← G2778 G2780 →

κῆπος

kēpos

G2779 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain enclosure for plants, cultivated space, garden

Definition

a cultivated enclosure for growing plants, typically a garden, orchard, or plot of land designated for fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants; in literary and historical Greek, a space for the cultivation of trees and plants, often used for pleasure, rest, or burial. In the New Testament and Septuagint, frequently denotes a garden attached to a larger estate, sometimes used as a burial place.

Semantic Range

cultivated garden, orchard, enclosed planting, garden attached to a house or estate, pleasure garden, burial garden

Root / Etymology

etymology uncertain; not transparently derived from a known verb or noun root in Greek, and of unclear origin. Possibly pre-Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

κῆπος appears in classical Greek (e.g., Herodotus, Xenophon) with the meaning of a garden, typically a cultivated, enclosed area either for produce or decorative plants, not a field (ἀγρός) nor a wild place. In the Septuagint, κῆπος translates Hebrew terms for cultivated gardens or orchards, sometimes as places for rest or burial (e.g., Genesis 2:8, Isaiah 51:3). In the New Testament, the term occurs in contexts such as the 'garden' where Yeshua (Jesus) was arrested (John 18:1, 26; 19:41), indicating a cultivated plot with trees, likely in proximity to Jerusalem, possibly used as a private or family burial place. English translations typically render κῆπος as 'garden', but in Greek usage it spans cultivated orchards, pleasure gardens, and burial gardens, distinct from a general field (ἀγρός) or vineyard (ἀμπελών). The word does not inherently carry the connotation of an agricultural field or open land but is instead an intentional enclosure. In later Greek, κῆπος continues to mean a formal or kitchen garden.

Translation Consistency

primary "garden" 5 occurrences

The lemma denotes a cultivated enclosure (garden/orchard/burial-plot) and in NT usage most naturally and commonly translates as “garden” (e.g., Gethsemane, burial gardens). “Garden” is natural English, covers the typical semantic range, and matches the majority of existing renderings better than narrower options like “orchard” or formal terms like “enclosure.”

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; a garden:--garden.

Root Family

κῆπος (kēpos) — enclosure for plants, cultivated space, garden

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2779-01 κήπῳ kepo N DAT M SG garden to a cultivated garden garden 2
G2779-03 κῆπος kepos N NOM M SG garden cultivated garden garden 2
G2779-02 κῆπον kepon N ACC M SG garden a cultivated garden a cultivated garden 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2779-02 Luke 13:19 κῆπον kepon N ACC M SG garden a cultivated garden a cultivated garden
G2779-03 John 18:1 κῆπος kepos N NOM M SG garden cultivated garden garden
G2779-01 John 18:26 κήπῳ kepo N DAT M SG garden to a cultivated garden garden
G2779-03 John 19:41 κῆπος kepos N NOM M SG garden cultivated garden garden
G2779-01 John 19:41 κήπῳ kepo N DAT M SG garden to a cultivated garden garden
← G2778 Greek Lexicon G2780 →