Vineyard

A cultivated field or garden, sometimes surrounded by a wall, in which vines and other trees were grown. Israel is sometimes compared to a vineyard. Some of Jesus Christ's parables concern vineyards.

Vineyards were sometimes surrounded by walls

Matthew 21:33 parallel Mark 12:1 See also Numbers 22:24

Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

Vineyards were associated with a settled, peaceful life

Isaiah 65:20–22 See also Genesis 9:20; Deuteronomy 6:10–11; 2 Kings 18:31–32 parallel Isaiah 36:16–17; 2 Kings 19:29 parallel Isaiah 37:30; 2 Chronicles 26:10; Nehemiah 9:25; Psalm 107:37–38; Song of Solomon 7:12; Jeremiah 31:3–5, Jeremiah 32:15, Jeremiah 35:6–10; Ezekiel 28:26; Amos 9:14

No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.

Vineyards were important for agriculture

2 Kings 25:11–12 parallels Jeremiah 39:9–10, Jeremiah 52:15–16 See also Numbers 20:17, Numbers 21:22; Deuteronomy 20:6; Judges 14:5, Judges 15:4–5; 1 Samuel 8:10–14; 1 Chronicles 27:27; Nehemiah 5:1–5, Nehemiah 5:11; Isaiah 61:5

Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the population. But the captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.

Vineyards were a sign of wealth

1 Samuel 22:7 See also 2 Kings 5:26; Proverbs 31:16; Ecclesiastes 2:4

Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?

Regulations relating to vineyards

Leviticus 19:10 See also Exodus 22:5, Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:3–4; Deuteronomy 22:9, Deuteronomy 23:24, Deuteronomy 24:21

You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.

The produce of vineyards not enjoyed by owner

Deuteronomy 28:39 See also Deuteronomy 28:30; Amos 5:11; Zephaniah 1:13

You will plant and cultivate vineyards, but will neither drink the wine nor gather the grapes, because worms will eat them.

Naboth's vineyard

1 Kings 21:1–19

Vineyards in parables

Matthew 21:28–32 See also Song of Solomon 8:11–12; Matthew 20:1–16 the parable of the workers in the vineyard; Matthew 21:33–44 parallels Mark 12:1–11, Luke 20:9–18 the parable of the tenants; Luke 13:6–9; 1 Corinthians 9:7

But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

The metaphorical use of vineyards

Ezekiel 19:10 See also Job 24:6; Song of Solomon 1:14, Song of Solomon 2:15; Isaiah 3:14, Isaiah 5:1–7; Jeremiah 12:10

Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters.