פּוּרָה
a wine-press (as crushing the grapes)
Definition
פּוּרָה (pûwrâh) refers specifically to a winepress, the installation used for crushing grapes to extract their juice for winemaking. In its two biblical occurrences, it consistently denotes this agricultural tool. The word evokes the forceful process of treading grapes, as vividly depicted in Isaiah 63:3, where God describes treading the nations in His wrath 'alone' in the winepress. In Haggai 2:16, the term is used in a more literal, economic context, describing the disappointing yield from the winepress after the people's neglect of the temple.
Biblical Usage
This noun is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct prophetic books. In Isaiah 63:3, it is used in a powerful metaphorical image of divine judgment. In Haggai 2:16, it is used literally within an agricultural report to illustrate crop failure and God's withheld blessing. Both uses connect the winepress to themes of productivity and yield, whether literal or symbolic.
Etymology
פּוּרָה (pûwrâh) is a feminine noun derived from the root פּוּר (pûr, H6331), which means 'to crush' or 'to break in pieces.' This root directly informs the word's meaning, highlighting the primary function of the winepress: to crush grapes. The related noun פּוּר (pûr) can mean 'a lot' (as in the Purim festival, Esther 9:26), stemming from the idea of 'casting' or 'breaking,' showing a semantic connection through the concept of decisive action.
Semantic Range
Though a simple agricultural term, פּוּרָה gains profound theological weight in Isaiah 63:3. Here, it becomes a central metaphor for God's singular, sovereign execution of judgment against evil. The image of the winepress, stained with the juice of crushed grapes, powerfully symbolizes the wrath and vengeance of God against the enemies of His people. Understanding this concrete Hebrew term enriches the reading of this passage, grounding a fearsome spiritual reality in a tangible, visceral process known to every Israelite.
In ancient Israel, the winepress (pûwrâh) was a crucial agricultural installation, typically carved from rock or built with stone troughs. Grapes were placed in the upper vat and trodden by foot, with the juice flowing through a channel into a lower collection vat. This labor-intensive process was a communal activity often associated with joy and blessing (Judges 9:27), but also with the mess and stain of the crushed fruit, which made it a fitting metaphor for violent judgment.
גַּת (gat, H1660) — A more common general term for a winepress or wine vat. פּוּרָה may emphasize the crushing action, while גַּת can refer to the installation as a whole.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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