salvation. It appears in Jesus’ instructions to pray for workers (Matthew 9:38) and in Revelation’s vision of the earth’s final reaping (Revelation 14:15). The term consistently bridges the gap between seasonal agriculture and the ultimate gathering of humanity, emphasizing that spiritual readiness is as urgent as a crop ready for the sickle.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word therismos brings together the rhythm of farming with the urgency of faith. In Jesus’ time, harvest was a season of intense work and great reward. When He spoke of the harvest being plentiful, He was inviting His followers to see the people around them as ripe for spiritual truth. This image reminds us that God’s timing is precise; just as crops do not ripen before their season, hearts often prepare in ways we cannot yet see.
For your daily life, this word offers a gentle nudge to look up from your own tasks and notice the fields around you. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the size of the work or the scarcity of help. Jesus’ instruction to pray for workers shifts the focus from our limited strength to God’s abundant provision. We are invited to trust that He knows who is ready and who needs a hand in the field.
Ultimately, therismos points to a future where all things are gathered and made right. Whether we view this as a metaphor for evangelism or a literal end-time event, the core message remains the same: there is purpose in our labor and hope in the gathering. We can rest in the knowledge that the Lord of the harvest oversees every detail, ensuring that what is sown in faithfulness will yield a lasting return.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- harvest9×
- the harvest1×
- harvest;1×
- harvest.1×
- harvest [is]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θερισμὸς5×
- θερισμοῦ3×
- θερισμὸν2×
- θερισμός.¶1×
- θερισμόν1×
- θερισμοῦ·1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 9:37
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
This verse establishes the central tension of the word by contrasting the abundance of those ready to hear with the scarcity of those willing to serve.
-
John 4:35
Don’t you say, ‘There are yet four months until the harvest’? Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.
Jesus uses this occurrence to correct a common agricultural timeline, showing that spiritual readiness often arrives sooner than human expectations suggest.
-
Matthew 13:39
The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
Here the term takes on its most serious weight, defining the harvest not as a seasonal event but as the final separation of ages by angelic agents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does therismos mean in the New Testament?
How is therismos different from other words for gathering?
Why does Jesus tell us to pray for workers in relation to the harvest?
Every Occurrence (8 verses across 5 books)
Matthew 4 verses
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Matthew 9:38Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 13:30Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel…
Matthew 13:39The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.