Plough
Jump to: Smith'sATSEaston'sWebster'sConcordanceThesaurusGreekHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
The plough, an essential agricultural implement, holds significant symbolic and practical importance in the biblical narrative. In ancient agrarian societies, the plough was crucial for preparing the ground for sowing seeds, symbolizing preparation, diligence, and the hope of future harvests. The Bible references the plough in various contexts, illustrating both its literal and metaphorical significance.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the plough is often mentioned in the context of agricultural practices. The Israelites, living in a predominantly agrarian society, relied heavily on farming tools like the plough to cultivate their land. In 1 Samuel 13:20, the text notes the dependence of the Israelites on the Philistines for sharpening their ploughshares, highlighting the strategic disadvantage they faced: "So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his ploughshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle."

The plough also appears in prophetic literature, symbolizing peace and transformation. In Isaiah 2:4, the prophet envisions a future where instruments of war are converted into tools of agriculture: "They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war." This imagery underscores a divine promise of peace and prosperity.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the plough is used metaphorically to convey spiritual truths. Jesus employs the imagery of the plough to illustrate the commitment required to follow Him. In Luke 9:62, Jesus declares, "No one who puts his hand to the plough and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." This statement emphasizes the necessity of unwavering dedication and focus in the Christian life, likening discipleship to the steady and forward-looking task of ploughing a field.

Symbolism and Application

The plough symbolizes preparation and readiness, both in the physical and spiritual realms. Just as a farmer must diligently prepare the soil to ensure a fruitful harvest, believers are called to prepare their hearts and lives for spiritual growth and service. The act of ploughing requires effort and perseverance, reflecting the Christian's journey of faith and the cultivation of a life pleasing to God.

Furthermore, the transformation of swords into ploughshares, as prophesied in Isaiah, serves as a powerful symbol of God's redemptive plan for humanity. It points to a future where peace reigns, and the tools of conflict are repurposed for nurturing life and community.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, the plough was typically a simple wooden implement, often drawn by oxen or other draft animals. The design and effectiveness of the plough varied across regions and periods, but its fundamental purpose remained the same: to break up the soil and prepare it for planting. The reliance on such tools underscores the agrarian nature of biblical societies and the importance of agriculture in their daily lives and spiritual metaphors.

The plough's presence in biblical texts reflects its integral role in the life and economy of the people, serving as a reminder of the connection between physical labor and spiritual truths.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Plough

The ploughs of ancient Egypt consisted of a share-often pointed with iron or bronze--two handles and a pole which was inserted into the base of the two handles. Ploughs in Palestine have usually but one handle with a pole joined to it near the ground and drawn by oxen, cows or camels.

ATS Bible Dictionary
Plough

A slight and inefficient instrument in the East, but used from the earliest times, Genesis 45:6 De 22:10 Job 1:14. See cut in MEROM.

The plough now generally used in Syria consists substantially of but three parts; the beam or pole fastened to the yoke; the ploughshare; and the handle. The two latter parts, and even all three, are sometimes formed of a single branch of a tree with two limbs projecting in opposite directions. The ploughshare is sometimes defended by a strip of iron, Isaiah 2:4 Joel 3:10. As the handle was single, and with attention was easily managed by one hand, Luke 9:62, the ploughman brandished in the other a formidable goad, six or eight feet long, armed at the point with a pike, and at the heavy end, which was two inches thick, with a small iron spade for clearing the share from clay, Jud 3:31 1 Samuel 13:21 Acts 9:5. Ploughs were drawn by oxen asses, and heifers, De 22:10 Jud 14:18; at this day camels and cows are also used in Palestine. Ploughing commenced soon after the autumnal rains had set in, towards the last of October.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
First referred to in Genesis 45:6, where the Authorized Version has "earing," but the Revised Version "ploughing;" next in Exodus 34:21 and Deuteronomy 21:4. The plough was originally drawn by oxen, but sometimes also by asses and by men. (see AGRICULTURE.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n. & v.) See Plow.

2. (n.) A well-known implement, drawn by horses, mules, oxen, or other power, for turning up the soil to prepare it for bearing crops; also used to furrow or break up the soil for other purposes; as, the subsoil plow; the draining plow.

3. (n.) Fig.: Agriculture; husbandry.

4. (n.) A carucate of land; a plowland.

5. (n.) A joiner's plane for making grooves; a grooving plane.

