ἀμπελουργός
ampelourgós
G289 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person who works in a vineyard, with primary reference to cultivating, pruning, or tending grapevines; more specifically, a caretaker responsible for the maintenance and productivity of the vineyard. By extension, a vineyard laborer or overseer involved in all stages of vine care, including planting, cutting, training, and protecting vines.
Semantic Range
vine cultivator, vine dresser, vineyard caretaker, vineyard worker, one who prunes or tends grapevines, supervisor or laborer responsible for vine care
Root / Etymology
Compound of ἄμπελος ('vine') and ἔργον ('work'), literally 'vine-worker'. This formation is regularly productive in Greek; the term is patterned like other occupational compounds.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term ἀμπελουργός is rare and specific, attested primarily in late classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek. In literature of the period, including the LXX and New Testament (notably Luke 13:7, 13:8; John 15:1-5 in metaphorical form), the word denotes a person with specialized responsibility in vineyards, distinguishing the role from general agricultural laborers (γεωργοί). In the Septuagint and Jewish Hellenistic literature, vineyards are a frequent metaphor for the people of Israel or the land. In Greco-Roman context, ἀμπελουργός could refer to slaves, hired workers, or estate managers responsible for viticulture. English Bible translations often render this as 'vinedresser' or 'vineyard worker,' but they may not always capture the distinction between skilled vine-cultivators (ἀμπελουργοί) and general field-laborers. The term does not appear in earlier classical texts, becoming more common only after the expansion of systematic viticulture in the eastern Mediterranean.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἄμπελος and ἔργον; a vine-worker, i.e. pruner:--vine-dresser.
Root Family
ἀμπελουργός (ampelourgos) — vine, work, cultivate
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G289-01 |
ἀμπελουργόν | ampelourgon | N ACC M SG |
vinedresser | a vine-worker | vinedresser | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G289-01 |
Luke 13:7 | ἀμπελουργόν | ampelourgon | N ACC M SG |
vinedresser | a vine-worker | vinedresser |