### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term G3025 (ληνός, *lēnós*) primarily denotes a "winepress" or "wine-vat." In ancient viticulture, the winepress typically consisted of two main components: an upper treading floor (often a stone platform) where grapes were crushed by foot, and a lower vat or trough into which the juice flowed. While ληνός can sometimes refer specifically to the lower collection vat, its broader usage often encompasses the entire pressing apparatus, or even the process of wine production itself. It is a word deeply rooted in the agricultural practices of the ancient world, specifically the cultivation of vineyards and the extraction of grape juice. Its semantic range is thus tightly bound to the physical structure and function of this vital agricultural implement.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term G3025 appears four times in the New Testament, presenting a clear progression from a literal agricultural implement to a potent eschatological metaphor.
1. **[[Matthew 21:33]]**: In the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, Jesus describes a landowner who "dug a winepress" (ἔσκαψεν ληνὸν) in his vineyard. Here, ληνός refers to a literal component of a well-equipped vineyard, signifying the landowner's thorough provision for his tenants and his expectation of fruit. In this context, the winepress is a symbol of the resources and opportunities God provides to His people (Israel, and by extension, the Church) for producing spiritual fruit.
2. **[[Revelation 14:19]]**: An angel is commanded to "throw them [the clusters of the vine of the earth] into the great winepress of the wrath of God." Here, the ληνός transitions from a literal object to a powerful symbolic representation of divine judgment. The treading of grapes, which traditionally yielded wine, is transformed into the treading of rebellious humanity, yielding blood.
3. **[[Revelation 14:20]]**: Following the action in the previous verse, this verse describes the consequence: "And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for 1,600 stadia." This further emphasizes the horrific and extensive nature of God's judgment, with the ληνός serving as the instrument and location of this divine outpouring of wrath.
4. **[[Revelation 19:15]]**: Describing the returning Christ, it states He "treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty." This verse identifies Christ Himself as the one executing this ultimate judgment, underscoring His sovereign authority and active role in bringing about divine justice. The ληνός here is the arena of His righteous indignation against all evil.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of the winepress is intimately connected with several other biblical themes and terms. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew terms `{{H1660}}` (גַּת, *gath*), referring to the treading floor, and `{{H3342}}` (יֶקֶב, *yeqev*), referring to the lower vat, often appear together or are used interchangeably to denote the winepress. The imagery of the winepress as a place of divine judgment is deeply rooted in the Old Testament prophetic tradition, as seen in passages like [[Isaiah 63:3]], where the Lord describes treading the winepress alone, or [[Lamentations 1:15]], where the Lord has trodden the virgin daughter of Judah in a winepress.
Other related Greek terms include ἀμπελών (`{{G288}}`, *ampelōn*), "vineyard," which provides the immediate context for ληνός in Matthew. The product of the winepress, οἶνος (`{{G3631}}`, *oinos*), "wine," is also intrinsically linked. The action of "treading" (πατέω, `{{G3961}}`, *pateō*) is crucial to understanding the symbolic use of ληνός in Revelation, where it signifies the crushing of enemies.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of G3025 (ληνός) unfolds in two primary dimensions:
1. **Divine Provision and Expectation**: In the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, the winepress represents God's meticulous provision and investment in His covenant people. Just as a landowner equips his vineyard for fruitfulness, so God provides all that is necessary for His people to bear fruit for His glory. The presence of the ληνός underscores God's legitimate expectation of a harvest commensurate with His generous provision. The failure to yield fruit thus constitutes a grave offense, leading to the removal of privilege and the onset of judgment.
2. **Divine Judgment and Wrath**: The predominant theological significance of ληνός in Revelation is its powerful portrayal of God's righteous and decisive judgment against sin and rebellion. The imagery is visceral and terrifying: just as grapes are crushed to extract their juice, so the wicked are "trodden" in the winepress of God's wrath. This is not arbitrary vengeance but a just recompense for humanity's rejection of God and His Christ. The "blood" flowing from the winepress signifies the totality and severity of this judgment, highlighting the cost of rebellion against a holy God. Furthermore, the fact that Christ Himself treads this winepress in [[Revelation 19:15]] underscores His authority as Judge and the certainty of His triumph over all evil. The winepress of God's wrath is a testament to His unyielding justice and sovereignty.
### Summary
The Greek word G3025 (ληνός), initially denoting a literal "winepress" or "wine-vat" in an agricultural setting, carries profound theological weight in the New Testament. In [[Matthew 21:33]], it symbolizes God's gracious provision and His rightful expectation of spiritual fruit from His people. However, in the book of Revelation ([[Revelation 14:19-20]], [[Revelation 19:15]]), ληνός transforms into a potent and terrifying metaphor for the final, decisive outpouring of God's fierce wrath and judgment upon the wicked. This imagery, deeply rooted in Old Testament prophetic tradition, depicts the crushing of rebellion and the ultimate triumph of divine justice, executed by Christ Himself. Thus, ληνός serves as a powerful reminder of both God's generous provision and His unwavering commitment to righteousness and judgment.
TRV