### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word κοπρία (kopría, `{{G2874}}`) derives from κόπρος (kopros), meaning "dung," "excrement," or "filth." Its base definition is "manure" or "dung-hill." The term primarily denotes animal or human waste, often specifically referring to such waste used as fertilizer. Its semantic range is quite narrow, consistently pointing to something discarded, lowly, or even offensive in its raw state, yet paradoxically valuable for agricultural fertility. The suggested etymological link to κόπτω (koptō, "to cut" or "to strike") might imply something cut off or separated as refuse.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word κοπρία (kopría) appears exclusively in the Gospel of Luke, featuring in two distinct parables:
* **[[Luke 13:8]]**: In the parable of the barren fig tree, the vinedresser pleads with the owner, "Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer [κοπρία]." Here, κοπρία is used literally as manure, a substance applied to the soil to enrich it and promote fruitfulness. The context underscores divine patience and the diligent, even laborious, efforts extended to cultivate spiritual fruit from a seemingly unproductive source. The application of κοπρία signifies a final, intensive measure of grace and spiritual nourishment, providing a last opportunity for the tree to bear fruit before judgment.
* **[[Luke 14:35]]**: In Jesus' discourse on the cost of discipleship, He states regarding salt that has lost its savor, "It is not fit for the land nor for the dung-hill [κοπρία]; men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." In this instance, κοπρία refers to a "dung-hill" or "manure pile," a place where worthless refuse is discarded. The imagery powerfully conveys the utter uselessness of disciples who have lost their distinctive character and purpose, rendering them fit for nothing, not even as fertilizer, but only for complete rejection.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct lexical relation is to κόπρος (kopros), the noun from which κοπρία is derived, signifying "dung" or "filth." While κόπρος itself does not appear in the New Testament, its conceptual presence is evident through κοπρία.
The concept of "waste" or "refuse" is also conveyed by σκύβαλον (skybalon, `{{G4657}}`), famously used by Paul in [[Philippians 3:8]] to describe his former achievements as "rubbish" or "dung" in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Although σκύβαλον is a broader term for refuse, it shares the connotation of worthlessness and discard.
In its agricultural context, κοπρία is intrinsically linked to terms related to "fruitfulness" (καρπός, karpos, `{{G2590}}`), "soil" (γῆ, gē, `{{G1093}}`), and "cultivation" (γεωργέω, geōrgeō, `{{G1090}}`). The application of manure is a means to achieve desired produce. Conversely, the idea of "cleansing" or "purification" stands in contrast to the impurity often associated with κοπρία, yet its use in agriculture paradoxically leads to the purity of harvest.
### Theological Significance
The humble word κοπρία carries profound theological weight in the Lukan narratives:
* **Divine Patience and Opportunity for Repentance:** In [[Luke 13:8]], the application of κοπρία symbolizes God's gracious extension of time and provision for humanity to bear spiritual fruit. The vinedresser's willingness to go to extraordinary lengths, even using something as lowly as manure, to nurture the barren fig tree, represents God's persistent love and His desire for all to come to repentance and fruitfulness, rather than immediate judgment. It underscores the truth that even seemingly hopeless spiritual situations are given a chance for transformation through divine intervention and diligent spiritual labor.
* **The Cost of Discipleship and Spiritual Uselessness:** In [[Luke 14:35]], the κοπρία serves as a stark metaphor for absolute worthlessness and rejection. Salt that has lost its savor is not only useless but also discarded, not even fit for the dung-hill. This powerfully illustrates the severe consequence of a disciple losing their distinctiveness and commitment to Christ. It highlights the importance of radical, uncompromised discipleship; anything less renders one spiritually useless and subject to being cast out. The imagery underscores the radical demands of the Kingdom of God and the danger of spiritual compromise.
* **Paradox of Humiliation and Exaltation:** The very nature of manure—something lowly, foul, and discarded, yet essential for life and growth—presents a subtle paradox. This resonates with biblical themes of humility preceding exaltation, or God using the weak and despised things of the world to accomplish His purposes (cf. [[1 Corinthians 1:28]]). While not explicitly stated, the imagery of κοπρία hints at the transformative power that can emerge from humble, even repulsive, means when applied by divine wisdom and purpose.
### Summary
The Greek word κοπρία (kopría, `{{G2874}}`), meaning "manure" or "dung-hill," though appearing only twice in the New Testament, offers significant theological insight within the Gospel of Luke. In [[Luke 13:8]], it symbolizes God's patient and intensive grace, providing a final opportunity for spiritual fruitfulness and repentance. Conversely, in [[Luke 14:35]], the "dung-hill" represents utter worthlessness and rejection for those who, like salt without savor, have lost their spiritual distinctiveness and purpose, underscoring the severe consequences of uncommitted discipleship. The word, despite its humble literal meaning, thus carries profound weight, illuminating divine patience, the radical demands of the Kingdom, and the critical relationship between divine cultivation and human responsiveness in bearing spiritual fruit.
TRV