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καρποφορέω

karpophoréō

G2592 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bear fruit, to produce fruit or crops; by extension, to yield produce or results, especially of a positive or desired kind in a figurative sense. In physical contexts, refers specifically to plants or trees producing fruit; in broader metaphorical contexts, refers to producing outcomes such as virtuous behavior, good works, or other results, often in moral or ethical sense.

Semantic Range

to produce fruit (of plants or trees), to yield harvest, to be fruitful (literal); to produce results, to yield good works, to lead to beneficial outcomes, to display moral or spiritual productivity (figurative)

Root / Etymology

From the compound καρποφόρος (bearing fruit), itself from καρπός (fruit) +‎ φέρω (to bear, carry). The suffix -έω denotes a verbal action related to the root concept.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb καρποφορέω is attested in post-classical Greek, especially in the Koine period, and is relatively frequent in Hellenistic Jewish and Christian literature. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it is often used both literally (plants yielding fruit, Genesis 1:11–12 LXX) and metaphorically (lives characterized by virtuous deeds or spiritual results, e.g., Colossians 1:6,10; Mark 4:28). The metaphorical extension to human behavior (producing 'fruit' in terms of actions or characteristics) is particularly prominent in early Jewish and Christian moral exhortation. English translations often render it 'bear fruit' or 'be fruitful'; however, in some passages, the nuance may include the idea of growth, productivity, or moral flourishing. The term should not be limited solely to explicit agricultural or botanical contexts but recognized as a general image for productive or effective action, especially in ethical or spiritual dimensions. In comparison with related verbs such as φέρω ('to bear, carry'), καρποφορέω specifically denotes the act of producing fruit as an organic process rather than merely carrying or transporting.

Translation Consistency

primary "produce" 0 occurrences

Single-word, natural English that covers both the literal sense (plants/trees producing fruit) and the common figurative sense (yielding results, good works). It maps well to the SILEX range and will read smoothly when inflected across forms (produces, produced, producing).

Alternatives (8 occurrences):
"bear fruit" (4x) "bears fruit" (2x) "bearing fruit" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from καρποφόρος; to be fertile (literally or figuratively):--be (bear, bring forth) fruit(-ful).

Root Family

καρποφόρ- (karpophoréō) — to bear fruit, to produce, to yield

Root καρποφόρ- to bear fruit, to produce, to yield

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2592-01 καρποφορεῖ karpophorei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG bears fruit bears fruit bears fruit 2
G2592-06 καρποφοροῦσιν karpophorousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL bear fruit they bear fruit they bear fruit 2
G2592-02 καρποφορῆσαι karpophoresai V AOR ACT INF bear fruit to bear fruit to bear fruit 1
G2592-03 καρποφορήσωμεν karpophoresomen V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL we may bear fruit let us bear fruit we may bear fruit 1
G2592-04 καρποφορούμενον karpophoroumenon V PRS MID PTCP NOM N SG bearing fruit bearing fruit bearing fruit 1
G2592-05 καρποφοροῦντες karpophorountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL bearing fruit bearing fruit bearing fruit 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2592-01 Matthew 13:23 καρποφορεῖ karpophorei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG bears fruit bears fruit bears fruit
G2592-06 Mark 4:20 καρποφοροῦσιν karpophorousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL bear-fruit they bear fruit they bear fruit
G2592-01 Mark 4:28 καρποφορεῖ karpophorei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG bears fruit bears fruit bears fruit
G2592-06 Luke 8:15 καρποφοροῦσιν karpophorousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL bear fruit they bear fruit they bear fruit
G2592-03 Romans 7:4 καρποφορήσωμεν karpophoresomen V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL we may bear fruit let us bear fruit we may bear fruit
G2592-02 Romans 7:5 καρποφορῆσαι karpophoresai V AOR ACT INF bear fruit to bear fruit to bear fruit
G2592-04 Colossians 1:6 καρποφορούμενον karpophoroumenon V PRS MID PTCP NOM N SG bearing fruit bearing fruit bearing fruit
G2592-05 Colossians 1:10 καρποφοροῦντες karpophorountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL bearing fruit bearing fruit bearing fruit
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