Dictionary Article

Plants cultivated for the production of grapes, raisins, and wine. The grapevine is mentioned frequently in Scripture both in a literal and a figurative sense. Probably originating in the Ararat region (Gn 9:20), the vine was also cultivated in ancient Egypt, where tomb murals depict the wine-making process. The Canaanites provided wine for Abraham (14:18), and Moses described the vineyards in the Promised Land (Dt 6:11). Excellent grapes from the valleys and plains (Nm 13:20, 24 OET NUM 13:20 · OET NUM 13:24; Jgs 14:5; 15:5) provided fruit and wine to enhance the bland diet of the Hebrews. Wine was traded extensively in the late monarchy (cf. Ez 27:18), as well as in the Greek and Roman periods. For the Hebrews, an ideal picture of life was a sedentary one in which a man could remain peacefully in one place, cultivating his plot of land, and sitting under his vine (1 Kgs 4:25).

Show passage in OET: GEN 9:20

OET-RV GEN 9:20

20 After a while, Noah, who was a farmer, planted some grape vines,

OET-LV GEN 9:20

20 And_ Noaḩ _he _began the _man _of the_soil and_he/it _planted a _vineyard.

Show passage in OET: GEN 14:18

OET-RV GEN 14:18

18 Then Malki -Tsedek (Melchizedek) the king of Shalem brought out bread and wine—he was a priest to the most high God.

OET-LV GEN 14:18

18 And_Malkī- ʦedeq the _king _of Shālēm he _brought _out bread and_wine and_he was_a _priest of_god Most _High.

Show passage in OET: DEU 6:11

OET-RV DEU 6:11

11 houses full of every good thing that you didn’t have to collect, wells that you didn’t have to dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you didn’t have to plant. You’ll be able to eat and be satisfied,

OET-LV DEU 6:11

11 And_houses full every _of good _thing which not you _filled and_wells dug _out which not you _dug vineyards and_olive _trees which not you _planted and_you(ms)_will _eat and_you _will _be _satisfied.

Show passage in OET: NUM 13:20; NUM 13:24

OET-RV NUM 13:20

20 Find out whether the soil is fertile or not, whether or not there’s trees there. Be courageous and bring back some of the produce from that land.” (He said that because it was the time of the year when grapes were starting to ripen.)

OET-RV NUM 13:24

24 (That place was then called Eshkol, meaning ‘cluster’, because of the cluster of grapes they’d taken from there.)

OET-LV NUM 13:20

20 And_what the_earth/land fertile is_it or lean is_there in_it wood or not and_you _will _show _yourselves _strong and_you(pl)_will _take from _the_fruit the_earth/land and_the_days were _the_days _of the_first-fruits _of grapes.

OET-LV NUM 13:24

24 (To)_place (the)_that someone _called the _wadi _of ʼEshkol on the _causes _of the _cluster _of _grapes which they _cut _down from_there the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: JDG 14:5

OET-RV JDG 14:5

5 Then Shimshon went to Timnah with his parents and when they got to the vineyards there, wow, a young lion roared when it saw him.

OET-LV JDG 14:5

5 And_ Shimshvōn/(Samson) and_father _of_his and_mother _of_his _he/it _descended to_Timnāh and_they _came to the _vineyards _of (to)_Timnāh and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE a _young _lion _of lions was_roaring to_meet_him.

Show passage in OET: JDG 15:5

OET-RV JDG 15:5

5 He lit the torches and let the foxes loose into the grain crops of the Pelishtim. As a result, he burnt both the standing grain plants and also the harvested stacks of sheaves, and even a vineyard and an olive orchard.

OET-LV JDG 15:5

5 And_he _kindled fire on_torches and_he _sent_them among_the _standing _grain(s)_of the_Pəlishtiy and_it _burnt _up from_the_stack _of _sheaves and_unto the_standing _grain and_unto the_vineyard _of olive _tree[s].

Show passage in OET: EZE 27:18

OET-RV EZE 27:18

18 Damesek (Damascus) was a trader of all your products, of all your enormous wealth, and of the wine from Helbon and the wool from Tsahar.

