ἀμάω

I mow, reap

Definition

The verb ἀμάω means 'to mow' or 'to reap,' specifically referring to the agricultural act of cutting down grain at harvest. In its single New Testament occurrence, it carries the concrete sense of harvesting crops, likely with a sickle. While the basic action is straightforward, in James 5:4 it is used metaphorically within a cry for justice, representing the unpaid wages owed to laborers for their harvest work. There are no other distinct biblical senses for this word.

Biblical Usage

ἀμάω is used only once in the New Testament, in James 5:4. It appears in a prophetic denunciation against wealthy landowners who have defrauded their harvest workers. The word is part of a vivid personification, where the unpaid wages themselves 'cry out,' and the cries of the harvesters 'have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.' Its usage is entirely within this specific context of social justice and economic oppression.

Etymology

Derived from the root *maō, meaning 'to strive' or 'to seek,' which is also seen in words like μάχομαι (machomai, G3164) 'to fight.' The prefix ἀ- (a-) is intensive rather than negative here, emphasizing the action. Thus, the etymology suggests a sense of vigorous cutting or effort, fitting the strenuous labor of harvesting.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it anchors a powerful teaching on economic justice and God's concern for the oppressed. In James 5:4, the act of reaping (ἀμάω) is directly tied to the moral imperative of fair compensation. It illustrates that God hears the cries of exploited laborers and holds employers accountable, connecting daily work to divine justice. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting how a mundane agricultural term is leveraged for a profound ethical warning.

In the first-century agrarian economy, harvesting was time-sensitive, labor-intensive work performed by day laborers who were often poor and vulnerable. Their wages were typically paid at the end of each day (as seen in Matthew 20:8). Withholding these wages was not just a contractual breach but a severe injustice that could threaten a worker's ability to feed their family. The use of ἀμάω here would immediately evoke this concrete social reality for James's original readers.

θερίζω (therizō, G2325) — A more common general term for 'to reap' or harvest, often used in agricultural parables (e.g., Matthew 13:30). συγκομίζω (synkomizō, G4816) — Means 'to gather together' or 'collect,' focusing on the gathering after cutting (used in Luke 15:13 for gathering wealth).

Word Details

Scripture References