δρέπανον

Pronunciation Guide: drep’-an-on (drep-ah-non)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1407: δρέπανον (drepanon) refers to a curved knife or sickle used for harvesting crops, particularly grain and grapes. In biblical contexts, it symbolizes both agricultural harvest and divine judgment. This cutting tool represents the decisive moment when what has been growing reaches its appointed time of gathering, carrying profound theological implications about God’s sovereignty over both blessing and judgment.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Noun (neuter)
• Root: From the verb δρέπω (drepō), meaning “to pluck” or “to cut off”
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Agricultural contexts, apocalyptic literature, and parables
• Biblical Genre: Primarily appears in narrative and apocalyptic sections

δρέπανον Morphology:

• δρέπανον (nominative singular) – a sickle
• δρεπάνου (genitive singular) – of a sickle
• δρεπάνῳ (dative singular) – with/by a sickle
• δρέπανον (accusative singular) – a sickle (direct object)
• δρέπανα (nominative/accusative plural) – sickles

Origin & History

The term δρέπανον has ancient roots in classical Greek agricultural vocabulary, referring specifically to the curved harvesting tool used since antiquity. Homer mentions the δρέπανον in the Odyssey (18.368) when describing agricultural activities. The tool was essential in Mediterranean farming communities, shaping both literal and metaphorical understandings of harvest.

In the Septuagint (LXX), δρέπανον appears in several significant contexts, most notably in Joel 3:13 (LXX Joel 4:13) where it is used in the divine command to “put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.” This established an important connection between the agricultural implement and divine judgment that would later be echoed in the New Testament apocalyptic literature. The imagery was further developed in intertestamental literature, particularly in apocalyptic texts that employed harvest metaphors for the final judgment.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A curved knife or hook-shaped agricultural tool used for harvesting grain
• A symbolic instrument of divine judgment in apocalyptic literature
• A tool representing the completion of a growth cycle and the gathering of what has matured
• An implement that separates the valuable crop from the field

δρέπανον Translation Options:

• Sickle – Most common translation, accurately capturing the curved harvesting tool
• Pruning knife – Appropriate when emphasizing its cutting function rather than harvesting
• Reaping hook – Highlights the tool’s function in grain harvesting
• Scythe – Though technically larger than a δρέπανον, sometimes used to convey the imagery of judgment on a cosmic scale

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, δρέπανον appears only 8 times, with its first occurrence in Mark 4:29 where it concludes the Parable of the Growing Seed. Here, Yeshua uses the δρέπανον as the natural conclusion to the growth process, illustrating how the Kingdom of God operates according to divine timing rather than human intervention. This agricultural metaphor would have resonated deeply with His audience, many of whom were familiar with the seasonal rhythms of planting and harvesting.

The most concentrated use of δρέπανον occurs in Revelation, where it appears 7 times (Revelation 14:14-19). In these passages, the sickle becomes an instrument of eschatological judgment, wielded by heavenly beings to gather both the righteous (grain harvest) and the wicked (grape harvest). This dual imagery of harvest as both blessing and judgment reflects the complex theological concept of the “Day of יהוה (Yahweh)” found throughout the prophetic literature, where God’s decisive intervention brings both salvation and judgment.

Key biblical references include:

• “But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle [δρέπανον], because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:29
• “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle [δρέπανον] in His hand.” Revelation 14:14
• “And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Put in your sickle [δρέπανον] and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.’” Revelation 14:15
• “So He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle [δρέπανον] over the earth, and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:16
• “And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle [δρέπανον].” Revelation 14:17
• “Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle [δρέπανον], saying, ‘Put in your sharp sickle [δρέπανον] and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.’” Revelation 14:18
• “So the angel swung his sickle [δρέπανον] to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God.” Revelation 14:19

Cultural Insights

The δρέπανον was a common agricultural tool in the first-century Holy Land, with a distinctive curved blade that made it ideal for the swift cutting of grain stalks. Unlike modern sickles, ancient versions were often smaller, held in one hand, and required skilled use to maximize efficiency during the critical harvest period. Farmers would grasp bunches of grain stalks with one hand while cutting them with the δρέπανον in the other, creating a rhythmic motion that experienced harvesters could maintain for hours.

In Jewish agricultural practice, the harvest carried profound theological significance beyond mere subsistence. The three major pilgrimage festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot) were directly tied to the agricultural calendar, with Shavuot specifically celebrating the wheat harvest. The use of the δρέπανον was thus embedded in a cultural context where agricultural activities were understood as partnership with God’s provision. This connection between physical harvest and spiritual reality helps explain why harvest imagery became so prominent in Yeshua’s parables and apocalyptic literature.

The dual use of the δρέπανον for both grain and grape harvests in Revelation 14 draws on the Hebrew prophetic tradition where these two harvests often carry different symbolic meanings. The grain harvest typically represents the ingathering of the righteous, while the grape harvest and subsequent wine press imagery evoke judgment on the wicked. This dual symbolism reflects the Jewish understanding of the “Day of יהוה (Yahweh)” as bringing both salvation and judgment simultaneously.