OET-LV EZE 27:18

18 Dammeseq was_your _of_trader in_the_abundance _of your(pl)_products _of_your from_the_abundance _of all _of wealth for_the _wine _of Ḩelbōn and_wool _of Tsaḩar/(Zahar).

Show passage in OET: KI1 4:25

OET-RV KI1 4:25

25 So all Yehudah and Yisrael lived peacefully, from Dan in the north to Be’er -Sheva (Beersheba) in the south—everyone focusing on their own property.

OET-LV KI1 5:5

5  And_ Yəhūdāh and_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _he/it _sat _down//remained//lived to_security everyone under vine _of_his _own and_under fig _tree _of_his _own from_Dān and_unto Bəʼēr Shəⱱāʼ all _of the _days _of Shəlomoh.

Jump to OET GEN 9:20 section.

Jump to OET GEN 14:18 section.

Jump to OET DEU 6:11 section.

Jump to OET NUM 13:20 section. · OET NUM 13:24 section.

Jump to OET JDG 14:5 section.

Jump to OET JDG 15:5 section.

Jump to OET EZE 27:18 section.

Jump to OET KI1 4:25 section.

The typical vineyard was surrounded by a protective hedge or fence, and at harvesttime a watchtower was manned to guard the crop from thieves (Jb 24:18; Is 1:8; Mk 12:1). The vines were planted in rows within the enclosed area, and as the plants grew, the tendrils were trained along supports to raise the fruit-bearing branches off the ground (Ez 17:6). The vines were pruned and tended by vinedressers (Lv 25:3; Is 61:5; Jl 3:10; Jn 15:2). At harvesttime the mature fruit was picked and taken to the winepresses (Hos 9:2). A festive atmosphere accompanied the treading of the grapes (Is 16:10; Jer 25:30), and the fermenting juice was collected in new goatskin bags (Mt 9:17) or large pottery jars.

Show passage in OET: JOB 24:18

OET-RV JOB 24:18

⇔  18 They’re swift on the surface of the waters.
⇔ Their portion of the land is cursed.
⇔ No one goes in the direction of their vineyards.

OET-LV JOB 24:18

18 Is_swift he on the_surface _of the_waters portion _of_their it _is _cursed on _the_earth not anyone _turns the _direction _of vineyards.

Show passage in OET: ISA 1:8

OET-RV ISA 1:8

8 Tsiyon’s (Zion) daughter is left isolated
⇔ like a hut in a vineyard,
⇔ ≈ like a shed in a cucumber field,
⇔ ≈ like a besieged city.

OET-LV ISA 1:8

8 And_ the _daughter _of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) _she _has _been _left like_a _shelter in_a _vineyard like_a _hut in_a _cucumber _field like_a _city besieged.

Show passage in OET: MRK 12:1

OET-RV MRK 12:1

12 Then he started telling them some parables: “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it, dug out a wine-pressing pit, and built a security tower. Then he rented it out and went off travelling.

OET-LV MRK 12:1

12 And he _began to _be _speaking to _them in parables:
A_man planted a_vineyard and put_ a_fence _around, and dug a_trough, and built a_tower, and rented _out it to_the_tenant _farmers, and travelled.

Show passage in OET: EZE 17:6

OET-RV EZE 17:6

6 Then the seed sprouted and became a spreading vine low to the ground. Its branches turned toward him, and its roots grew down below, so it became a vine and produced branches and sent out shoots.

OET-LV EZE 17:6

6 And_it _sprouted and_he/it _was (into)_a_vine overhanging low _of stature to_ branches _of_its _turn to_him/it and_roots _of_its under_it they _were and_it _became (into)_a_vine and_it _produced shoots and_it _sent _out boughs.

Show passage in OET: LEV 25:3

OET-RV LEV 25:3

3 ⇔You can plant your crops, prune your grapevines, and harvest all its produce for six years,

OET-LV LEV 25:3

3 Six years you _will _sow field _of_your and_six years you _will _prune vineyard _of_your and_you _will _gather DOM produce _of_its.

