Understanding βότρυς (botrus) Strong’s G1009: The Divine Imagery of Clusters and Harvest in Biblical Revelation

Pronunciation Guide: BOH-troos (βό-τρυς)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1009: βότρυς (botrus) refers to a cluster or bunch of grapes. In biblical context, it often carries symbolic significance related to harvest, divine judgment, and the fruits of both righteousness and wickedness. The term appears prominently in apocalyptic literature, particularly in the Book of Revelation, where it contributes to powerful imagery of God’s final judgment upon the earth.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Noun (masculine)
• Root Word: From an obsolete primary word
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Apocalyptic literature, prophetic imagery, agricultural metaphors
• Frequency: Appears only once in the New Testament (Revelation 14:18)
• Context: Used primarily in harvest and judgment contexts

βότρυς Morphology:

• βότρυς (nominative singular) – a cluster of grapes
• βότρυος (genitive singular) – of a cluster of grapes
• βότρυϊ (dative singular) – to/for a cluster of grapes
• βότρυν (accusative singular) – a cluster of grapes (direct object)
• βότρυες (nominative plural) – clusters of grapes
• βοτρύων (genitive plural) – of clusters of grapes

Origin & History

The word βότρυς has deep roots in classical Greek, where it consistently referred to clusters of grapes. Homer uses the term in the Odyssey (Book 5, line 69) when describing the lush gardens of Calypso’s island where “clusters of grapes” (βότρυες) hung in abundance. Herodotus similarly employs the term when discussing wine production and viticulture in his Histories.

In the Septuagint (LXX), βότρυς appears more frequently, particularly in passages dealing with agricultural settings or metaphorical usages. Notable occurrences include Genesis 40:10, where the cupbearer dreams of a vine with ripening clusters (βότρυες), and in Numbers 13:23-24, describing the enormous cluster of grapes the spies brought back from Canaan. The prophets, especially Isaiah, utilize the image of grape clusters to symbolize Israel (Isaiah 65:8) and God’s judgment (Isaiah 63:1-6). This rich Old Testament background informs the powerful apocalyptic usage in Revelation.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Agricultural Definition: A physical cluster or bunch of grapes still attached to the vine
• Metaphorical Definition: Symbol of abundance, prosperity, and the blessing of the land
• Eschatological Definition: Symbol of ripeness for judgment, particularly in apocalyptic literature
• Theological Definition: Representation of the fruits of human conduct (whether righteous or wicked) that will face divine evaluation

βότρυς Translation Options:

• Cluster – Most accurate when emphasizing the collective nature of grapes growing together, highlighting the unified judgment of those who oppose God
• Bunch of grapes – Appropriate when conveying the agricultural image, making the metaphor more concrete and accessible
• Grape-cluster – Useful for emphasizing the connection to wine imagery elsewhere in Revelation
• Vintage – Sometimes appropriate when emphasizing the harvest aspect rather than just the physical form of the grapes

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, βότρυς appears only once, in Revelation 14:18: “And another angel came out from the altar, the one having authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one having the sharp sickle saying, ‘Send your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes [βότρυας] from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe.'” This singular usage occurs in a powerfully symbolic passage depicting the final judgment, where the harvest imagery conveys the culmination of human history and God’s decisive action.

While rare in the New Testament, the Septuagint features βότρυς more prominently, establishing a pattern of usage that illuminates its appearance in Revelation:

• “Then the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, gathered its cluster [βότρυας] from the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.” Revelation 14:18
• “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children like olive shoots around your table… You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.” Psalm 128:3 (LXX uses βότρυς in describing the “fruitful vine”)
• “Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster [βότρυν] of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole.” Numbers 13:23
• “As the new wine is found in the cluster [βότρυϊ], and one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it,’ so will I do for My servants’ sake, that I may not destroy them all.” Isaiah 65:8
• “In those days men will no longer say, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ Instead, everyone will die for his own iniquity; every person who eats sour grapes [βότρυν] will have his own teeth set on edge.” Jeremiah 31:29-30
• “I will utterly consume them,” declares יהוה (Yahweh). “There will be no grapes [βότρυες] on the vine, no figs on the tree, and the leaf will wither.” Jeremiah 8:13

Cultural Insights

The imagery of βότρυς in Revelation 14:18 draws on the rich agricultural and cultural significance of grape harvests in ancient Israel. The annual grape harvest was a time of both celebration and intense labor, typically occurring in August-September. Harvesters would carefully gather the clusters and bring them to the winepress—a two-tiered stone structure where the grapes were first trampled in an upper basin (gath), allowing the juice to flow into a lower collection vat (yekev). This process of treading grapes became a powerful metaphor for divine judgment throughout the prophetic literature.

The trampling of grapes in the winepress was a vivid, visceral image familiar to every Israelite. The red juice staining the garments of the workers evoked the image of blood, and the crushing destruction of the grapes under foot portrayed the fate of those who opposed יהוה (Yahweh). This imagery reaches its climax in Isaiah 63:1-6, where the Messiah is portrayed as the divine warrior with garments stained red from treading the winepress of God’s wrath—a passage that directly informs the βότρυς imagery in Revelation. When John’s audience heard of the gathering of the “clusters” for the winepress, they would have immediately understood the implications of divine judgment.

