In biblical times, plowing was an essential agricultural practice, symbolizing both physical labor and spiritual truths. The act of plowing prepared the soil for planting, ensuring that seeds could take root and grow. This process is frequently mentioned in the Bible, often carrying deeper spiritual meanings.

Old Testament References

Plowing is first mentioned in Genesis 45:6, where Joseph speaks of the famine in Egypt: "For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting." This highlights the importance of plowing in sustaining life and the dire consequences when it cannot be performed.

In Deuteronomy 22:10, the law instructs, "Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together." This command underscores the principle of maintaining purity and order, reflecting God's desire for harmony in His creation.

The prophet Hosea uses plowing metaphorically to call Israel to repentance: "Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain" (Hosea 10:12). Here, plowing represents the preparation of one's heart to receive God's blessings.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, plowing is used to illustrate commitment to the Kingdom of God. Jesus states in Luke 9:62, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." This emphasizes the need for unwavering dedication and focus in following Christ.

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons

Plowing in the Bible often symbolizes preparation and readiness. Just as the soil must be broken and turned to receive seed, so must the human heart be prepared to receive God's word. This preparation involves repentance, humility, and a willingness to be transformed.

The act of plowing also signifies hard work and perseverance. Farmers in biblical times relied on plowing to ensure a fruitful harvest, mirroring the spiritual diligence required of believers to cultivate a life pleasing to God.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Israel, plowing was typically done with a wooden plow pulled by oxen. The process was labor-intensive and required skill to ensure the furrows were straight and the soil adequately turned. This agricultural practice was vital for survival, as it directly impacted the yield of crops.

The imagery of plowing is deeply rooted in the agrarian society of the Bible, where the success of a harvest was seen as a blessing from God. Thus, plowing not only had practical significance but also spiritual implications, reminding the people of their dependence on God's provision.

Conclusion

The concept of plowing in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual readiness and commitment. It calls believers to prepare their hearts, work diligently, and remain focused on their spiritual journey, trusting in God's faithfulness to bring forth a bountiful harvest in their lives.(imp. & p. p.) of Plough.2790a. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow, devise
... plow, devise NASB Word Usage devise (4), devises (2), do (1), engraved (1), farmer
plow (1), implements (1), plotting (1), plow (5), plowed (4), plowers plowed ...
/hebrew/2790a.htm - 5k

5647. abad -- to work, serve
... 1), keep (2), labor (3), laborers* (2), make servant (1), make slaves (2),
manufacturers (1), observe (1), perform (9), performed (2), plowed (1), rendered ( ...
/hebrew/5647.htm - 6k

5215. niyr -- a lamp
... fallow ground, plowing, tillage Or nir {neer}; from niyr; properly, plowing, ie
(concretely) freshly plowed land -- fallow ground, plowing, tillage. ...
/hebrew/5215.htm - 5k

3010. yageb -- a field
... Word Origin from yagab Definition a field NASB Word Usage fields (1). field. From
yagab; a plowed field -- field. see HEBREW yagab. 3009, 3010. yageb. 3011 > ...
/hebrew/3010.htm - 6k

Voluntary Suffering
... His back they tore with scourges, as was foretold by the Psalmist " The plowers
plowed upon my back, they made long their furrows (Psalm 129:3) The Jewish ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xviii voluntary suffering.htm

Sown among Thorns
... Those fields grow the best corn which are best plowed. Converts are likely to endure
when the thorns cannot spring up because they have been plowed up. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/sown among thorns.htm

Striking Similes
... pointing finger. A memory like a well-ordered cupboard. A mighty wind, like
a leviathan, plowed the brine. A mind very like a bookcase. A ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section viii striking similes.htm

Joshua Kocherthal.
... within the devoted provinces. The fields where the corn had been sown were
plowed up. The orchards were hewn down. No promise of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bente/american lutheranism/joshua kocherthal.htm

Samson's Wedding Feast
... What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them:
If ye had not plowed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/iv samsons wedding feast.htm

The Assyrian Captivity
... "Ye have plowed wickedness," declared Hosea, "ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten
the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm

'Fruit which is Death'
... Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies:
because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.14 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/fruit which is death.htm

The Seventh Book
... Almost all that district is still covered with close-planted vines, flowering meadows,
plowed fields, fruit orchards, charming groves, springing fountains ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the seventh book.htm

The Story of Samson, the Strong Man
... And what is stronger than a lion?" And Samson said to them: "If you had not
plowed with my heifer, You had not found out my riddle.". ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of samson the.htm

The Leafless Tree
... his beloved city. It was plowed and left desolate. But is the Jew conquered?
Is he a subjugated man? Is his country seized? No; he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the leafless tree.htm

Plowed (9 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Plough. Multi-Version Concordance Plowed (9 Occurrences). ... Psalms
129:3 The plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long. ...
/p/plowed.htm - 9k

Plow (11 Occurrences)
... In addition to the words which are found above, the following terms occur: `abhadh
(literally, "to serve"), "worked" or "plowed" (Deuteronomy 21:4); palach ...
/p/plow.htm - 15k

Overgrown (5 Occurrences)
... prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people
of Judah, saying, Thus says Yahweh of Armies: Zion shall be plowed as a field ...
/o/overgrown.htm - 8k

Fallow (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Plowed land. 4. (n.) Land that has lain a year or more untilled or
unseeded; land plowed without being sowed for the season. ...
/f/fallow.htm - 9k

Rubble (17 Occurrences)
... prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people
of Judah, saying, Thus says Yahweh of Armies: Zion shall be plowed as a field ...
/r/rubble.htm - 12k

Plowers (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Plowers (1 Occurrence). Psalms 129:3 The plowers plowed
on my back. They made their furrows long. (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV). ...
/p/plowers.htm - 6k

Agriculture
... sower. If the land has not been used for some time the ground is first plowed,
and when the seed has been scattered is plowed again. ...
/a/agriculture.htm - 27k

Ruins (84 Occurrences)
... prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people
of Judah, saying, Thus says Yahweh of Armies: Zion shall be plowed as a field ...
/r/ruins.htm - 31k

Yoke (79 Occurrences)
... 12. (n.) Two animals yoked together; a couple; a pair that work together. 13.
(n.) The quantity of land plowed in a day by a yoke of oxen. 14. ...
/y/yoke.htm - 40k

Furrows (8 Occurrences)
... You bless it with a crop. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Psalms
129:3 The plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long. ...
/f/furrows.htm - 8k

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