ἀγρ-αυλέω G0063
living outdoors, staying in the fields; particularly of shepherds camping with their flocks
Luke 2:8 describes shepherds 'staying in the fields' (agraulountes) near Bethlehem, keeping night watch over their flocks. This rare participial form derives from 'agros' (field) plus 'auleo' (to live), meaning to live or camp in the open. The detail serves multiple purposes: it establishes the season (shepherds only stayed outdoors during lambing or warmer months), the shepherds' low social status (outdoor labor), and their availability for the angelic announcement. These outdoor-dwelling workers become the first evangelists, rushing to Bethlehem to see and then proclaim what they'd witnessed.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The present participle describes the shepherds' current activity: 'staying in the fields'—camping outdoors rather than sheltering in buildings. Classical Greek uses the verb for living in the countryside or open air. Spanish 'acampando al aire libre' (camping in the open air) and French 'demeurant aux champs' (dwelling in the fields) both capture the outdoor location. The detail is historically and narratively significant: these are working shepherds in the fields at night, making them plausible first recipients of the birth announcement. Their outdoor vigil becomes the setting for heaven's revelation. 1×
AR["يَبِيتُونَ-فِي-الْعَرَاءِ"]·ben["মাঠে-থাকা"]·DE["ἀγραυλοῦντες"]·EN["staying-in-fields"]·FR["demeurant-aux-champs"]·heb["לָנִים-בַּשָּׂדֶה"]·HI["खुले-में-रहते-हुए"]·ID["bermalam-di-padang"]·IT["agraulountes"]·jav["nginep-ing-ara-ara"]·KO["야영하는"]·PT["vivendo-ao-ar-livre"]·RU["живущие-в-поле"]·ES["acampando-al-aire-libre"]·SW["wakilala-mashambani"]·TR["açıkta-kalarak"]·urd["کھلے-میں-رہنے-والے"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀγρ-αυλέω, live in the open, out of doors, Refs 4th c.BC+; of shepherds, NT