### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb εὐφορέω (euphoréō), Strong's `{{G2164}}`, is a compound word derived from εὖ (eu), meaning "well" or "good," and φορέω (phoréō), meaning "to bear," "to carry," or "to produce." As a frequentative form of φέρω (pherō), φορέω emphasizes the act of bearing or producing often or abundantly. Therefore, εὐφορέω literally signifies "to bear well" or "to bear abundantly." Its core semantic range encompasses the idea of fertility, fruitfulness, and yielding a plentiful harvest. It describes a state of successful and prolific production, particularly in an agricultural context, indicating that a crop has "brought forth abundantly" or "yielded a good increase."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb εὐφορέω appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Luke:
* **[[Luke 12:16]]**: "And he told them a parable, saying, 'The land of a rich man *brought forth abundantly*.'" (καὶ εἶπεν παραβολὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγων, Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα).
In this sole occurrence, εὐφόρησεν (the aorist indicative of εὐφορέω) describes the remarkable productivity of the rich man's land. The context is the Parable of the Rich Fool, where the abundance of the harvest is the catalyst for the rich man's fatal decision to store up his goods for himself, neglecting his spiritual state and his dependence on God. The word itself is neutral, simply describing a natural, positive outcome—a bountiful yield. However, it sets the stage for the parable's central conflict: the contrast between material prosperity and spiritual poverty. The land's fertility, described by εὐφορέω, highlights the magnitude of the man's earthly blessing, which ironically became the source of his spiritual downfall due to his covetousness and self-reliance.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words and concepts relate to εὐφορέω, enriching our understanding of its meaning and theological implications:
* **εὖ (eu):** The prefix εὖ (Strong's `{{G2095}}`) signifies "good," "well," or "rightly." Its presence in εὐφορέω underscores that the bearing was not just productive, but *well*-productive, signifying a desirable and successful outcome. This prefix is common in other positive terms like εὐλογέω (eulogeō - to bless, `{{G2127}}`) or εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizō - to preach good news, `{{G2097}}`).
* **φορέω (phoréō):** The base verb φορέω (Strong's `{{G5409}}`) means "to bear," "to carry," or "to wear." It is a frequentative of φέρω (pherō - to bear, carry, `{{G5342}}`). This connection emphasizes the continuous or abundant nature of the "bearing" described by εὐφορέω.
* **καρποφορέω (karpophoreō):** Meaning "to bear fruit" (Strong's `{{G2592}}`), this word is more commonly used in the New Testament, often metaphorically for spiritual fruitfulness (e.g., [[Romans 7:4]], [[Colossians 1:6]]). While καρποφορέω focuses on the act of bearing fruit, εὐφορέω specifically denotes the *abundance* or *success* of that bearing.
* **πλοῦτος (ploutos) / πλουτέω (plouteō):** "Riches" (Strong's `{{G4149}}`) and "to be rich" (Strong's `{{G4147}}`) are central to the parable in which εὐφορέω appears. The abundant yield leads to the man's increased wealth, highlighting the theme of material prosperity.
* **ἀφθονία (aphthonia):** Though not directly related etymologically, this noun (Strong's `{{G861}}`) means "abundance" or "plenty" and describes the *result* of what εὐφορέω signifies.
The semantic field thus includes concepts of fertility, productivity, abundance, and material prosperity, all of which are presented in the context of human stewardship and spiritual priorities.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of εὐφορέω is not found in the word itself, which is largely descriptive of a natural phenomenon, but in the singular context in which it appears: the Parable of the Rich Fool in [[Luke 12:16-21]].
1. **Divine Provision and Earthly Blessing:** The fact that the land "brought forth abundantly" speaks to God's general provision and the potential for earthly blessings. God is the ultimate source of all abundance, and fertile land is a testament to His creative power and sustaining grace.
2. **The Peril of Prosperity:** The primary theological lesson derived from εὐφορέω in its Lukan context is the danger of material abundance when it leads to covetousness, self-sufficiency, and a neglect of God. The rich man's land *did* bear well, but his response to this blessing was foolish. He saw the abundance as an opportunity for selfish accumulation and ease, rather than as a gift to be stewarded or shared, or as a call to deeper dependence on God.
3. **True Riches vs. Earthly Riches:** The parable, initiated by the description of the εὐφορέω land, sharply contrasts earthly riches with "being rich toward God" ([[Luke 12:21]]). The abundance described by εὐφορέω became a spiritual snare, illustrating that material prosperity, if not properly managed with a heavenly perspective, can lead to spiritual bankruptcy and eternal loss.
4. **Stewardship and Dependence:** The word subtly underscores the theme of stewardship. The land's productivity was a gift, but the rich man failed in his stewardship, demonstrating a lack of gratitude and a misplaced trust in his possessions rather than in the Giver.
Thus, εὐφορέω serves as the foundational premise for a profound warning against covetousness and the folly of trusting in perishable wealth, urging believers to prioritize eternal riches and dependence on God.
### Summary
εὐφορέω (euphoréō), Strong's `{{G2164}}`, is a Greek verb meaning "to bear well" or "to bring forth abundantly," particularly describing the fertility of land. Its etymology from εὖ ("well") and φορέω ("to bear") emphasizes a successful and prolific yield. Its single occurrence in the New Testament, in [[Luke 12:16]], is pivotal to the Parable of the Rich Fool. Here, the land's abundant harvest, described by εὐφορέω, highlights God's provision but simultaneously sets the stage for a critical theological warning. The word itself is neutral, but its context reveals the spiritual danger of misplaced trust in material prosperity, demonstrating how earthly abundance, when pursued for selfish gain, can lead to spiritual poverty and eternal foolishness rather than true blessedness.
TRV