Topical Encyclopedia
The term "vintage" in the Bible primarily refers to the grape harvest and the process of gathering grapes for winemaking. This agricultural activity holds significant cultural, economic, and spiritual importance throughout the biblical narrative. The vintage season was a time of joy and celebration, as it marked the culmination of a year's labor and the provision of sustenance and prosperity.
Biblical ReferencesThe concept of vintage is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, where it is associated with abundance and divine blessing. In
Leviticus 26:5, the Lord promises the Israelites that if they follow His statutes, "Your threshing will continue until grape harvest, and the grape harvest will continue until sowing, and you will eat your bread to the full and dwell securely in your land." This passage highlights the continuity and prosperity that a successful vintage represents.
In the prophetic literature, the vintage is often used metaphorically to describe judgment and the wrath of God.
Isaiah 63:2-3 depicts the Lord as a treader of the winepress, symbolizing His judgment upon the nations: "Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? 'I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the nations no one was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My wrath; their blood spattered My garments, and I stained all My clothing.'"
Cultural and Economic SignificanceIn ancient Israel, vineyards were a vital part of the agrarian economy. The cultivation of grapes and the production of wine were essential for daily life, religious rituals, and social gatherings. The vintage season was a time of communal effort, where families and neighbors worked together to harvest the grapes. This period was marked by festivity, as seen in the
Song of Solomon 7:12, "Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom—there I will give you my love."
The economic importance of the vintage is further underscored in the parables of Jesus. In
Matthew 21:33-41, the Parable of the Tenants describes a landowner who plants a vineyard and leases it to tenants. The vintage time comes, and the landowner sends his servants to collect the fruit, symbolizing God's expectation of righteousness and faithfulness from His people.
Spiritual SymbolismThe vintage also carries deep spiritual symbolism in the Bible. Wine, the product of the grape harvest, is often associated with joy, celebration, and covenantal blessings. In the New Testament, Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana involves turning water into wine (
John 2:1-11), signifying the abundance and joy of the new covenant.
Moreover, the imagery of the vine and vineyard is used to describe the relationship between God and His people. In
John 15:1-5, Jesus declares, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that bears no fruit, He takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." This passage emphasizes the importance of remaining connected to Christ to bear spiritual fruit.
ConclusionThe vintage, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted concept encompassing themes of blessing, judgment, community, and spiritual growth. It serves as a reminder of God's provision and the call to faithfulness and fruitfulness in the lives of believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The produce of the vine for one season, in grapes or in wine; as, the vintage is abundant; the vintage of 1840.
2. (n.) The act or time of gathering the crop of grapes, or making the wine for a season.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
VINTAGEvin'-taj.
SeeVINE.
Greek
5166. trugao -- to gather in... gather. From a derivative of trugo (to dry) meaning ripe fruit (as if dry);
to collect the
vintage -- gather. (etrugesen) -- 1 Occurrence.
...Strong's Hebrew
1210. batsir -- avintage... 1209, 1210. batsir. 1211 . a
vintage. Transliteration: batsir Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-tseer') Short Definition: gathering.
...vintage.
...1208. batsor --vintage
... 1207, 1208. batsor. 1209 .vintage. Transliteration: batsor Phonetic Spelling:
(baw-tsore') Short Definition:vintage. Word Origin see batsar.vintage...
1831. dema -- juice
... juice. Transliteration: dema Phonetic Spelling: (dah'-mah) Short Definition:vintage.
Word Origin from dama Definition juice NASB Word Usagevintage (1). liquor...
3754. kerem -- a vineyard
... vines, increase of the vineyards,vintage. From an unused root of uncertain meaning;
a garden or vineyard -- vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s),vintage....
Library
Thevintage-Vacation Ended, I Gave Notice to the Milanese to...
... Book IX Chapter V Thevintage-vacation ended, I gave notice to the Milanese
to provide their scholars with another? Thevintage...
As his Lungs were Affected, He Meditates Withdrawing Himself from...
... And opportunely there wanted but a few days unto the Vacation of theVintage; [696]
and I determined to endure them, in order to leave in the usual way, and...
The Fifth vision "On Earth"
... The first of these pairs is the Harvest, and the second is theVintage....
In the second pair theVintage of the earth is gathered....
The vineyard Labourers.
... In spring they prepare the soil; in summer they prune and tie up the vine branches;
and in autumn all the joyous labour of thevintage comes suddenly on....
Delivered on the Lord's Day, on that which is Written in the...
... For now is the time of the material [2841]vintage. Now there is also a spiritual
vintage, wherein God rejoiceth in the fruit of His vineyard....
The Old Store an the New
... yield from the fields is given under another form in a previous verse of this chapter
(ver.5): 'Your threshing shall reach unto thevintage, and thevintage...
That the Judges who Succeeded Gideon Made War with the Adjoining...
... Now at the season ofvintage, the people were afraid to go out and gather their
fruits, for fear Abimelech should do them some mischief....
And I Resolved in Thy Sight, not Tumultuously to Tear...
... And very seasonably, it now wanted but very few days unto the Vacation of theVintage,
and I resolved to endure them, then in a regular way to take my leave...
Whether we Should be Solicitous About the Future?
... For every time has its own fitting proper solicitude; thus solicitude about the
crops belongs to the summer time, and solicitude about thevintage to the time...
Of a Three-Fold Unity which is in us by Nature
... And, when the vessel is made ready, then the noblevintage is poured into
it. And there is no vessel more noble than the loving...
Thesaurus
Vintage (14 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The produce of the vine for one season, in grapes
or in wine; as, the
vintage is abundant; the
vintage of 1840.
...VINTAGE.
...Vintage-time (3 Occurrences)
Vintage-time. Vintaged,Vintage-time. Viol . Multi-Version Concordance
Vintage-time (3 Occurrences). Matthew 21:34 When...
Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)
... Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences). Matthew 21:34 Whenvintage-time approached, he sent
his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his share of the grapes; (WEY)....
Threshing (57 Occurrences)
... would be gathered as sheaves on the threshing-floor (Micah 4:12, 13; compare 2 Kings
13:7 Amos 1:3 Habakkuk 3:12); threshing unto thevintage, ie throughout...
Grapes (74 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:34 Whenvintage-time approached, he sent his servants to the
vine-dressers to receive his share of the grapes; (WEY)....
Gleaning (10 Occurrences)
... Judges 8:2 He said to them, "What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn't
the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than thevintage of Abiezer?...
Grape (20 Occurrences)
... Judges 8:2 He said to them, "What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn't
the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than thevintage of Abiezer?...
Produce (140 Occurrences)
... (WEB DBY NAS). Matthew 21:34 Whenvintage-time approached, he sent his servants
to the vine-dressers to receive his share of the grapes; (See NAS)....
Safety (72 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 26:5 And your threshing shall reach unto thevintage, and thevintage
shall reach unto the sowing time; and ye shall eat your bread until ye have...
Securely (43 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 26:5 and your threshing shall reach unto thevintage, and thevintage
shall reach unto the sowing-time; and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and...
Resources
Can a Christian burn incense? What does the Bible say about burning incense? | GotQuestions.orgVintage: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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