Grass: Cattle Fed Upon
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In biblical times, grass served as a fundamental component of the agrarian lifestyle, particularly in the context of livestock management. The Bible frequently references grass as a primary source of sustenance for cattle, illustrating its importance in the daily life and economy of ancient Israel.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 1:11-12 : The creation narrative highlights the divine provision of vegetation, including grass, as God commands the earth to bring forth "vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and trees on the earth that bear fruit with seed in it." This foundational act underscores the role of grass as part of God's provision for all living creatures, including cattle.

2. Psalm 104:14 : "He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth." This verse poetically acknowledges God's providence in causing grass to grow, directly linking it to the sustenance of livestock. It reflects the interdependence between God's creation and human stewardship.

3. Job 40:15 : "Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He feeds on grass like an ox." This passage describes the Behemoth, a creature that feeds on grass, drawing a parallel to domesticated cattle. It emphasizes the natural order established by God, where grass serves as a primary food source for large herbivores.

4. Isaiah 40:6-7 : "A voice says, 'Cry out.' And I asked, 'What should I cry out?' 'All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass.'" While this passage uses grass metaphorically to illustrate the transient nature of human life, it also reflects the ubiquity and familiarity of grass in the biblical landscape.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, pastoralism was a common way of life, and the availability of grasslands was crucial for the sustenance of cattle and other livestock. The semi-arid climate of the region made the presence of grass a sign of fertile land and divine blessing. Shepherds and herdsmen relied on the natural growth of grass to feed their flocks, and the health of their livestock was directly tied to the abundance of grass.

The biblical portrayal of grass as a food source for cattle also reflects the broader theological theme of God's provision. Just as God provides for the needs of animals, He is seen as the ultimate provider for His people, ensuring that their physical and spiritual needs are met.

Theological Implications:

The recurring mention of grass as sustenance for cattle in the Bible serves as a reminder of God's care for His creation. It illustrates the interconnectedness of all living things and the responsibility of humans to manage and steward the resources God has provided. The imagery of grass feeding cattle also points to the broader biblical theme of God's faithfulness and the natural order He established, where each element of creation has its purpose and place.

In summary, grass as a source of nourishment for cattle is a significant motif in the Bible, symbolizing God's provision and the harmonious balance of creation. Through the lens of Scripture, grass is more than just a plant; it is a testament to the Creator's ongoing care and sustenance for all life.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Job 6:5
Does the wild ass bray when he has grass? or lows the ox over his fodder?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 50:11
Because you were glad, because you rejoiced, O you destroyers of my heritage, because you are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of Removing Tithes.
... or clover, cut green, and given to cattle in husbandry. ... the subsequent application
of it, while in grass, or when ... beasts of the plough or pail are fed with it ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/8 of removing tithes.htm

Daily Bread.
... which Joseph stored in Pharaoh's granaries, and with which he fed his brethren ... His
works; that it is God who bringeth forth grass for the cattle, and green ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lxii daily bread.htm

Letter xix. Submission to the Will of God; Dependence Upon Him for ...
... the air, and clothing the lilies and the grass of the ... Lord, and do good, and verily
thou shall be fed. ... The silver and the gold, and the cattle upon a thousand ...
/.../letter xix submission to the.htm

Feeding in the Ways
... not stagnant"whether we shall be fed, or starved ... footed creature, they shall find
springing grass and watered ... The one said: 'I want cattle and wealth, and I ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/feeding in the ways.htm

The God of the Rain
... of the rain of heaven; a land of fountains of water, which required to be fed
continually by ... And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xvii the god of.htm

On the Holy Ghost and his Descent Upon the Apostles
... in it, and then laid it in the tall grass by the ... plague was murrain"a disease that
broke out among the cattle. ... During all that time God fed them with manna. ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 9 on the holy.htm

The Voice of Stern Rebuke
... And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou ... Lord, how I hid an
hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 10 the voice of.htm

The Gifts to the Flock
... when I was in Australia seeing some wretched cattle trying to ... when the rains had
come, and the grass was high ... seek first that your souls shall be fed on Jesus ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the gifts to the flock.htm

Religion not Godliness
... He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and the ... and till the ground, for He could
have fed us with manna from heaven if He liked, as He fed the Jews ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon ii religion not godliness.htm