6. (n.) An implement for trimming or shaving off the edges of books.

7. (n.) Same as Charles's Wain.

8. (v. t.) To turn up, break up, or trench, with a plow; to till with, or as with, a plow; as, to plow the ground; to plow a field.

9. (v. t.) To furrow; to make furrows, grooves, or ridges in; to run through, as in sailing.

10. (v. t.) To trim, or shave off the edges of, as a book or paper, with a plow. See Plow, n., 5.

11. (n.) To cut a groove in, as in a plank, or the edge of a board; especially, a rectangular groove to receive the end of a shelf or tread, the edge of a panel, a tongue, etc.

12. (v. i.) To labor with, or as with, a plow; to till or turn up the soil with a plow; to prepare the soil or bed for anything.

Greek
2218. zugos -- a yoke
... [2218 () two elements to work as , like when two pans (weights) operate together
on a balance-scale -- or a of oxen pulling a plough.]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2218.htm - 7k

723. arotron -- a plow
... Word Origin from aroo (to plow) Definition a plow NASB Word Usage plow (1). plow.
From aroo (to till); a plow -- plough. (arotron) -- 1 Occurrence. 722, 723. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/723.htm - 6k

722. arotriao -- to plow
... Word Origin from arotron Definition to plow NASB Word Usage plow (1), plowing (1),
plowman (1). plow. From arotron; to plow -- plough. see GREEK arotron. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/722.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
1239. baqar -- to inquire, seek
... A primitive root; properly, to plough, or (generally) break forth, ie (figuratively)
to inspect, admire, care for, consider -- (make) inquire (-ry), (make ...
/hebrew/1239.htm - 6k

6776. tsemed -- a couple, pair
... A yoke or team (ie Pair); hence, an acre (ie Day's task for a yoke of cattle to
plough) -- acre, couple, X together, two (donkeys), yoke (of oxen). ...
/hebrew/6776.htm - 6k

6605. pathach -- to open
... A primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen,
begin, plough, carve -- appear, break forth, draw (out), let go free, (en ...
/hebrew/6605.htm - 5k

2790. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow, devise
... A primitive root; to scratch, ie (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from
the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in ...
/hebrew/2790.htm - 6k

Library

Spiritual Farming. --No. 2 Ploughing.
... 2. PLOUGHING. There have been during the last few years great improvements in the
construction of the plough, but no one dreams of any substitute for it. ...
/.../champness/broken bread/iii spiritual farming no 2 ploughing.htm

Whether a Vow Consists in a Mere Purpose of the Will?
... Objection 3: Further, our Lord said (Lk.9:62): "No man putting his hand to the plough,
and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Now from the very fact ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a vow consists in.htm

Ploughing in Canaan.
... How different it is to ploughing in our own land! There is no coulter; and instead
of the broad steel plough-share we see a pointed piece of wood. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/ploughing in canaan.htm

Acts of Peter and Andrew.
... The old man says to them: Wait a little, and look after the oxen, and the plough,
and the land, that I may go into the city, and get you loaves. ...
/.../unknown/acts of peter and andrew/acts of peter and andrew.htm

Swords Beaten into Ploughshares.
... done. The barber worships his razor; the blacksmith worships his bellows; and
the farmer his plough, oxen, etcetera, etcetera. Daniel's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter seven swords beaten into.htm

An Exhortation to the People Respecting Fortitude and Patience...
... doctrine to push rapidly forwards. For this reason also, it is needful to
plough up a deep furrow. This the Prophet signified when ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily iv an exhortation to.htm

Spiritual Farming. --No. 3 Cultivation.
... feel we have not pressed upon them with the force it deserves, the necessity of
what the Bible calls "breaking up the fallow ground." What the plough and spade ...
/.../champness/broken bread/x spiritual farming no 3 cultivation.htm

The Sower.
... Secondly, as the preachers say,. YOU MUST SOW WHERE THE PLOUGH HAS BEEN FIRST. A
great deal of seed is lost because the ground has not been prepared. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xlvii the sower.htm

On the Sunday Called "Episozomenes," to those who had Come to ...
... to till the garden, and to keep it." Each of these men you may see at one time employed
in yoking the labouring oxen, and guiding the plough, and cutting the ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xix on the sunday.htm

