### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun θερισμός (therismós, `{{G2326}}`) is derived from the verb θερίζω (therízō, `{{G2325}}`), meaning "to reap" or "to harvest." At its most fundamental level, θερισμός refers to the act of reaping, the season or time of harvest, or the crop that is gathered. Its primary semantic domain is agricultural, denoting the process of collecting ripe grain or produce from the fields. However, in the New Testament, its usage extends significantly beyond the literal, embracing rich metaphorical and eschatological dimensions. It signifies a decisive moment of culmination, ingathering, and often, separation or judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term θερισμός appears a limited but highly significant number of times in the New Testament, primarily in the Synoptic Gospels and the book of Revelation.
* **Matthew 13:30, 39:** In the Parable of the Weeds (Tares), Jesus explains that the "harvest" (θερισμός) is "the end of the age" (συντέλεια τοῦ αἰῶνος). Here, θερισμός is a clear metaphor for a final, decisive event of divine judgment and separation, where the righteous (wheat) are gathered into the barn and the unrighteous (weeds) are gathered for burning. The reapers are identified as angels.
* **Mark 4:29:** Within the Parable of the Growing Seed, θερισμός signifies the point at which the crop is fully ripe and ready for gathering. This usage emphasizes the natural progression towards a predetermined end and the opportune moment for the harvest to commence, symbolizing the readiness of the Kingdom for its final consummation.
* **John 4:35:** Jesus challenges His disciples, "Do you not say, 'There are still four months until the harvest (θερισμός)'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest." Here, θερισμός is employed metaphorically for the spiritual ingathering of people into the Kingdom of God. It highlights the present urgency and readiness of souls to receive the Gospel, contrasting a perceived future opportunity with a present imperative for evangelistic labor.
* **Revelation 14:15:** In a vivid apocalyptic vision, an angel calls out, "Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest (θερισμός) of the earth is ripe." This passage unequivocally depicts θερισμός as a moment of divine judgment, where the earth's inhabitants are gathered, not for salvation, but for the outpouring of God's wrath. The imagery reinforces the concept of a final, decisive reckoning.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **θερίζω (therízō, `{{G2325}}`):** The verb "to reap," the root from which θερισμός is derived. This connection emphasizes the action and process leading to the harvest.
* **ἀμητός (amētos, `{{G291}}`):** Another Greek term for "harvest" or "reaping," often used synonymously in some contexts, though θερισμός tends to carry a stronger emphasis on the *season* or *act* of reaping.
* **συντέλεια τοῦ αἰῶνος (syntelēia tou aiōnos):** "The end of the age," a phrase directly linked to θερισμός in Matthew 13, underscoring its eschatological significance as the culmination of history.
* **Sowing and Reaping:** The broader biblical principle that one reaps what one sows (e.g., [[Galatians 6:7]]) provides a foundational understanding for θερισμός. The harvest is the inevitable outcome, whether positive or negative, of previous actions or conditions.
* **Judgment and Separation:** In its eschatological contexts, θερισμός is intrinsically tied to the concept of divine judgment, involving the separation of the righteous from the wicked.
* **Evangelism and Mission:** In the context of John 4, θερισμός becomes a powerful call to urgent spiritual labor, representing the readiness of people to receive the message of salvation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of θερισμός is profound and multi-layered:
1. **Divine Sovereignty and Timing:** The concept of a harvest implies a divinely appointed season and a natural progression towards a predetermined end. This speaks to God's sovereign control over history, His redemptive plan, and the timing of all things, including the final consummation.
2. **Eschatological Culmination:** Most prominently, θερισμός serves as a powerful metaphor for the ultimate end of the age. It signifies the climax of God's purposes, where all things come to their destined fulfillment, whether in blessing or judgment.
3. **Judgment and Separation:** The "harvest" is not merely an ingathering but a process of decisive separation. The imagery of gathering wheat into the barn and burning weeds underscores the reality of divine justice, where the righteous are preserved and the wicked face righteous condemnation.
4. **Urgency of Mission:** In John 4, the "fields white for harvest" imbue θερισμός with a sense of immediate opportunity and imperative for spiritual labor. It highlights that the time for proclaiming the Gospel and gathering souls is now, as many are ready to respond.
5. **Consequence and Fruitfulness:** θερισμός represents the inevitable outcome of what has been sown. It speaks to the principle of divine reckoning, where every action, whether good or evil, will ultimately bear its corresponding fruit, culminating in either eternal life or eternal judgment.
### Summary
θερισμός (therismós, `{{G2326}}`) is a Greek noun meaning "harvest" or "reaping," derived from the verb "to reap" (`{{G2325}}`). While rooted in agricultural practice, its biblical usage extends significantly into profound theological concepts. It consistently points to a time of culmination and gathering. In the Gospels, particularly Matthew, it is a powerful metaphor for "the end of the age" and the final divine judgment, where the righteous are gathered and the wicked are separated for destruction ([[Matthew 13:39]]). In John 4, it vividly portrays the urgency and present opportunity for spiritual ingathering, highlighting fields "white for harvest" ([[John 4:35]]). Revelation 14:15 further solidifies its eschatological association with the final judgment upon the earth. Thus, θερισμός encapsulates themes of divine timing, ultimate judgment, the consummation of God's redemptive plan, and the imperative for present spiritual labor, reminding believers of God's sovereign control over history and the inevitable consequences of human choices.
TRV