φυτεύω (phuteuō)
phuteuō
to plant
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb phuteuō means simply to plant, describing the physical act of putting a seed or shoot into the soil. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from agricultural parables to spiritual metaphors. Jesus uses it when describing a vineyard owner who plants a vine (Matthew 21:33), and Paul employs it to illustrate his role alongside Apollos as someone who plants seeds in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Its root connects to the word for a young plant or shoot, emphasizing the beginning of growth rather than the final harvest. This distinction is crucial in Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 3, where he clarifies that while he plants and Apollos waters, only God causes the growth. The term highlights human labor as a necessary but subordinate part of a larger divine process.
Translators consistently render phuteuō as "plant," preserving its straightforward agricultural imagery. Whether referring to literal crops or metaphorical spiritual instruction, the word anchors the reader in the tangible reality of cultivation. It reminds readers that spiritual outcomes depend not just on human effort but on the life-giving power of God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word phuteuō simply means to plant. In the New Testament, it describes the initial act of putting a seed or shoot into the soil. This image appears in Jesus’ parables of the vineyard and the fig tree, grounding spiritual truths in the familiar rhythm of farming. It reminds us that every great harvest begins with a small, deliberate step of obedience.
Paul uses this same word to describe his ministry in Corinth. He writes, “I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). This distinction is vital for anyone involved in teaching or leading others. It frees us from the burden of controlling outcomes. Our role is to be faithful with what we have been given, trusting that God alone brings life and growth.
When you feel discouraged by slow progress in your own spiritual journey or in serving others, remember this truth. You are not responsible for making things grow; you are only called to plant well. The power to transform hearts belongs to God. Rest in that assurance as you continue your work with patience and hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- planted4×
- planting2×
- they were planting,1×
- plants1×
- planted,1×
- has planted1×
- do be planted1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐφύτευσεν4×
- φυτεύων2×
- ἐφύτευσα,1×
- ἐφύτευον,1×
- φυτεύθητι1×
- φυτεύει1×
- πεφυτευμένην1×
Key Verses
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I Corinthians 3:6
I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.
This verse establishes the core theological point that human effort in ministry is necessary but subordinate to God’s power to give growth.
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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.
Here Jesus uses the word to describe the owner’s initial preparation of the vineyard, setting the stage for a parable about accountability.
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I Corinthians 3:8
Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Paul clarifies that while planters and waterers have different tasks, they share the same goal and will each receive reward for their specific labor.
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Luke 17:6
The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Jesus uses a hyperbolic image of planting a tree in the sea to illustrate the extraordinary power of even small faith.