ὀρύσσω (orussō)
orussō
to dig
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb orussō means to dig, specifically in the sense of excavating earth to create a hole or pit. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, always describing a physical act of digging soil rather than metaphorical searching.
This word is used when landowners prepare vineyards by digging wine presses (Matthew 21:33; Mark 12:1) and when servants dig fields to bury money (Matthew 25:18). The action implies labor and the creation of a distinct space in the ground.
Translators consistently render it as "dig" or "dug," reflecting its straightforward, concrete meaning. It describes the manual work required to prepare land for agriculture or storage, grounding these parables in the everyday reality of ancient farming life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word orussō simply means to dig. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, always describing the physical act of excavating earth. Whether digging a wine press for harvest or burying money in a field, the action is one of honest labor and preparation. It grounds spiritual lessons in the tangible reality of ancient farming life.
When we read these parables, we see that God’s kingdom involves real work. The landowner who digs a wine press invests in future fruitfulness. The servant who digs to hide money fails to engage with the gift given. This word reminds us that faith is not passive; it requires effort and intentionality in how we use what we have been entrusted with.
May your own life reflect this spirit of diligent preparation, trusting that God blesses the work of your hands as you seek to honor Him in both small and significant tasks.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he dug in1×
- he dug1×
- dug1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὤρυξεν3×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 21:33
“Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a wine press in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country.
This verse uses orussō to describe digging a wine press, highlighting the landowner's investment in future fruitfulness through substantial labor.
-
Mark 12:1
He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.
Here the word describes digging a pit for the wine press, paralleling Matthew’s account and emphasizing the thorough preparation of the vineyard.
-
Matthew 25:18
But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.
In this parable, the servant digs in the earth to hide his master's money, illustrating a failure to invest rather than a lack of opportunity.