ὑπολήνιον (hupolēnion)
hupolēnion
trough
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hupolēnion refers to a trough or pit situated beneath a winepress to collect grape juice. As indicated by its root components, it is the vessel placed under (hupo) the press (lēnō) that catches the flowing must. This specific term appears only once in the New Testament, marking a unique instance of such agricultural terminology in the biblical text.
In Mark 12:1, Jesus uses this concrete image to describe the violent treatment of the vineyard’s servants by the wicked tenants. The detail highlights that the owners expected the juice to flow into the collection pit, making its absence or destruction a sign of total failure and injustice. This singular usage grounds the parable in the tangible realities of ancient viticulture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hupolēnion refers to the trough placed beneath a winepress to catch the juice flowing from crushed grapes. In ancient vineyards, this was essential equipment; without it, the harvest would be lost. Jesus uses this concrete image in Mark 12:1 to describe the owners of a vineyard who built their property carefully, expecting a good return.
When the tenants destroyed the trough and killed the servants, they showed total disregard for the owner’s investment and justice. For us, this reminds us that God prepares spaces for His work and expects us to honor what He has provided. It calls us to stewardship, recognizing that every resource is given with purpose.
We can trust that God sees our efforts and values the care we put into our lives. May we be faithful in small things, knowing that He honors our obedience and provides for those who seek His kingdom first.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a wine vat1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὑπολήνιον1×
Key Verses
-
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.
This verse introduces the vineyard setting where the trough is dug, establishing the owner's preparation and expectation of a harvest.