Theological Significance

The δρέπανον carries profound theological implications regarding God’s sovereignty over time and seasons. In Mark’s parable, the farmer cannot hasten the harvest but must wait for the appropriate moment when the crop is ready. Similarly, in the Kingdom of God, there is a divine timing that cannot be manipulated by human impatience or schemes. This teaches believers to trust in God’s perfect timing rather than forcing premature “harvests” in ministry or personal spiritual growth.

The eschatological use of δρέπανον in Revelation reveals important aspects of God’s character and plan. The careful distinction between the grain harvest (gathering the righteous) and the grape harvest (judgment on the wicked) demonstrates that God’s judgment is not indiscriminate but perfectly discriminating. The sharp δρέπανον represents God’s ability to make precise distinctions between those who belong to Him and those who have aligned themselves with evil. This should inspire both reverential fear and profound comfort—fear of standing against God’s purposes, but comfort in knowing His judgment is perfectly righteous.

Perhaps most significantly, the δρέπανον imagery connects the Messiah’s first coming with His return. Just as Yeshua taught about the Kingdom through agricultural parables, His return is depicted using the same imagery brought to completion. The one who sowed the good seed now returns with the δρέπανον to gather what has grown. This continuity affirms that God’s redemptive plan is unified across salvation history, from creation to consummation, and that the final judgment is not a divine afterthought but the completion of His perfect plan.

Personal Application

The imagery of the δρέπανον invites believers to examine their own spiritual readiness for “harvest.” Just as crops must reach maturity before the sickle is applied, our lives should be growing toward spiritual maturity. This requires patience with God’s timing—not rushing processes of sanctification or ministry fruit, but allowing the Master Gardener to cultivate growth according to His perfect wisdom. Ask yourself: Am I cooperating with God’s growth process, or am I trying to force premature “harvests” in my life and ministry?

Additionally, the δρέπανον reminds us that there will be a final evaluation of our lives. This should inspire neither terror nor complacency, but rather a healthy sobriety about how we are living. The sharp distinction made by the δρέπανον between what is gathered into God’s barn and what is cast aside should motivate us to examine where our true allegiances lie. Are we growing as wheat in God’s field, or are we wild grapes that have become sour? The δρέπανον imagery invites us to live with the end in mind, knowing that what we cultivate now will determine what is harvested then.

Related Words

• θερίζω (therizō, “to reap/harvest”) – The action performed with a δρέπανον, focusing on the act of gathering crops at maturity. While δρέπανον is the tool, θερίζω is the action of harvesting. See G2325
• θερισμός (therismos, “harvest”) – The season or time of reaping, often used metaphorically for spiritual harvesting of souls or final judgment. This term focuses on the overall process and season rather than the specific cutting tool. See G2326
• ἄμητος (amētos, “harvest”) – A rarer term for harvest that emphasizes the ripeness and readiness of the crop. While δρέπανον focuses on the tool used, ἄμητος highlights the state of the crop being harvested. See G271
• καρπός (karpos, “fruit”) – What is gathered by the δρέπανον, representing the outcome or result of growth. This term emphasizes what is produced rather than the tool that gathers it. See G2590
• συνάγω (synagō, “to gather together”) – Often used to describe gathering the harvest, emphasizing collection rather than cutting. This term complements δρέπανον by describing what happens after the cutting is complete. See G4863

Did you Know?

• The ancient Greek δρέπανον was not just a farming tool but also a weapon of mythological significance. In Greek mythology, Kronos (Saturn) used a δρέπανον to castrate his father Uranus. This mythological association with judgment and the overthrow of a cosmic order may have influenced the apocalyptic imagery in Revelation, where the δρέπανον becomes an instrument of divine judgment against evil powers.
• Archaeological discoveries throughout the Mediterranean have uncovered bronze and iron δρέπανα (plural) dating back to the 8th century BCE. These ancient sickles were smaller than modern versions, typically featuring a semicircular blade about 20-30 cm long attached to a wooden handle. Their design remained remarkably consistent across centuries, demonstrating the tool’s perfect adaptation to its purpose—a testament to how God often uses simple, proven instruments to accomplish His purposes.
• The imagery of the δρέπανον in Revelation 14 parallels the ancient Jewish practice of grape harvesting for the wine press. During this process, workers would cut grape clusters with a small δρέπανον, then transport them to a rock-hewn vat where they would be trampled underfoot. The juice would flow into a lower collection vat, separating the valuable liquid from the skins and seeds. This vivid imagery provided the perfect metaphor for divine judgment separating the precious from the worthless.

Remember This

The δρέπανον reminds us that in God’s economy, everything has its appointed season of growth and harvest—whether for blessing or judgment—and the Master Harvester knows exactly when to swing the sickle.