Show passage in OET: ISA 61:5

OET-RV ISA 61:5

⇔  5 Strangers will stand out in your fields and shepherd your flocks,
⇔ ≈ and sons of foreigners will take care of your farms and vineyards.

OET-LV ISA 61:5

5 And_ strangers _they _will _stand and_they _will _shepherd flock[s]_of_your(pl) and_the _sons foreignness be_your(pl)_farmers _of_will and_vinedressers _of_your(pl).

Show passage in OET: JOL 3:10

OET-RV JOL 3:10

10 Hammer your plough blades into swords
⇔ ≈ and your pruning hooks into spears.
⇔ Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’

OET-LV JOL 4:10

10  Beat plowshares _of_your(pl) into_swords and_your(pl)_pruning _of_knives into_spears the _weak_man let _him _say am_a _warrior I.

Show passage in OET: JHN 15:2

OET-RV JHN 15:2

2 He removes every one of my branches that doesn’t bear fruit, but those that do bear fruit, he prunes them so they’ll produce even more.

OET-LV JHN 15:2

2 Every branch in me not bearing fruit, he _is _taking_ it _away, and every_ fruit - bearing _branch, he _is _pruning it, in _order _that it _may _be _bearing more.
fruit.

Show passage in OET: HOS 9:2

OET-RV HOS 9:2

2 The grain threshing floor and the wine-pressing pit won’t provide enough
⇔ ≈ and the grape harvest will fail them.

OET-LV HOS 9:2

2 Threshing _floor and_winepress not it_will _feed _them and_new _wine it _will _fail (in)_it.

Show passage in OET: ISA 16:10

OET-RV ISA 16:10

10 People will no longer be happy in their orchards,
⇔ ≈ and celebrations will disappear from the vineyards.
⇔ There won’t be any singing or shouting in the wine-pressing pits,
⇔ ≈ and the shouting of those treading the grapes will cease.

OET-LV ISA 16:10

10 And_ gladness and_rejoicing _it _will _be _removed from the_orchard and_in_vineyards not anything _will _be _sung not anything _will _be _shouted wine in_winepresses not the_treader[s] he _will _tread shouting I _have _made _to _cease.

Show passage in OET: JER 25:30

OET-RV JER 25:30

30 You must prophesy all these messages against them, telling them:
⇔ ‘Yahweh will roar from the heights
⇔ and he’ll shout with his voice from his sacred residence,
⇔ and he will roar mightily against his land,
⇔ and he will shout, like those who tread grapes in a wine-pressing pit
⇔ against all those who live on the earth.

OET-LV JER 25:30

30 And_you(ms) you _will _prophesy to_them DOM all _of the_words/messages the_these and_you _will _say to_them YHWH from_a _high _place he _will _roar and_from_the _dwelling _of his _holiness _of_his he _will _give _forth voice _of_his mightily _(roar) he _will _roar on habitation _of_his shouting like_those _who_tread he _will _sing to all _of the _inhabitants _of the_earth/land.

Show passage in OET: MAT 9:17

OET-RV MAT 9:17

17 And they don’t put new wine into an old container, otherwise the container could split and be ruined, and the wine would be lost. Instead, they put new wine into a new container, and both survive.”

OET-LV MAT 9:17

17 Nor are _they _putting new wine into old wineskins, and if not surely, the wineskins are _being _burst, and the wine is _being _poured _out and the wineskins are _being _destroyed.
But they _are _putting new wine into new wineskins, and both are _being _preserved.

Jump to OET JOB 24:18 section.

Jump to OET ISA 1:8 section.

Jump to OET MRK 12:1 section.

Jump to OET EZE 17:6 section.

Jump to OET LEV 25:3 section.

Jump to OET ISA 61:5 section.

Jump to OET JOL 3:10 section.

Jump to OET JHN 15:2 section.

Jump to OET HOS 9:2 section.

Jump to OET ISA 16:10 section.

Jump to OET JER 25:30 section.

Jump to OET MAT 9:17 section.

People working in the grape harvest were exempted from military service, which attests to its importance. Taxes and debts were often discharged by payments of wine, and the law provided for the poor to glean in the vineyards as in the wheat fields (Lv 19:9-10). Nonproductive vines were used for producing charcoal (Ez 15:4; Jn 15:6).

