ληνός

a winepress

Definition

The Greek word ληνός (lēnos) refers to a winepress, specifically the vat or trough where grapes were crushed to extract their juice. In the New Testament, it is used both literally for agricultural equipment (Matthew 21:33) and symbolically in apocalyptic visions of divine judgment (Revelation 14:19-20, 19:15). The literal sense describes a standard feature of a vineyard, while the symbolic usage portrays God's wrath being poured out like the violent process of grape-treading.

Biblical Usage

This word appears four times in the New Testament, exclusively in contexts of judgment. In Matthew 21:33, Jesus uses it literally in the Parable of the Tenants to describe a vineyard's winepress. In Revelation, all three occurrences are highly symbolic: Revelation 14:19-20 depicts the 'great winepress of the wrath of God,' and Revelation 19:15 portrays the Messiah treading 'the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.' The usage shifts from a simple agricultural reference in the Gospel to a potent metaphor for divine judgment in apocalyptic literature.

Etymology

Derived directly from the ancient Greek noun ληνός, meaning 'a trough' or 'vat.' It is a primary term for a winepress and does not come from a more complex root. The word was used in classical Greek for the same agricultural implement, showing a consistent meaning across time.

Semantic Range

ληνός is theologically significant as a key metaphor for God's final judgment. In Revelation, it transforms a common agricultural tool into a vivid image of the execution of divine wrath against evil. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by connecting the peaceful vineyard imagery of the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 63:3) with the New Testament's apocalyptic fulfillment, emphasizing the seriousness and inevitability of God's justice.

In the ancient Mediterranean world, a winepress (ληνός) was a two-part structure: a upper trough where grapes were trodden by foot, and a lower vat that collected the juice. This was a familiar, essential piece of equipment in vineyard-based economies. The violent, staining process of treading grapes made it a powerful and readily understood metaphor for judgment and warfare, which modern readers might miss without this background.

προλήνιον (prolēnion, G5276) — Specifically the 'fore-press' or treading area where grapes were initially crushed, often paired with ληνός as the collecting vat.

Word Details

Scripture References