The Use of the Symbolic Style by Poets and Philosophers.
... relates, sent to Darius, on his passing the Ister in threat of war, a symbol, instead
of a letter, consisting of a mouse, a frog, a bird, a javelin, a plough. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter viii the use of the.htm

Thesaurus
Plough (11 Occurrences)
... 45:6, where the Authorized Version has "earing," but the Revised Version "ploughing;"
next in Exodus 34:21 and Deuteronomy 21:4. The plough was originally ...
/p/plough.htm - 11k

Plough-blades (3 Occurrences)
Plough-blades. Plough, Plough-blades. Ploughed . Multi-Version
Concordance Plough-blades (3 Occurrences). Isaiah 2:4 ...
/p/plough-blades.htm - 7k

Yoke (79 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Fitted on the neck of oxen for the purpose of binding
to them the traces by which they might draw the plough, etc. ...
/y/yoke.htm - 40k

Vine-knives (2 Occurrences)
... 2:4 And he will be the judge between the nations, and the peoples will be ruled
by his decisions: and their swords will be turned into plough-blades, and their ...
/v/vine-knives.htm - 7k

Earing (2 Occurrences)
... An Old English word (from the Latin aro, I plough), meaning "ploughing." It is used
in the Authorized Version in Genesis 45:6; Exodus 34:21; 1 Samuel 8:12 ...
/e/earing.htm - 8k

Ploughed (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (pp) of Plough. Multi-Version Concordance Ploughed
(16 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 21:4 And they are to take ...
/p/ploughed.htm - 11k

Cattle (277 Occurrences)
... of Sharon. They were yoked to the plough (1 Kings 19:19), and were employed
for carrying burdens (1 Chronicles 12:40). They were ...
/c/cattle.htm - 52k

Agriculture
... were drawn by oxen (Job 1:14), cows (1 Samuel 6:7), and asses (Isaiah 30:24); but
an ox and an ass must not be yoked together in the same plough (Deuteronomy 22 ...
/a/agriculture.htm - 27k

Hammered (22 Occurrences)
... (BBE NIV). Joel 3:10 Get your plough-blades hammered into swords, and your
vine-knives into spears: let the feeble say, I am strong. (BBE). ...
/h/hammered.htm - 13k

Hammer (15 Occurrences)
... 2:4 And he will be the judge between the nations, and the peoples will be ruled
by his decisions: and their swords will be turned into plough-blades, and their ...
/h/hammer.htm - 15k

Resources
Plough: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Plough (11 Occurrences)

Luke 9:62
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
(KJV WEY BBE DBY YLT)

Deuteronomy 22:10
Do not do your ploughing with an ox and an ass yoked together.
(Root in BBE DBY)

1 Samuel 8:12
And he will make them captains of thousands and of fifties; some he will put to work ploughing and cutting his grain and making his instruments of war and building his war-carriages.
(Root in BBE DBY)

Job 4:8
What I have seen is that those by whom trouble has been ploughed, and evil planted, get the same for themselves.
(Root in BBE DBY YLT)

Job 39:10
Will he be pulling your plough with cords, turning up the valleys after you?
(BBE)

Psalms 141:7
Our bones are broken up at the mouth of the underworld, as the earth is broken by the plough.
(BBE)

Proverbs 20:4
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
(Root in BBE DBY YLT)

Isaiah 23:10
Let your land be worked with the plough, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer any harbour.
(BBE)

Isaiah 28:24
Is the ploughman for ever ploughing? does he not get the earth ready and broken up for the seed?
(Root in BBE DBY YLT)

Hosea 10:11
And Ephraim is a trained cow, taking pleasure in crushing the grain; but I have put a yoke on her fair neck; I will put a horseman on the back of Ephraim; Judah will be working the plough, Jacob will be turning up the earth.
(BBE DBY YLT)

Amos 6:12
Is it possible for horses to go running on the rock? may the sea be ploughed with oxen? for the right to be turned by you into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into a bitter plant?
(Root in BBE DBY YLT)

Subtopics

Plough

Related Terms

Vine-knives (2 Occurrences)

Hammered (22 Occurrences)

Ploughed (16 Occurrences)

Plough (11 Occurrences)

Hammer (15 Occurrences)

Ruled (84 Occurrences)

Disputes (18 Occurrences)

Train (17 Occurrences)

Settle (63 Occurrences)

Render (95 Occurrences)

Plottings
Top of Page
Top of Page