ὀπώρα (opōra)
opōra
fruit
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun opōra refers to late summer or early autumn, specifically the period between the rising of Sirius and Arcturus, spanning late July through early September. This time marked the peak of the harvest season in the ancient Mediterranean world, when crops reached full ripeness.
By metonymy, the word also denotes the ripe fruits themselves that were gathered during this season. Its sole New Testament appearance in Revelation 18:14 illustrates this dual sense, listing "fruits and fine flour" among the goods lost when Babylon falls, evoking the tangible abundance of the harvest.
The term appears in the Septuagint translations of Jeremiah (40:10, 12) to render the Hebrew qayits, consistently pointing to the season of summer fruit. This usage highlights how agricultural cycles structured daily life and economic stability in biblical times.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word opōra points to the peak of the harvest season, when crops are fully ripe and ready for gathering. In ancient times, this period marked a time of abundance and economic stability, as families collected the fruits of their labor before the autumn rains arrived. It represents not just the produce itself, but the culmination of patience and care in cultivation.
When Revelation 18:14 mentions these fruits alongside fine flour, it highlights how deeply tied human joy and security are to material provision. The loss described there is not merely about food; it reflects the collapse of a lifestyle built on temporary comforts. This reminds us that while earthly blessings are good, they are fleeting compared to eternal realities.
For your faith, this word invites reflection on what you hold dear. Are your hopes anchored in things that can perish, or in the unshakable promises of God? The harvest season teaches us to appreciate provision while trusting in the One who sustains life beyond any single year's yield.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ripe fruit1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀπώρα1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 18:14
The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you. All things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all.
This verse uses opōra to list perishable goods lost with Babylon, showing how the word symbolizes worldly abundance that vanishes when divine judgment comes.