Lexical Summary mizra: Sowing, seedtime Original Word: מִזְרָע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thing sown From zara'; a planted field -- thing sown. see HEBREW zara' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom zara Definition place of sowing NASB Translation sown fields (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מִזְרָע] noun [masculine] place of sowing, seed-land, only construct כֹּל מִזְרַע יְאוֺר Isaiah 19:7 ("" עָרוֺת יְאוֺר); > Du who translates seed (compare מאכל etc.) on accusative of following verb נִדַּף. II. זרע (compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Definition and Context מִזְרָע (mizra) signifies “sown ground” or “cultivated fields.” It portrays land that has received seed and is in process of growth, emphasizing both human labor and divine provision required for harvest. Biblical Occurrence Isaiah 19:7 is the sole Old Testament reference: “The bulrushes by the River, by the mouth of the River, and all the sown fields along the River will wither, blow away, and be no more.” (Berean Standard Bible) Historical Setting: Agriculture along the Nile Isaiah’s oracle targets Egypt, an empire whose economy depended on the annual inundation of the Nile. Its floodwaters deposited fertile silt, turning mizra-lands into the granary of the ancient world. The prophecy envisions a divinely induced ecological collapse: the River’s life-giving banks would no longer sustain “all the sown fields,” eroding Egypt’s security and humiliating its gods (compare Isaiah 19:1). Archaeological and papyri evidence show periods of Nile failure and famine, underscoring Isaiah’s accuracy and God’s sovereignty over natural cycles. Theological Significance 1. Sovereignty of God: The drying up of mizra reveals that even the mightiest empire is subject to Yahweh’s command (Psalm 24:1). Intertextual Connections • Genesis 41 records Joseph’s management of Egypt’s grain during famine, contrasting an earlier salvation with the later devastation in Isaiah 19. Ministry Application • Reliance on God: Modern believers may steward technology and resources, yet the lesson of mizra calls congregations to pray for daily bread (Matthew 6:11) and recognize the Lord as the giver of growth (1 Corinthians 3:7). Conclusion Though מִזְרָע appears only once, it anchors a sweeping biblical message: fertile ground is a gift from the Lord who both judges and restores. When fields flourish, gratitude is due; when they wither, hearts are called back to Him who alone makes seed, soil, and soul bear lasting fruit. Forms and Transliterations מִזְרַ֣ע מזרע miz·ra‘ mizRa mizra‘Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 19:7 HEB: יְא֑וֹר וְכֹל֙ מִזְרַ֣ע יְא֔וֹר יִיבַ֥שׁ NAS: And all the sown fields by the Nile KJV: of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, INT: of the Nile and all the sown the Nile will become 1 Occurrence |
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