### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun δέσμη (desmē), Strong's number `{{G1197}}`, carries the fundamental meaning of "a bundle" or "a sheaf." Its etymological root lies in the verb δεσμέω (desmeō) `{{G1196}}`, meaning "to bind" or "to tie up," which itself derives from δέω (deō) `{{G1210}}`, "to bind, tie, fasten." This etymological connection underscores that a δέσμη is not merely a collection of items, but specifically a collection that has been intentionally bound or tied together. The semantic range of δέσμη is quite narrow and concrete, consistently referring to a physical aggregation of items secured as a unit. It does not typically extend to abstract or metaphorical meanings beyond this literal sense of a tied-up collection.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term δέσμη (desmē) appears only once in the New Testament, found in the Gospel of Matthew:
* **[[Matthew 13:30]]**: "Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, 'Gather the weeds first and bind them in **bundles** to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
This singular occurrence is profoundly significant as it forms a crucial element in the Parable of the Weeds (or Tares). In this parable, Jesus describes the eschatological separation of the righteous from the wicked. The "weeds" (ζιζάνια, *zizania*) are to be gathered and bound into δέσμης (bundles) specifically "to be burned."
The context reveals several layers of meaning for δέσμη:
1. **Separation and Identification**: The act of binding the weeds into bundles signifies their clear identification and separation from the wheat. They are distinct entities that are being systematically collected.
2. **Preparation for Judgment**: The bundles are not for preservation or storage like the wheat, but explicitly for destruction by fire. This imagery points to the methodical preparation for divine judgment.
3. **Orderly Destruction**: The gathering and binding suggest an orderly, deliberate process of judgment, rather than a chaotic scattering. The wicked will be collected and dealt with systematically.
4. **Collective Fate**: Being bound into bundles implies a shared fate among those identified as weeds. They are grouped together for a common end.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of δέσμη is deeply intertwined with its verbal root and related nouns:
* **δεσμέω (desmeō) `{{G1196}}`**: "to bind, tie up." This verb describes the action that creates a δέσμη.
* **δέω (deō) `{{G1210}}`**: The more general verb "to bind, tie, fasten," from which δεσμέω is derived. This highlights the fundamental concept of restraint, connection, or securing.
* **δεσμός (desmos) `{{G1199}}`**: "a bond, chain, imprisonment." This noun often carries a negative connotation, referring to physical fetters or the state of being bound in prison. While δέσμη is a collection of bound items, δεσμός is the means of binding or the state of being bound.
* **δεσμωτήριον (desmōtērion) `{{G1200}}`**: "a prison, jail." This further emphasizes the concept of being bound or confined.
Conceptually, δέσμη relates to:
* **Gathering/Collection**: The act of bringing disparate items together.
* **Discernment/Separation**: The process of distinguishing and setting apart different categories (e.g., weeds from wheat).
* **Destiny/Outcome**: The preparation of items for a specific, often final, purpose.
### Theological Significance
Despite its single occurrence, δέσμη carries profound theological weight due to its placement in the eschatological discourse of Jesus. In the Parable of the Weeds, the "bundles" represent the collective of those who are identified as "sons of the evil one" ([[Matthew 13:38]]).
The theological significance can be summarized as follows:
1. **Divine Judgment**: The δέσμη serves as a powerful image of the methodical and certain nature of God's final judgment. The wicked will not escape unnoticed or ungathered; they will be specifically collected for their appointed end.
2. **Separation of Destinies**: The creation of "bundles" for burning, in contrast to the gathering of wheat into the barn, vividly illustrates the absolute and irreversible separation of humanity into two distinct groups at the end of the age – those destined for destruction and those for eternal life.
3. **Consequences of Unrighteousness**: The imagery of being bound together for burning underscores the severe and collective consequences awaiting those who persist in wickedness. It is a stark warning of the inevitable outcome for those who do not bear good fruit.
4. **God's Sovereignty**: The command to "bind them in bundles" demonstrates God's ultimate sovereignty over history and judgment. The process is not random but divinely orchestrated and controlled.
### Summary
The Greek word δέσμη (desmē) `{{G1197}}` precisely denotes "a bundle" or "a sheaf," deriving its meaning from the act of binding. Its singular, yet highly significant, appearance in [[Matthew 13:30]] casts it as a pivotal image in Jesus' Parable of the Weeds. Here, the "bundles" of weeds represent the wicked, systematically gathered and bound together for the explicit purpose of destruction by fire at the final judgment. This concrete term thus carries immense theological weight, powerfully illustrating the divine process of separation, the certainty of judgment, and the distinct destinies awaiting the righteous and the unrighteous. It underscores the methodical nature of God's eschatological work, where the wicked are identified, collected, and prepared for their ultimate, collective fate.
TRV