In biblical times, the term "reaper" refers to individuals who harvest crops, particularly grain. The role of the reaper is significant in both the agricultural and spiritual contexts within the Bible. Reapers are often mentioned in the context of the harvest, a critical time in the agrarian society of ancient Israel.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous references to reapers, highlighting their importance in the agricultural cycle. In the Book of Ruth, reapers play a crucial role in the narrative. Ruth, a Moabite widow, gleans in the fields of Boaz, following behind the reapers to collect leftover grain. This practice is described in Ruth 2:3-4 : "So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, 'The LORD be with you.' 'The LORD bless you,' they replied."

The presence of reapers in this account underscores the provision and protection offered by God through the laws of gleaning, which allowed the poor and the foreigner to gather food. The reapers, under the supervision of Boaz, ensure that Ruth is able to glean safely and with dignity.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of reaping is often used metaphorically to describe spiritual truths. Jesus frequently employs agricultural imagery in His parables to convey the principles of the Kingdom of God. In the Parable of the Weeds, found in Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus describes the end of the age as a time of harvest, where reapers play a pivotal role. Matthew 13:39 states, "And the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels."

Here, the reapers are identified as angels who will separate the righteous from the wicked at the final judgment. This imagery emphasizes the certainty of divine justice and the ultimate gathering of God's people.

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons

The role of the reaper is rich with symbolism. In the agricultural sense, reapers are essential for gathering the harvest, ensuring that the fruits of labor are collected and preserved. Spiritually, reapers represent God's agents in the world, whether they be angels or human messengers, tasked with gathering His people and executing His will.

The principle of sowing and reaping is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, illustrating the moral and spiritual law that actions have consequences. Galatians 6:7-8 warns, "Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

This passage highlights the importance of living a life that aligns with God's will, as the ultimate harvest will reflect the seeds sown in one's life.

Conclusion

The concept of the reaper in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of both the physical and spiritual harvests. Whether in the fields of ancient Israel or in the parables of Jesus, reapers symbolize the gathering of what has been sown, underscoring the themes of provision, justice, and divine order.1. (n.) One who reaps.

2. (n.) A reaping machine.

2327. theristes -- a reaper
... a reaper. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: theristes Phonetic Spelling:
(ther-is-tace') Short Definition: a reaper, harvester Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2327.htm - 6k7114b. qatsar -- to reap, harvest
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to reap, harvest NASB Word Usage harvest (2),
harvests (1), reap (18), reaped (2), reaper (3), reapers (7), reaping (1). ...
/hebrew/7114b.htm - 5k

7105. qatsiyr -- harvesting, harvest
... From qatsar; severed, ie Harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or
figuratively; also a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage) -- bough, branch ...
/hebrew/7105.htm - 5k

622. asaph -- to gather, remove
... 1), drew (1), garner (1), gather (33), gathered (81), gathering (1), gathers (3),
lose (3), pick (1), put (1), put them all together (1), reaper (1), rear ...
/hebrew/622.htm - 6k

7114. qatsar -- to be short
... kaw-tsar') Short Definition: down. cut down, much discouraged, grieve,
harvestman, loathe, mourn, reaper, A primitive root; to dock ...
/hebrew/7114.htm - 5k

Bread and Gravel
... and pass through all the stages of 'first the blade, and then the ear, and after
that the full corn in the ear.' The sower has to become the reaper, and the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/bread and gravel.htm

Both Covenants were Prefigured in Abraham, and in the Labour of ...
... who sows, but another who shall reap;" [4145] but it is one God who bestows things
suitable upon both"seed to the sower, but bread for the reaper to eat. ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxv both covenants were prefigured.htm

Jesus Talks with a Samaritan Woman
... Already the reaper is receiving his wages and gathering in a crop for eternal
life, that the sower and reaper may rejoice together. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus talks with a samaritan.htm

Harvest.
... And when harvest-time arrives,. Ready for the reaper stands. Thus in barren hearts
he sows. ... After many changes past,. Death, the reaper, when he comes,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 36 harvest.htm

The Death of the Christian
... The reaper is coming. Even now I hear the sickle sharpening. The reaper hath
well edged it, and he shall soon cut the corn down. See! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the death of the christian.htm

Jeremiah
... the streets And the youths from the squares. Then the figure changes to
Death as a reaper:". There fall the corpses of men Upon ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/jeremiah.htm

A Psalm of Remembrance
... He sows and he reaps, he ploughs, and the furrows team with plenty; the sower
overtakes the reaper, and the reaper overtakes the sower. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/a psalm of remembrance.htm

Sowing and Reaping.
... The reaper in the harvest fields receives wages, and so shall those who reap the
harvest of souls; not earthly pay in money, or fame, or position, but the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/sowing and reaping.htm

Psalm CXXIX.
... The reaper filleth not his hands thence. His next words are, "Whereof the
reaper filleth not his hand; neither he that bindeth up ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxix.htm

A Revival Sermon
... REV. CH SPURGEON. At Exeter Hall, Strand. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,
that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a revival sermon.htm

Reaper (7 Occurrences)
...Reaper (7 Occurrences). ... John 4:37 For it is in this that you see the real meaning
of the saying, 'The sower is one person, and the reaper is another.' (WEY YLT). ...
/r/reaper.htm - 8k

Reapers (15 Occurrences)
... (WEY). John 4:36 The reaper gets pay and gathers in a crop in preparation for the
Life of the Ages, that so the sower and the reapers may rejoice together. ...
/r/reapers.htm - 10k

Glean (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To gather after a reaper; to collect in scattered or fragmentary parcels,
as the grain left by a reaper, or grapes left after the gathering. ...
/g/glean.htm - 11k

Sheaves (13 Occurrences)
... shef, shevz ('alummah, `omer, `amir): When the grain is reaped, it is laid in handfuls
back of the reaper to be gathered by children or those who cannot stand ...
/s/sheaves.htm - 12k

Sower (11 Occurrences)
... John 4:36 The reaper gets pay and gathers in a crop in preparation for the Life
of the Ages, that so the sower and the reapers may rejoice together. ...
/s/sower.htm - 9k

Reaped (9 Occurrences)

/r/reaped.htm - 9k

Gathering (71 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 17:5 And it hath come to pass, As the gathering by the reaper of the standing
corn, And his arm the ears reapeth, And it hath come to pass, As the ...
/g/gathering.htm - 28k

Juice (8 Occurrences)
... Amos 9:13 Lo, days are coming -- an affirmation of Jehovah, And come nigh hath the
ploughman to the reaper, And the treader of grapes to the scatterer of seed ...
/j/juice.htm - 9k

Gleaning (10 Occurrences)
... 2:16). A reaper could easily impose upon the master by leaving too much
for the gleaners, who might be his own children. The old ...
/g/gleaning.htm - 12k

Gets (122 Occurrences)
... John 4:36 The reaper gets pay and gathers in a crop in preparation for the Life
of the Ages, that so the sower and the reapers may rejoice together. (WEY BBE). ...
/g/gets.htm - 33k

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Reaper: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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