δέσμη

a bundle

Definition

The Greek word δέσμη (desmē) means 'a bundle' or 'a sheaf.' It refers to items that are bound together, typically for handling, storage, or transport. In its single New Testament occurrence in Matthew 13:30, it specifically describes bundles of weeds (tares) that are gathered and bound for burning in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. While the word itself is straightforward, its usage in this parable gives it a specific agricultural and metaphorical context.

Biblical Usage

δέσμη is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 13:30. In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Jesus instructs the reapers to first gather the weeds (tares) and 'bind them in bundles' (δήσατε αὐτὰ εἰς δέσμας) to be burned, before gathering the wheat into the barn. This singular usage is in a narrative, agricultural context within a teaching parable.

Etymology

The noun δέσμη (desmē) is derived from the verb δέω (deō, G1210), which means 'to bind' or 'to tie.' It is related to other words in the δέω word group that convey binding or imprisonment, such as δεσμός (desmos, G1199) meaning 'a bond' or 'chain.' The core idea is that of things being fastened together.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a common noun, its use in Matthew 13:30 is theologically significant within Jesus's parable. The 'bundles' represent the collective gathering and final judgment of those who practice lawlessness (the 'sons of the evil one'). Understanding this imagery of binding and separation enriches the reading of this key parable about the kingdom of heaven, the coexistence of good and evil, and the certainty of final judgment.

In the agricultural setting of first-century Palestine, bundling weeds (likely darnel, which resembles wheat) was a practical step before burning them, often to clear the field or to use as fuel. This practice would have been immediately understood by Jesus's audience. The cultural understanding of separating valuable grain from worthless, and even harmful, weeds gives the parable its powerful impact.

δεσμός (desmos, G1199) — A bond, fetter, or chain, often used for literal imprisonment or figurative bondage, whereas δέσμη is a bundle of items. σωρός (sōros, G4987) — A heap or pile, implying a gathered mass but not necessarily items that are bound together.

Word Details

Scripture References