σπόριμος

sown, sown fields

Definition

The adjective σπόριμος describes something that has been sown or is suitable for sowing. Its primary meaning is 'sown,' referring to land that has been planted with seed. In its neuter plural form (σπόριμα), it specifically means 'grainfields' or 'sown fields,' which is its most common biblical usage. All three New Testament occurrences use this neuter plural form to refer to cultivated fields of grain, as seen in the parallel accounts of the disciples plucking heads of grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1, Mark 2:23, Luke 6:1). There is no significant variation in meaning between these passages.

Biblical Usage

Σπόριμος is used exclusively in the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) to describe the grainfields through which Jesus and his disciples walked. In each instance, the setting is the same event: the disciples pluck and eat grain on the Sabbath, provoking a controversy with the Pharisees. The word establishes the agricultural context of the scene and identifies the specific type of land—cultivated, sown fields—as opposed to wilderness or pasture.

Etymology

Σπόριμος is derived from the verb σπείρω (speirō, G4687), meaning 'to sow' or 'scatter seed.' It is an adjective formed with the common '-ιμος' suffix, indicating capability or fitness. Thus, σπόριμος literally means 'fit for sowing' or 'sown.' Its root connects it directly to the agricultural process of planting and cultivation.

Semantic Range

While σπόριμος itself is a common agricultural term, its usage is theologically significant because it sets the stage for a major Sabbath controversy. The 'grainfields' (τὰ σπόριμα) are the location where Jesus defends his disciples' actions and declares, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath' (Mark 2:27). Understanding this term grounds the narrative in a real, everyday setting of work and sustenance, highlighting how Jesus' teaching engages with ordinary life and reinterprets religious law in light of human need and his own authority.

In the first-century agrarian society of Galilee, 'sown fields' (σπόριμα) were a vital part of the landscape and economy. They represented invested labor, the expectation of a harvest, and a primary food source. Walking through such fields was a common practice, as paths often ran alongside or through them. The act of plucking heads of grain by hand (Deuteronomy 23:25) was a recognized right for travelers to satisfy immediate hunger, making the Pharisees' objection purely about the day on which it was done, not the act itself.

ἀγρός (agros, G68) — a more general term for a field or countryside, which can include cultivated land, pasture, or open country. σῖτος (sitos, G4621) — refers specifically to 'grain' or 'wheat' as the crop itself, rather than the sown field.

Word Details

Scripture References