ὑπολήνιον (G5276) — Greek Lexicon

ὑπολήνιον

hypolḗnion

G5276 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ὑπο-, λην- under, press (for liquids), vessel

Definition

Lower vat or trough situated beneath a press, specifically the receptacle that collects fluid (such as grape juice or oil) expressed from the upper press. In agricultural contexts, refers to the collection vessel positioned under a wine or olive press, where the extracted liquid gathers for further processing or storage. Used primarily in relation to wine-making or oil production, denoting the lower basin receiving juice or oil after pressing.

Semantic Range

lower collection vat, receptacle under a winepress, trough under an olive press, lower basin for collecting expressed liquid, winefat

Root / Etymology

Derived from the preposition ὑπό ('under') and ληνός ('winepress, press'), indicating the position beneath the main press. Compound formation: ὑπό + ληνός → ὑπολήνιον.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὑπολήνιον appears chiefly in contexts involving ancient agricultural technology, particularly viticulture and olive oil production. It is attested in both the Septuagint (e.g., Joel 2:24, where it refers to vats overflowing with newly pressed wine) and contemporary Greek technical literature. In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ληνός commonly denoted the upper vat or press, while ὑπολήνιον specified the collecting vessel below. Standard English translations such as 'winefat' or 'winevat' may obscure the technical nuance between the upper press and the lower collection vat. The term is rare outside of agricultural and biblical literature and does not carry metaphorical or extended senses in Koine Greek.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a presumed compound of ὑπό and ληνός; vessel or receptacle under the press, i.e. lower wine-vat:--winefat.

Root Family

ὑπολήνιον (hypolēnion) — under, press (for liquids), vessel, collection vat

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G5276-01`	ὑπολήνιον	upolenion	`N ACC N SG`	a winepress	the lower press-vat	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G5276-01`	Mark 12:1	ὑπολήνιον	upolenion	`N ACC N SG`	a winepress	the lower press-vat

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