Show passage in OET: LEV 19:9–10

OET-RV LEV 19:9

9 When you all harvest your crops off your land, you mustn’t cut the grain right to the very edge of your field, and nor can you all pick up any dropped stalks.

OET-RV LEV 19:10

10 In your vineyards, you must not pick every last grape or pick up any that fall on the ground, because they must be left for the poor and for the foreigners. I am your god Yahweh.

OET-LV LEV 19:9

9 And_when_harvest_you(pl) DOM the _harvest _of your _land _of_your(pl) not you _will _finish the _side _of your _field _of_your to_harvest and_the _remnant _of your _harvest _of_your not you _will _gather.

OET-LV LEV 19:10

10 And_vineyard _of_your not you _will _glean and_the _fallen _grape[s]_of your _vineyard _of_your not you _will _gather for_person and_for_sojourner you _will _leave DOM_them I am_YHWH god _of_your(pl).

Show passage in OET: EZE 15:4

OET-RV EZE 15:4

4 If it’s used as firewood, and if the fire burns both ends, and even the middle, is it good wood, or indeed good for anything?

OET-LV EZE 15:4

4 THERE to_fire it _is _given for_food DOM the _two _of ends _of_its the_fire it _consumes and_the _middle _of_of _it it _is _charred is_it _successful for_a _product.

Show passage in OET: JHN 15:6

OET-RV JHN 15:6

6 Anyone who doesn’t stay in me will be thrown away like a branch, and will wither and be gathered together with others, and thrown into the fire to be burnt.

OET-LV JHN 15:6

6 If anyone may_ not _be _remaining in me, he _was _thrown out as the branch and was _withered, and they _are _gathering_ them _together and they _are _casting into the fire, and it _is _being _burned.

Jump to OET LEV 19:9–10 section.

Jump to OET EZE 15:4 section.

Jump to OET JHN 15:6 section.

Christ frequently used the vineyard as a background for his parables (Mt 20:1-16; 21:28-43; Mk 12:1-11; Lk 13:6-9; 20:9-18). Wine-making methods were commonly known and understood, so that an allegory of placing new wine in old wineskins (Mt 9:17) was immediately familiar and significant. In a symbolic sense, Christ described himself as the true vine (Jn 15:1-11), and his blood became the sacramental wine of communion.

Show passage in OET: MRK 12:1–11

OET-RV MRK 12:1

OET-RV MRK 12:2

2 At harvest time, he sent a slave to go to the tenant farmers and get his percentage of the harvest.

OET-RV MRK 12:3

3 But the tenants grabbed the slave and beat him up, then sent him back empty-handed.

OET-RV MRK 12:4

4 The owner sent a second slave, but they insulted that one and struck him on the head.

OET-RV MRK 12:5

5 So the owner sent a third slave and they murdered him. He sent many other slaves—some they just beat up and others they murdered.

OET-RV MRK 12:6

6 But the owner still had his one, dearly loved son, so finally he sent him to go, thinking that they would now be convinced because it was his son.

OET-RV MRK 12:7

7 However, those tenant farmers said to each other, ‘Ah ha. This is the one who will inherit this land. If we kill him, we’ll be the ones to control the estate.’

OET-RV MRK 12:8

8 So they took him and killed him, and threw the body outside the vineyard fence.

OET-RV MRK 12:9

9 “Now, what do you think the vineyard owner will do? Yes, he’ll come and eliminate those evil tenants, and give the contract to others.

OET-RV MRK 12:10

10 Haven’t you all read this in the scriptures:
⇔ ‘the stone that the builders rejected
⇔ became the important cornerstone

OET-RV MRK 12:11

11 that was given by Yahweh,
⇔ and we think it’s incredible.’?”

OET-LV MRK 12:1

OET-LV MRK 12:2

2 And he _sent _out a_slave to the tenant _farmers at _the season, in _order _that he _may _receive from the fruits of _the vineyard from the tenant _farmers.

