τρυγάω (G5166) — Greek Lexicon

τρυγάω

trygáō

G5166 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To gather grapes at the time of ripening; to harvest the vintage. Primarily refers to collecting grapes when they have reached maturity, and by extension, to gather any ripe fruits, usually in the context of a vineyard. In literary and biblical contexts, may also metaphorically allude to judgment or the culmination of a process, modeled on the complete gathering of fruit at harvest.

Semantic Range

to harvest grapes, to gather the vintage, to collect ripe fruit, to reap (metaphorically, to bring to a culminating judgment or end)

Root / Etymology

From τρυγή (trygē, 'vintage', 'ripe fruit'), itself originally derived from the verb τρύω ('to gnaw, to eat away') with semantic shift, but the exact etymology is uncertain in its development into 'vintage'. The verb τρυγάω is formed from the noun τρυγή, indicating the action associated with vintage time.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, τρυγάω refers most commonly to the act of gathering ripe grapes, the practical labor undertaken in vineyards at harvest. In the LXX and New Testament, this verb can also take on symbolic significance, especially in apocalyptic or prophetic passages (e.g., Revelation 14:18–19), where gathering the ripe vintage is used as a metaphor for final judgment. English translations often render this as 'gather (the vintage)' or 'harvest', but this sometimes misses the grape-specific or vintage-specific connotation of the term. Compared to other Greek verbs for harvest (e.g., θερίζω, 'to reap, harvest grain'), τρυγάω is specifically focused on fruit, especially grapes. Usage in papyrological and secular Greek reinforces this specialization, as the term is largely agricultural.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a derivative of (to dry) meaning ripe fruit (as if dry); to collect the vintage:--gather.

Root Family

τρυγ- (trygáō) — to gather grapes, to harvest ripe fruit

Root τρυγ- to gather grapes, to harvest ripe fruit

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G5167	τρυγών	of turtle-doves

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5166-01`	ἐτρύγησεν	etrugesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	gathered	he harvested the vintage	he harvested the vintage	1
`G5166-02`	τρύγησον	trugeson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	gather	Harvest the vintage	Harvest the vintage	1
`G5166-03`	τρυγῶσιν	trugosin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	do gather	they harvest the vintage	they harvest the vintage	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5166-03`	Luke 6:44	τρυγῶσιν	trugosin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	do gather	they harvest the vintage	they harvest the vintage
`G5166-02`	Revelation 14:18	τρύγησον	trugeson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	gather	Harvest the vintage	Harvest the vintage
`G5166-01`	Revelation 14:19	ἐτρύγησεν	etrugesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	gathered	he harvested the vintage	he harvested the vintage

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