σκάπτω G4626
to dig; to excavate earth for building, cultivation, or other purposes
This verb means to dig or excavate earth. Classical usage included digging for cultivation, construction, and warfare. Jesus uses it in his teaching both literally (digging foundations, digging around vines) and metaphorically (the dishonest steward's complaint about being unable to dig). The term represents manual labor and preparation.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Describes digging in both practical and parabolic contexts. Luke 6:48 compares the wise builder to 'a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock.' Luke 13:8 records the vinedresser's plea for the barren fig tree: 'let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.' Luke 16:3 quotes the dishonest steward: 'I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.' The Spanish 'cavar/cavó,' French 'creuser,' and German forms all denote excavation. Digging represents hard manual labor—the steward prefers dishonest cleverness to honest sweat, while the wise builder digs deep to secure his foundation. 3×
AR["أَحْفِرَ", "أَنْ-أَحْفِرَ", "حَفَرَ"]·ben["কোদাল-চালাতে", "খুঁড়ল", "খুঁড়ি"]·DE["σκάπτειν", "σκάψω", "ἔσκαψεν"]·EN["I-dig", "To-dig", "dug"]·FR["creuser"]·heb["אֶחְפֹּר", "חָפַר", "לִחְפֹּר"]·HI["खोदना", "खोदा", "खोदूं"]·ID["aku-mencangkul", "mencangkul", "menggali"]·IT["eskapsen", "skapso", "skaptein"]·jav["Kula-ngidak-idak", "macul", "ngeduk"]·KO["파고", "파기는"]·PT["cavar", "eu-cave"]·RU["копал", "копать", "окопаю"]·ES["cavar", "cave", "cavó"]·SW["alichimba", "kuchimba", "niuchimbe"]·TR["kazayım", "kazdı", "kazmaya"]·urd["اور", "کھودنا", "کھودوں"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σκάπτω, Refs: future σκάψω Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἔσκαψα Refs 5th c.BC+perfect ἔσκᾰφα (κατ-) Refs 5th c.BC+ —passive, future σκᾰφήσομαι (ἀπο-) Refs 1st c.AD+aorist ἐσκάφην [ᾰ] LXX+5th c.BC+: perfect ἔσκαμμαι Refs 5th c.BC+:—dig, absolutely, NT+5th c.BC+:—middle, σ. δικέλλῃ Refs 1st c.AD+ __II with accusative, __II.1 dig, delve, for cultivation, σκάπτων, ἀρῶν γῆν, ποιμνίοις ἐπιστατῶν Refs 5th…