σκάπτω (skaptō)
skaptō
to dig
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb skaptō simply means to dig or excavate. It appears only three times in the New Testament, with two occurrences in Luke’s Gospel. In the Parable of the Tenants, a landowner plants a vineyard and digs a winepress (Luke 20:9). More vividly, Jesus uses it to describe the foundation of a wise builder who digs deep into the rock before constructing his house (Luke 6:48).
Its usage highlights the necessity of thorough preparation. When the flood comes, the house built on shallow ground collapses because its owner failed to dig down to solid bedrock. The word implies physical effort and reaching beneath the surface to find stability. It is not merely about breaking ground, but about creating a secure base that can withstand pressure.
Translators consistently render skaptō as "dig," preserving the literal sense of excavation. The term carries no metaphorical weight beyond the physical act itself; its power lies in the concrete image of laboring to reach something hidden beneath the soil. This straightforward language underscores the practical wisdom required for lasting structures.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word skaptō describes the physical act of digging deep into the earth. In Luke 6:48, Jesus uses this image to show how a wise builder prepares for trouble. He does not just scratch the surface but goes down to the solid rock. This effort ensures that when storms come, the house stands firm. It reminds us that true stability requires work beneath the surface.
Life often asks us to do similar preparation. We might feel tired or discouraged by the hidden labor of growing in faith. Yet this digging is not wasted effort. It creates a foundation that can hold us when pressures rise. Trust in God’s strength to help you dig deep, knowing that what is built on solid ground will endure.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- dug1×
- To dig1×
- I may dig1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔσκαψεν1×
- σκάψω1×
- σκάπτειν1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 6:48
He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock.
This verse uses the word to describe the essential foundation work of a wise builder who digs down to rock for stability.
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Luke 13:8
He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
Here the term appears in a parable where a gardener plans to dig around a fruitless tree to help it grow.
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Luke 16:3
“The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.
The dishonest manager mentions digging as a task he feels too weak to perform, contrasting physical labor with his current shame.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word skaptō mean?
Where is skaptō used in the Bible?
Why is digging important in Luke 6:48?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Luke 3 verses
He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the…
Luke 13:8He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
Luke 16:3“The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me?…