OET-LV MRK 12:3

3 But having _taken him, they _beat him and they _sent_ him _out empty-handed.

OET-LV MRK 12:4

4 And again he _sent _out another slave to them, and _that one they _struck _on _the _head and dishonoured.

OET-LV MRK 12:5

5 And he _sent _out another, and _that one they _killed _off, and many others, on _one _hand beating some, on _the _other _hand killing_ some _off.

OET-LV MRK 12:6

6 He _was _having still one beloved son, he _sent_ him _out last to them saying, that They _will _be _being _swayed by _the son of _me.

OET-LV MRK 12:7

7 But those the tenant _farmers said to themselves, that This is the heir, come, we _may _kill_ him _off, and the inheritance will _be of _us.

OET-LV MRK 12:8

8 And having _taken, they _killed_ him _off, and they _throw_ him _out outside the vineyard.

OET-LV MRK 12:9

9 Therefore what ˓will˒_ the master of _the vineyard _be _doing?
He _will _be _coming and will _be _destroying the tenant _farmers, and will _be _giving the vineyard to _others.

OET-LV MRK 12:10

10 You _all_ not _even _read the this scripture:
The_stone which the ones building rejected, this was _become for the_head of_the_corner,

OET-LV MRK 12:11

11 this became from the_master, and it _is marvellous in eyes of _us?

Show passage in OET: LUK 13:6–9

OET-RV LUK 13:6

6 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) told them this parable, “There was a landowner who’d planted a fig tree in his vineyard, and he went to see if it had any fruit on it, but there wasn’t any

OET-RV LUK 13:7

7 so he told his manager, ‘I’ve been coming and checking for fruit on this tree for three years, but there’s none. Chop it down because it’s not good use of the land.’

OET-RV LUK 13:8

8 ‘Master,’ he answered, ‘give me one more year to dig around it and fertilise it

OET-RV LUK 13:9

9 and see if it fruits. If it doesn’t, then certainly you can chop it down.’ ”

OET-LV LUK 13:6

6 And he _was _speaking this the parable:
Someone was _having a_fig _tree having _been _planted in the vineyard of _him, and he _came seeking fruit on it, and he_ not _found any.

OET-LV LUK 13:7

7 And he _said to the Vinedresser, see three, years from that I _am _coming seeking fruit on the this fig _tree, and I _am_ not _finding any.
cut_ it _off, because/for_ why _reason it _is_ even _wasting the ground?

OET-LV LUK 13:8

8 And he answering is _saying to _him:
Master, allow it also this the year, until of _which I _may _dig around it and I _may _put manure,

OET-LV LUK 13:9

9 and _if on _one _hand it _may _produce fruit in the time coming, on _the _other _hand if not surely you _will _be _cutting_ it _off.

Show passage in OET: LUK 20:9–18

OET-RV LUK 20:9

9 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) started telling this parable to the people: “Once a man planted a vineyard and rented it out to tenant farmers before heading off on his trips.

OET-RV LUK 20:10

10 At the appropriate time of the year, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect his percentage of the profits, but they beat up the slave and sent him back empty-handed.

OET-RV LUK 20:11

11 So he sent another slave, but they also beat that one and dishonoured him, then sent him back empty-handed.

OET-RV LUK 20:12

12 So the man sent a third slave, and they also wounded this one and threw him off the property.

OET-RV LUK 20:13

13 So the master of the vineyard asked himself, ‘What will I do now? Ah, I’ll send my dear son—perhaps they’ll be swayed by him.’

OET-RV LUK 20:14

14 But when the tenants saw the son, they reasoned among themselves, ‘This is the heir. If we kill him, then his inheritance will become ours.’

OET-RV LUK 20:15

15 So they threw him off the property and killed him.
¶ So then, what will the master of the vineyard do to them?

OET-RV LUK 20:16

16 He’ll go to the vineyard and destroy those tenant farmers, and will lease the vineyard out to others.”
¶ The people listening looked at Yeshua and said, “Surely that could never happen.”

OET-RV LUK 20:17

17 But he looked them in the eyes and asked, “Then what is this statement that was written in the scriptures?
⇔ ‘The stone which the builders rejected,
⇔ that one became the most important stone.’

OET-RV LUK 20:18