Theological Significance

The singular appearance of βότρυς in Revelation 14:18 carries profound theological significance as it represents the culmination of biblical metaphors regarding divine judgment. The grape harvest imagery reveals several important theological truths about God’s character and His dealings with humanity. First, it emphasizes divine patience—grapes are only harvested when fully ripe (ἤκμασαν—”reached their prime” in Rev 14:18), suggesting that God’s judgment comes only after sin has fully matured and all opportunity for repentance has passed.

Secondly, the βότρυς imagery reveals the corporate nature of judgment. Just as a cluster contains many individual grapes bound together, so the final judgment addresses both individual sins and collective human rebellion against God. This emphasizes that while salvation is deeply personal, humanity’s rejection of God also has a corporate dimension that cannot be overlooked.

Finally, the contrast between the grain harvest (Rev 14:14-16) and the grape harvest (Rev 14:17-20) in which βότρυς appears suggests a distinction between the gathering of God’s people and the judgment of the wicked. The grape harvest specifically focuses on the “vine of the earth” (as opposed to the true vine of John 15:1-8), indicating that this judgment falls on those who have aligned themselves with worldly systems opposed to God’s kingdom. Thus, βότρυς helps articulate the biblical truth that while God is loving and patient, His holiness ultimately requires judgment of unrepentant sin.

Personal Application

The powerful βότρυς imagery in Revelation offers sobering yet hope-filled lessons for believers today. We are reminded that our lives are producing fruit—either aligned with the “vine of the earth” or with the true vine, the Messiah Jesus. The question becomes: what kind of cluster are we becoming? Are we bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) or the sour grapes of worldliness?

This imagery also teaches us about divine timing in our lives. Just as the grape harvest comes at precisely the right moment—when the fruit is fully ripe—God’s work in our lives has perfect timing. When we face delays or periods of waiting, we can remember that the Master Vinedresser is allowing our faith and character to develop to full maturity. No season of growth is wasted in God’s economy, and His timing—whether in blessing or in discipline—is always perfectly calculated for our spiritual development and His ultimate glory.

Related Words

• σταφυλή (staphulē) – A bunch of grapes, often emphasized when ripe and ready for harvest. While βότρυς tends to focus on the cluster formation, σταφυλή more commonly refers to the grapes themselves. See G4718
• ἄμπελος (ampelos) – A vine or grapevine from which βότρυς (clusters) grow. Used by Jesus in His famous “I am the true vine” teaching, establishing the spiritual connection between Himself and believers who bear fruit. See G288
• γλεῦκος (gleukos) – Sweet new wine, the product made from the βότρυς after harvesting. This term appears in Acts 2:13 when some mockingly suggested the Spirit-filled disciples were drunk on “new wine.” See G1098
• τρύγη (trugē) – The harvest of grapes, the action of gathering βότρυς. Though this exact form doesn’t appear in the New Testament, related forms describe the “vintage” or gathering of grapes for judgment. See G5166
• ληνός (lēnos) – The winepress where βότρυς are crushed. This word appears in Revelation 14:19-20 immediately following the mention of βότρυς, completing the judgment imagery. See G3025

Did you Know?

• Did you know? The Valley of Eshcol mentioned in Numbers 13:23-24 was named after the enormous βότρυς (cluster of grapes) the Israelite spies brought back from their reconnaissance of Canaan. The name “Eshcol” (אֶשְׁכֹּל) itself means “cluster” in Hebrew, and the valley was renamed to commemorate this significant event. The size of this cluster, requiring two men to carry it on a pole, was not merely a storytelling exaggeration—archaeological evidence confirms that ancient viticulture in the region could indeed produce remarkably large grape clusters, sometimes weighing up to 10-12 pounds, symbolizing the extraordinary abundance of the Promised Land.
• Did you know? The treading of the winepress, directly connected with βότρυς in Revelation 14, has left its mark on modern languages. The Hebrew expression for a winepress, “Gath Shemanim,” gives us the name Gethsemane—the garden where Jesus prayed before His crucifixion. The meaning is deeply symbolic: just as grapes were crushed to produce wine, the Messiah was “crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5) to bring forth the “new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20). The place where Jesus began His final suffering quite literally means “olive press,” creating a powerful parallel to the winepress imagery in Revelation.
• Did you know? The apocalyptic βότρυς imagery in Revelation 14 draws from a rich tradition of grape symbolism throughout the ancient Near East. In Egyptian mythology, wine symbolized the blood of those who battled against the gods, while in Ugaritic literature, divine feasts featured wine prominently. However, the biblical tradition transforms these motifs: while pagan traditions often associated wine with celebration and divine pleasure, the prophetic tradition recasts the winepress as a place of judgment for those who oppose יהוה (Yahweh). This subversion of surrounding cultural imagery is a common feature of biblical apocalyptic literature, demonstrating how biblical authors repurposed familiar symbols to communicate uniquely Hebrew theological truths.

Remember This

The solitary appearance of βότρυς in Scripture reminds us that in God’s divine economy, every life will eventually bear fruit that reveals its true nature—and when the clusters of human history have fully ripened, the righteous and the wicked will be harvested for their appointed destinations.