εὐφορέω

euphoréō

G2164 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To be productive or fertile; to bear (produce) abundantly, especially of crops or fruits. The term expresses the idea of thriving or producing in plenty. In agricultural contexts, refers to yielding a rich or fruitful harvest. In extended or figurative contexts (rare), may denote prospering or flourishing in a broader sense.

Semantic Range

to be fertile, to produce richly, to yield abundantly, to thrive (producing crops), to bring forth abundantly (of land or plants)

Root / Etymology

From εὖ ('well') + φορέω ('to bear' or 'to carry frequently, to bear repeatedly'), itself from φέρω ('to bear, carry'). The compound thus means 'to bear well' or 'to be productive.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

εὐφορέω appears chiefly in agricultural contexts in Hellenistic and later Greek, including the LXX and the New Testament (e.g., Luke 8:8). Its usage communicates a sense of abundant productivity, typically of the earth or plants producing plentifully. In the LXX, it frequently translates Hebrew terms for fruitfulness of the land. In secular and Koine Greek, the term is rare but aligns with broader Greek agricultural vocabulary (cf. καρποφορέω 'to bear fruit'). The English translation 'bring forth abundantly' matches much but does not fully express the sense of natural fertility or thriving. εὐφορία, the related noun, denotes abundance or prosperity, especially relating to produce. The word does not, in the New Testament period, refer to bearing offspring or metaphorical 'fruitfulness' in non-agricultural contexts, except in parabolic or metaphorical extensions tied closely to agricultural imagery.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from εὖ and φορέω; to bear well, i.e. be fertile:--bring forth abundantly.

Root Family

εὐφορέω (euphoréō) — to bear, to carry, to be fruitful

Root εὐ-φορ- to bear, to carry, to be fruitful

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2164-01 εὐφόρησεν euphoresen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG brought forth plentifully bore abundantly bore abundantly 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2164-01 Luke 12:16 εὐφόρησεν euphoresen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG brought forth plentifully bore abundantly bore abundantly