καρποφόρος (karpophoros)
karpophoros
fruitbearing
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective karpophoros describes something that is fruitbearing or productive. It combines the words for "fruit" and "to bear," creating a simple but vivid image of natural abundance. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, in Acts 14:17.
Here, Paul and Barnabas explain that God gives rains and fruitful seasons to satisfy human hunger and joy. The word highlights God’s generous provision for all people, not just His chosen community. It points to a general blessing of fertility and sustenance found in the natural world.
This single usage connects the physical act of growing crops with the spiritual reality of divine care. The term reminds readers that the basic necessities of life are gifts from above, offered freely to everyone.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word karpophoros paints a simple picture of life sustained by nature’s rhythm. In Acts 14:17, Paul uses it to describe God’s provision of rains and fruitful seasons. This reminds us that the food on our tables and the joy in our hearts are gifts from above, offered freely to everyone.
When we pause to notice these daily blessings, our perspective shifts. We see that basic necessities are not accidents but intentional care. This awareness invites gratitude for the quiet abundance that surrounds us every day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- fruitful,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καρποφόρους,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 14:17
Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Paul links God's general provision of rains and fruitful seasons to human satisfaction.