γεωργέω
geōrgéō
G1090 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cultivate or work the land; to engage in agriculture as a practice, especially to till, tend, or farm the soil. The core meaning is the act of working the fields, which can extend to the general maintenance and tending of agricultural land.
Semantic Range
to farm, to cultivate land, to till the ground, to work the soil, to dress (archaic), to be engaged in agriculture
Root / Etymology
From the compound γεωργός (geōrgós), itself derived from γῆ (gē, 'earth') + ἔργον (ergon, 'work'), so literally 'one who works the earth.' γεωργέω is the verbal form, meaning 'to work the earth' or 'to farm.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, γεωργέω designated the basic agricultural activity — to farm or till the soil — and was distinguished from broader forms of manual labor or crafts (e.g., ἐργάζομαι). The verb is rare in the New Testament (appearing only in Hebrews 6:7), where it means 'to cultivate' or 'to farm.' In the Septuagint, it is used for Genesis 2:5, Genesis 4:2,11,14, and refers to the activity of Adam and Cain in tending or working the soil. In Hellenistic and Roman contexts, γεωργέω specifically referred to agricultural work, distinct from animal husbandry or other crafts, and did not involve the property status of the worker (i.e., whether the farmer was an owner or tenant). While occasionally translated as 'to dress' (the land), such as in the Authorized Version, the primary sense is 'to farm' or 'to till,' and 'dress' is an archaic English rendering. The term’s usage does not inherently carry metaphorical or spiritual connotations in Koine texts unless specified by context or the broader literary framework. Related nouns are γεωργία (agriculture) and γεώργιον (field, farmland).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from γεωργός; to till (the soil):--dress.
Root Family
γεωργέω (geōrgeō) — to cultivate, to farm, to till the soil, to work the land
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1090-01 |
γεωργεῖται | georgeitai | V PRS PASS IND 3P SG |
it is cultivated | is being cultivated | is being cultivated | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1090-01 |
Hebrews 6:7 | γεωργεῖται | georgeitai | V PRS PASS IND 3P SG |
it is cultivated | is being cultivated | is being cultivated |