ἄμπελος (G288) — Greek Lexicon

ἄμπελος

ámpelos

G288 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A cultivated vine, especially the grapevine (Vitis vinifera); in broader usage, any climbing or trailing plant with a stem that wraps or coils about a support. In literary, agricultural, and metaphorical contexts, can refer to the vine as a symbol or motif—ranging from literal references to the grape-producing plant to figurative senses involving ideas of fruitfulness, lineage, or connectedness.

Semantic Range

cultivated grapevine, vineyard plant, climbing or coiling plant, symbol of fruitfulness or prosperity, metaphor for lineage or collective identity

Root / Etymology

Greek ἄμπελος; etymology uncertain, but possibly pre-Greek or of non-Indo-European origin. Suggested connections with the base of ἀμφότερος ('both') and ἅλων ('threshing floor') are speculative and not widely accepted in modern linguistics.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἄμπελος appears from early Greek (Homeric period) onward, consistently referring to the grapevine, a staple of Mediterranean agriculture and culture. The term is used in both literal and metaphorical contexts throughout Greek literature. In the Septuagint, ἄμπελος usually translates Hebrew גֶּפֶן (gefen), with a focus on vineyard agriculture central to Israelite and later Judean society. In the New Testament (e.g., John 15), ἄμπελος is employed both concretely and symbolically, especially in discussions of fruitfulness or communal identity. Traditional English translations almost always use 'vine'; however, modern readers should be aware of its cultural importance and symbolic resonance related to agricultural prosperity, covenantal relationships, or spiritual fruitfulness. Unlike general words for 'plant' or 'tree', ἄμπελος specifically invokes the image of a cultivated grapevine, which requires intentional care and carries rich connotations in Greco-Roman and Israelite contexts. There is no evidence of the word referring exclusively to wild vines or to non-grape species in biblical usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "vine" 9 occurrences

‘Vine’ is the natural, simple English noun that covers the primary meaning (cultivated grapevine) and the broader senses (climbing/coiling plant, metaphorical uses for fruitfulness or lineage). It’s the common, idiomatic choice (preferred over longer forms like ‘grapevine’ or ‘vineyard’) and will read naturally in both literal and figurative contexts, satisfying the consistency requirement.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from the base of ἀμφότερος and that of ἅλων; a vine (as coiling about a support):--vine.

Root Family

ἄμπελος (ampelos) — vine, climber, twining plant

Root ἀμπελ- vine, climber, twining plant

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G288-04`	ἀμπέλου	ampelou	`N GEN F SG`	vine	of a vine	vine	4
`G288-03`	ἄμπελος	ampelos	`N NOM F SG`	vine	vine	vine	3
`G288-01`	ἀμπέλῳ	ampelo	`N DAT F SG`	vine	to a vine	vine	1
`G288-02`	ἄμπελον	ampelon	`N ACC F SG`	vine	vine	vine	1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G288-04`	Matthew 26:29	ἀμπέλου	ampelou	`N GEN F SG`	vine	of a vine	vine
`G288-04`	Mark 14:25	ἀμπέλου	ampelou	`N GEN F SG`	vine	of a vine	vine
`G288-04`	Luke 22:18	ἀμπέλου	ampelou	`N GEN F SG`	of the vine	of a vine	vine
`G288-03`	John 15:1	ἄμπελος	ampelos	`N NOM F SG`	vine	vine	vine
`G288-01`	John 15:4	ἀμπέλῳ	ampelo	`N DAT F SG`	vine	to a vine	vine
`G288-03`	John 15:5	ἄμπελος	ampelos	`N NOM F SG`	vine	vine	vine
`G288-03`	James 3:12	ἄμπελος	ampelos	`N NOM F SG`	vine	vine	vine
`G288-04`	Revelation 14:18	ἀμπέλου	ampelou	`N GEN F SG`	vine	of a vine	vine
`G288-02`	Revelation 14:19	ἄμπελον	ampelon	`N ACC F SG`	vine	vine	vine

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