The Germination of the Earth.
... If he fed your cattle, it was to ... If, like the couch-grass and the crocus, it throws
out a shoot from its root and from this lower protuberance, it must ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily v the germination of.htm

Resources
What are the greatest promises in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How should Christians view religious liberty? | GotQuestions.org

Do the news reports of rivers turning blood red have anything to do with the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Grass: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Grass

Grass of Prosperity of the Wicked

Grass of Shortness and Uncertainty of Life

Grass: (On Tops of Houses) the Wicked

Grass: (Refreshed by Dew and Showers) the Saints Refreshed By

Grass: A Green Herb

Grass: Called: Grass of the Earth

Grass: Called: Grass of the Field

Grass: Cattle Fed Upon

Grass: Created on the Third Creative Day

Grass: Destroyed by Drought

Grass: Destroyed by Hail and Lightning

Grass: Destroyed by Locusts

Grass: Failure of, a Great Calamity

Grass: Figurative

Grass: God: Adorns and Clothes

Grass: God: Causes to Grow

Grass: God: Originally Created

Grass: God: The Giver of

Grass: God's Care of

Grass: Mown

Grass: Often Grew on the Tops of Houses

Grass: On Roofs of Houses

Grass: Ovens often Heated With

Grass: Refreshed by Rain and Dew

Grass: Springs out of the Earth

Grass: Sufferings of Cattle from Failure of, Described

Grass: when Young, Soft and Tender

Related Terms

Grass-lands (42 Occurrences)

Grass-land (9 Occurrences)

River-grass (3 Occurrences)

Reed-grass (3 Occurrences)

Grass's (1 Occurrence)

Sea-grass (1 Occurrence)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

Meadow (8 Occurrences)

Withers (20 Occurrences)

Taker (26 Occurrences)

Graze (11 Occurrences)

Greenness (4 Occurrences)

Withereth (13 Occurrences)

Mown (2 Occurrences)

Withered (46 Occurrences)

Drenched (11 Occurrences)

Mowing (1 Occurrence)

Stems (31 Occurrences)

Flower (33 Occurrences)

Wither (30 Occurrences)

Roofs (13 Occurrences)

Mow (1 Occurrence)

Blighted (6 Occurrences)

Scorched (21 Occurrences)

Sprout (25 Occurrences)

Lands (226 Occurrences)

Wet (25 Occurrences)

Grows (46 Occurrences)

Hay (5 Occurrences)

Grazing (6 Occurrences)

Feeble-handed (3 Occurrences)

Falleth (119 Occurrences)

Townsmen (18 Occurrences)

Darnel (9 Occurrences)

Powerless (19 Occurrences)

Blasted (6 Occurrences)

Shoots (32 Occurrences)

Sprouting (4 Occurrences)

Shorn (5 Occurrences)

Plants (70 Occurrences)

Chaff (24 Occurrences)

Tender (66 Occurrences)

Confounded (64 Occurrences)

Dried (66 Occurrences)

Bethsaida (7 Occurrences)

Bathed (45 Occurrences)

Dew (35 Occurrences)

Oven (22 Occurrences)

Fades (10 Occurrences)

Fadeth (9 Occurrences)

Faded (12 Occurrences)

Ruleth (21 Occurrences)

Reedgrass (1 Occurrence)

Dirty (9 Occurrences)

Producing (20 Occurrences)

Periods (8 Occurrences)

Bent (107 Occurrences)

Blossom (23 Occurrences)

Stump (7 Occurrences)

Showers (20 Occurrences)

Green (72 Occurrences)

Plant (92 Occurrences)

Amid (31 Occurrences)

Thereof (845 Occurrences)

Realm (23 Occurrences)

Stamped (27 Occurrences)

Tops (37 Occurrences)

Groweth (29 Occurrences)

Dismayed (69 Occurrences)

Growing (31 Occurrences)

Growth (77 Occurrences)

Roots (31 Occurrences)

Falls (79 Occurrences)

Roof (55 Occurrences)

Fallen (233 Occurrences)

Dry (217 Occurrences)

Becomes (138 Occurrences)

Trees (179 Occurrences)

Grass: Called: Grass of the Field
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