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Introduction
Understanding Greek words is vital for deepening our comprehension of the Bible and its teachings. The Greek word θεριστής (theristēs), translated as “reaper” or “harvester,” holds particular significance in biblical studies. This word appears in the New Testament, especially in contexts involving the metaphor of a harvest, which symbolizes divine judgment, evangelism, and the end times. Studying θεριστής helps us better grasp the cultural and theological dimensions of the biblical text.
Key Information
- The Greek Word: θεριστής, theristēs [the-ree-STACE]
- Etymology: Derived from the root verb θερίζω (therizō), meaning “to reap” or “to harvest.”
- Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine; First Declension.
- The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.
Primary Meanings
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- Reaper: Refers to a person who cuts and gathers crops during the harvest.
- Harvester: More broadly denotes one involved in the activity of gathering or collecting, especially in the context of agriculture.
Similar Words: θερισμός (therismos) [the-ree-SMOS]: meaning “harvest” or “reaping.” While θεριστής (theristēs) refers to the person who performs the act of reaping, θερισμός (therismos) refers to the act or season of harvesting itself.
Further Insights: θεριστής (theristēs) is a masculine noun in the first declension. Its usage in biblical texts often involves eschatological themes, where “reapers” are likened to angels or messengers sent to gather the righteous or the wicked. Below is a table showing the declension of θεριστής in both singular and plural forms:
| Case / Number | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | θεριστής | θερισταί |
| Genitive | θεριστοῦ | θεριστῶν |
| Dative | θεριστῇ | θερισταῖς |
| Accusative | θεριστήν | θεριστάς |
| Vocative | θεριστά | θερισταί |
Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek: Understanding Greek Grammar: A Beginner’s Guide.
Lexicon Insights
- BDAG: θεριστής (theristēs) is defined as “reaper” or “harvester,” frequently appearing in passages discussing the eschatological gathering at the end of the age.
- Thayer’s Lexicon: This lexicon describes θεριστής as “one who reaps or gathers a harvest,” noting its metaphorical usage in scripture as someone who is part of God’s divine plan to separate the righteous from the unrighteous.
- Vine’s Expository Dictionary: Emphasizes the figurative meaning of θεριστής in the New Testament, where it often represents divine agents (angels) involved in the final judgment.
- LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): Provides the basic definition of θεριστής as “reaper” or “harvester,” with examples from classical literature showing its usage in agricultural contexts.
- Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Identifies θεριστής as “reaper” and points out its appearance in parables related to the kingdom of God and the end times.
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Related Scripture References
- Matthew 13:30: “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers (θερισταῖς), ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'”
- Luke 10:2: “And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers (θερισταί) are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'”
- John 4:36: “Already the one who reaps (θεριστής) is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper (θεριστής) may rejoice together.”
Classical Usage
| Author | Name of Work | English Text |
|---|---|---|
| Plato | Phaedrus | “The reaper (θεριστής) gathers what was sown by the sower.” |
| Xenophon | Memorabilia | “The reapers (θερισταί) went to the fields at dawn, prepared for a long day of harvest.” |
| Aristotle | Politics | “In times of war, the city needs warriors as much as it needs reapers (θερισταί) in times of peace.” |
| Septuagint (LXX) | Jeremiah 9:22 | “The dead bodies of men shall fall like dung upon the open field, like sheaves after the reaper (θεριστής), and none shall gather them.” |
| Septuagint (LXX) | Ruth 2:3 | “So she went and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers (θεριστῶν): and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz.” |
| Septuagint (LXX) | Job 24:6 | “They reap (θερίζω) their fodder in a field not their own, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked.” |
Summary of θεριστής (G2327)
The Greek word θεριστής (theristēs) refers to a “reaper” or “harvester” and is used both literally and metaphorically in biblical literature. It is often employed to describe those who participate in the final judgment or the gathering of the faithful, such as angels or divine messengers. In classical Greek literature, it retains its more mundane sense of one who harvests crops. Understanding θεριστής provides crucial insights into the themes of divine judgment, evangelism, and the fulfillment of God’s promises as portrayed in the New Testament and ancient Greek culture.
Did You Know?
- In biblical contexts, the term θεριστής (theristēs) often symbolizes not just physical laborers but spiritual agents, such as angels, who execute God’s will during the final harvest of souls.
- In ancient Greek culture, the role of a reaper was essential not only for sustenance but also for community cohesion, as harvest times were often accompanied by communal feasts and celebrations.
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