### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **ampelourgós**, represented by `{{G289}}`, is defined as a **vine-worker** or **vine-dresser**. Derived from the words for "vine" and "work," it appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, making its single appearance highly significant in its context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{G289}}` is in the parable of the barren fig tree [[Luke 13:7]]. In this verse, the owner of a vineyard, after seeking fruit on a fig tree for three years and finding none, speaks to the **vine-dresser**. The owner commands him to cut the tree down, questioning why it should be allowed to cumber the ground. This places the **vine-dresser** at the center of a narrative about patience, fruitfulness, and judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its biblical context illuminate the role of the **vine-dresser**:
* `{{G2590}}` **karpós** (fruit): This is what the owner seeks from the tree. Its definition as "fruit (as plucked), literally or figuratively," highlights the tangible outcome expected from cultivation [[Luke 13:7]].
* `{{G1581}}` **ekkóptō** (cut down): This is the judgment pronounced on the fruitless tree. The word means "to exscind" and can figuratively mean to frustrate, emphasizing the severity of the command given to the **vine-dresser** [[Luke 13:7]].
* `{{G2673}}` **katargéō** (cumbereth): This describes the negative impact of the barren tree, as it makes the ground useless. The term means "to be (render) entirely idle (useless)," showing the consequence of its lack of productivity [[Luke 13:7]].
* `{{G1093}}` **gē** (ground): This is the resource that the unproductive tree is wasting. The word refers to soil or earth, and in this context, it is the valuable land that the **vine-dresser** is responsible for [[Luke 13:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G289}}` is derived entirely from this single parable:
* **Stewardship and Accountability:** The **vine-dresser** is a worker accountable to the owner of the vineyard. This relationship illustrates the principle of stewardship, where those entrusted with a task are expected to manage resources for a productive outcome.
* **The Mandate for Fruitfulness:** The owner's patient, three-year search for **fruit** `{{G2590}}` establishes a clear expectation. The **vine-dresser**'s work is intrinsically linked to the goal of producing fruit, a common biblical metaphor for righteous living and spiritual results.
* **Judgment on Uselessness:** The command to **cut down** `{{G1581}}` the tree because it **cumbereth** `{{G2673}}` the ground serves as a powerful illustration of divine judgment. That which fails to fulfill its purpose is deemed useless and subject to removal.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{G289}}` is an exceedingly rare word in Scripture, its role as the **vine-dresser** in the parable of the barren fig tree is pivotal. It transforms a simple occupational title into a symbol of stewardship and accountability before God. The term anchors a powerful lesson on the importance of fruitfulness and the sober reality of judgment for that which is unproductive in the kingdom of God.
TRV