ἄροτρον
árotron
G723 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A plow; specifically, an implement designed to break up and turn over soil for the purpose of planting crops. The term refers primarily to the agricultural tool itself, but can in extended contexts be used metaphorically for preparing or cultivating (especially in idioms or figurative speech).
Semantic Range
plow (agricultural implement), instrument for tilling soil, tool for breaking up earth, plowing as activity (rare, by metonymy)
Root / Etymology
From the root ἀρ- (ar-) meaning 'to plow, cultivate.' The term is directly derived from the verb ἀρόω ('to plow'), with the common Greek instrument noun suffix -τρον, indicating a tool or device. Compare Latin 'arare' with similar root meaning in Indo-European.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The noun ἄροτρον appears in both classical and Koine Greek literature as the standard term for a plow. It is attested in Homer, classical prose, and later Greek (including the Septuagint and New Testament in Luke 9:62). The form and technology of the plow referenced by ἄροτρον evolved over centuries, ranging from simple wooden scratch plows to more advanced iron-shod implements by the Hellenistic period. In Koine Greek texts, the use is almost always literal, referring to the agricultural tool itself, and metaphorical or idiomatic use is rare compared to other agricultural vocabularies. In the New Testament context (Luke 9:62), ἄροτρον is used as part of a metaphorical saying about commitment, but the underlying referent is still the literal instrument. Standard English translations as 'plow' or 'plough' capture its primary sense, though cultural and technological specifics differ between ancient and modern implements.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (to till); a plow:--plough.
Root Family
ἄροτρον (arotron) — plow, cultivating tool, instrument for tilling
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G723-01 |
ἄροτρον | arotron | N ACC N SG |
plow | a plow | a plow | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G723-01 |
Luke 9:62 | ἄροτρον | arotron | N ACC N SG |
plow | a plow | a plow |