### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word G2780 (κηπουρός, *kēpourós*) is a compound noun derived from κῆπος (*kēpos*), meaning "garden," and a root related to "warden" or "keeper." Its core meaning is therefore "one who keeps or tends a garden," hence, a "gardener." The semantic range of κηπουρός is quite narrow, specifically referring to an individual responsible for the cultivation, maintenance, and oversight of a cultivated plot of land, typically for plants or trees. This implies a role of care, diligence, and stewardship over a specific, enclosed, or designated area of growth.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term G2780 (κηπουρός) appears only once in the New Testament, in the Gospel of John:
* **[[John 20:15]]**: "Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.'"
* This single occurrence is profoundly significant. Mary Magdalene, encountering the resurrected Jesus near the tomb, does not immediately recognize Him. Her initial assumption, based on the setting—a garden where the tomb was located ([[John 19:41]])—is that He is the κηπουρός (gardener).
* The context highlights Mary's distress and her preoccupation with the missing body of Jesus. Her misidentification underscores the initial human inability to comprehend the reality of the resurrection.
* The irony is rich: the One whom she mistakes for a mere gardener is, in fact, the Lord of life, the initiator of a new creation, who is about to bring forth spiritual fruit and life from the very place of death. The "gardener" is the one who cultivates eternal life.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding G2780 is enhanced by examining related terms and concepts:
* **κῆπος (kēpos)**: The root word for "garden" (`{{G2779}}`). This noun is crucial as it defines the sphere of the κηπουρός's activity. Gardens hold significant biblical symbolism, from the Garden of Eden ([[Genesis 2:8]]) as the place of creation and communion, to Gethsemane ([[Matthew 26:36]]) as the place of Christ's agony, and finally, the garden tomb ([[John 19:41]]) as the site of resurrection.
* **γεωργός (geōrgos)**: Meaning "farmer" or "husbandman" (`{{G1092}}`). While κηπουρός is specific to a garden, γεωργός is a broader term for one who works the land, often used metaphorically for God as the vineyard owner or for those who cultivate the spiritual field ([[Matthew 21:33]], [[John 15:1]]). The concepts of cultivation and harvest overlap.
* **Stewardship (οἰκονόμος, oikonomos)**: The role of a gardener implies stewardship, a careful management of resources entrusted to one's care (`{{G3623}}`). This concept is deeply biblical, emphasizing human responsibility over creation.
* **New Creation / New Eden**: The setting of the resurrection in a garden subtly evokes the Garden of Eden. Just as Adam was placed in Eden to "work it and keep it" ([[Genesis 2:15]]), Jesus, the "Second Adam" ([[1 Corinthians 15:45]]), emerges from a garden tomb, not merely to tend a physical garden, but to inaugurate a new spiritual creation, restoring humanity's relationship with God and bringing forth the fruit of resurrection life.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of G2780 (κηπουρός) carries profound theological weight due to its immediate context in the resurrection narrative:
1. **The Misidentification and Divine Revelation**: Mary's failure to recognize Jesus, mistaking Him for the gardener, serves as a powerful symbol of humanity's initial blindness to the resurrected Christ. It highlights that the resurrection was not merely a reanimation of a corpse, but a transformative event that ushered in a new reality, requiring spiritual discernment to grasp. It sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent self-revelation, which transforms Mary's sorrow into joy and recognition.
2. **Jesus as the "Gardener" of New Creation**: The irony of Mary's mistake points to a deeper truth. While not literally a gardener, Jesus is the ultimate "gardener" in a spiritual sense. He emerges from a garden tomb, echoing the Garden of Eden, to reverse the curse of sin and death. He is the one who cultivates spiritual life, bringing forth fruit from the barrenness of sin and death. He is the one who tends the "garden" of His church, ensuring its growth and fruitfulness ([[John 15:1-8]]).
3. **Humility and Accessibility**: That the resurrected Lord is initially perceived in such a humble, earthly role speaks to His condescension and identification with humanity. Even in His glorified state, He appears in a way that is initially unassuming, emphasizing His accessibility and the quiet, yet powerful, nature of His victory over death.
4. **Life from Death**: The gardener's task is to bring forth life from the earth. In the resurrection, Jesus, the "gardener," brings forth eternal life from the tomb, transforming the place of death into the birthplace of new spiritual existence.
### Summary
The Greek word G2780 (κηπουρός, *kēpourós*), meaning "gardener" or "garden-keeper," appears only once in the New Testament, in [[John 20:15]]. Its singular occurrence is pivotal, as Mary Magdalene mistakes the resurrected Jesus for the gardener in the tomb's garden setting. This misidentification serves as a poignant moment of human blindness preceding divine revelation. Theologically, the term is laden with irony and significance: Jesus, though not literally a κηπουρός, is the ultimate "gardener" who brings forth new life from the "garden" of the tomb, echoing the themes of a new creation and the restoration of humanity's relationship with God. He is the one who cultivates spiritual life, demonstrating His power over death and His humble yet transformative presence.
TRV