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ἀροτριόω

arotrióō

G722 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To work the ground with a plow; to break up and turn the soil in preparation for sowing. The primary sense is agricultural—engaging in the act of plowing or tilling land with a plowshare, often as a metaphor for preparing or making ready for a new beginning or transformation. In some contexts, it can extend to the idea of laboring or working the land in general.

Semantic Range

to plow, to till, to break up soil, to work land, to prepare soil for sowing, (occasionally, to prepare or make ready: metaphorical)

Root / Etymology

Derived from ἄροτρον (plow, plough), itself from the verb ἀρέω (to fit, to adapt). The verb ἀροτριόω is a denominative formation from the noun ἄροτρον, indicating the action associated with the plow.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀροτριόω is used chiefly in the literal, agricultural sense of plowing a field, a prerequisite to sowing. It is found in agricultural treatises and general literature describing farming life. In the Septuagint, as well as in rare New Testament usage, the term retains this concrete, literal meaning—often echoing Hebrew agriculture imagery, sometimes employed metaphorically to indicate preparation for planting or to evoke images of work, renewal, or transformation. Its metaphorical use is rare compared to some other agricultural terms. English translations usually render it as 'plow' or 'plough,' but these do not always capture the labor-intensive context of ancient agriculture. There is little evidence for extended or figurative senses except occasional metaphorical references to preparation or hard work. The verb is less common than the noun ἄροτρον and appears primarily in contexts focused on the cycles of agrarian life.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἄροτρον; to plow:--plough.

Root Family

ἀροτρ- (arotrióō) — to plow, to till

Root ἀροτρ- to plow, to till

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G722-01 ἀροτριᾶν arotrian V PRS ACT INF to plow to be plowing to plow 1
G722-02 ἀροτριῶν arotrion V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG plowman plowing plowing 1
G722-03 ἀροτριῶντα arotrionta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG plowing plowing plowing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G722-03 Luke 17:7 ἀροτριῶντα arotrionta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG plowing plowing plowing
G722-02 1 Corinthians 9:10 ἀροτριῶν arotrion V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG plowman plowing plowing
G722-01 1 Corinthians 9:10 ἀροτριᾶν arotrian V PRS ACT INF to plow to be plowing to plow
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