Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Agricultural Context:The term "fallow" refers to land that is plowed and tilled but left unseeded during a growing season. This practice is used to restore the land's fertility and control weeds, allowing the soil to recover and maintain its productivity. In ancient agricultural societies, including those in biblical times, fallowing was a common practice to ensure sustainable farming.
Biblical References and Significance:The concept of fallow ground is mentioned in several passages in the Bible, often symbolizing spiritual truths and moral lessons. In the agricultural context of ancient Israel, fallowing was an essential part of the sabbatical year, a practice commanded by God to allow the land to rest.
1.
Leviticus 25:3-4 : "For six years you may sow your fields and prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land—a Sabbath to the LORD. You are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard." This commandment highlights the importance of fallow periods as a form of obedience to God and a demonstration of trust in His provision.
2.
Jeremiah 4:3 : "For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: 'Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among thorns.'" Here, the prophet Jeremiah uses the metaphor of fallow ground to call the people to repentance and spiritual renewal. The unplowed ground represents a heart that is hardened and resistant to God's word, needing to be broken up and prepared for spiritual growth.
3.
Hosea 10:12 : "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." This verse uses the imagery of fallow ground to encourage the Israelites to pursue righteousness and seek the Lord, promising that such spiritual preparation will lead to divine blessings.
Theological Implications:The biblical use of fallow ground as a metaphor extends beyond agriculture, emphasizing themes of spiritual readiness, repentance, and renewal. Just as fallow land must be prepared to receive seed, so must the human heart be prepared to receive God's word. The practice of leaving land fallow during the sabbatical year also underscores the principle of rest and reliance on God's provision, teaching believers to trust in His faithfulness and timing.
Practical Application:In a spiritual sense, believers are encouraged to examine their own lives for areas that may be "fallow" or unproductive. This involves breaking up the hardness of the heart, removing obstacles to spiritual growth, and being open to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. The concept of fallow ground serves as a reminder of the need for periodic reflection and renewal in one's walk with God, ensuring that one's life remains fruitful and aligned with His purposes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Left unplanted after plowing; uncultivated; resting; as, fallow farmland.
2. (a.) Pale red or pale yellow; as, a fallow deer or greyhound.
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.
5. (n.) The plowing or tilling of land, without sowing it for a season; as, summer fallow, properly conducted, has ever been found a sure method of destroying weeds.
6. (n.) To plow, harrow, and break up, as land, without seeding, for the purpose of destroying weeds and insects, and rendering it mellow; as, it is profitable to fallow cold, strong, clayey land.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FALLOWfal'-o (damam): Damam is translated only once in the sense of "fallow" (Exodus 23:11). The law required that the Israelites allow their ground to lie fallow one year in, seven. the King James Version is (Deuteronomy 14:5) nir, and is translated "fallow" in its more obsolete sense of "tilled ground" in the King James Version (Jeremiah 4:3Hosea 10:12).
Strong's Hebrew
5215b. nir -- tillable, untilled, orfallow groundnir or nir. 5215a, 5215b. nir or nir. 5216 . tillable, untilled, or
fallow ground. Transliteration: nir or nir Short Definition: ground.
...3180. yachmur -- a roebuck
...fallow deer. From chamar; a kind of deer (from the color; compare chamowr) --fallow
deer. see HEBREW chamar. see HEBREW chamowr. 3179, 3180. yachmur. 3181 >...
5215. niyr -- a lamp
...fallow ground, plowing, tillage Or nir {neer}; from niyr; properly, plowing, ie
(concretely) freshly plowed land --fallow ground, plowing, tillage....
5203. natash -- to leave, forsake, permit
... away (1), ceased (1), drawn (1), fall (1), forego (1), forsake (3), forsaken (2),
forsook (1), hangs slack (1), leave (2), left (5), liefallow (1), neglected...
Library
How to Promote a Revival.
... HOW TO PROMOTE A REVIVAL. Text."Break up yourfallow ground; for it is time to seek
the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you."Hosea 10:12....
Charity.
... children of men"it grows not on the corrupt soil of human nature; it springs only
where the ploughshare of true repentance has broken up thefallow ground of...
True Righteousness is Obtained by Christ.
... not hear you. Break up yourfallow ground,' Jeremiah has cried to the people,
and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to...
"Giving all Diligence. "
... neglect on your part, to your own injury, your mind has caused to sprout many hurtful
conceptions about religion, and ye have become like landfallow by the...
An Exhortation to the People Respecting Fortitude and Patience...
... This the Prophet signified when he spoke thus, "Break up yourfallow ground, and
sow not among thorns." [1191] Therefore, as when he who has set the plough on...
His Earliest Oracles. (ii. 2-iv. 4. )
... Jerusalem:Fallow up yourfallow-ground,(195) And sow not on thorns! To...
hearts.Fallow up thefallow-ground, Sow not on thorns! To...
The Answer Concerning the Threefold Condition of Souls.
... life-giving word in ground that is barren and unfruitful and choked by noxious thorns;
but that they should scorn this, and rather cultivatefallow ground, ie...
Of Removing Tithes.
... Where the occupier sows turnips tho' onfallow ground, and then agists the sheep
of a stranger, or fattens his own and kills them, he shall pay tithes for the...
The Fourth Commandment
... We do not sow seed in ground when it liesfallow; but Satan sows most of his seed
of temptation in such persons as liefallow, and are out of a calling....
Introduction
... in melodious cadence; but if the utterance be harsh and discordant they fail to
interest, fall upon deaf ears, and are as barren as seed sown onfallow ground....
Thesaurus
Fallow (5 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Left unplanted after plowing; uncultivated; resting; as,
fallow farmland.
2. (a.) Pale red or pale yellow; as, a
fallow deer or greyhound.
...Fallow-deer (2 Occurrences)
Fallow-deer. Fallowdeer,Fallow-deer. Fallowground . Easton's Bible Dictionary...
It is called "fallow" from its pale-red or yellow colour....
Fallow-ground
Fallow-ground. Fallowground,Fallow-ground. Falls . Easton's Bible Dictionary
The expression, "Break up yourfallow ground" (Hosea...
Deer (15 Occurrences)
... that only the first two, ie 'ayyal (with its feminine forms) and yachmur should
be translated "deer," 'ayyal for the roe deer and yachmur for thefallow deer....
Fallowground
... The expression, "Break up yourfallow ground" (Hosea 10:12; Jeremiah 4:3) means,
"Do not sow your seed among thorns", ie, break off all your evil habits; clear...
Zoology
... Ox or Unicorn, Sinaitic Ibex (sv GOAT), Persian Wild Goat (sv CHAMOIS), Gazelle,
Arabian Oryx (sv ANTELOPE), Chamois (2) Cervidae, Roe Deer,Fallow Deer, Red...
Fallowdeer (1 Occurrence)
... This animal, called in Hebrew yahmur, from a word meaning "to be red," is regarded
by some as the commonfallow-deer, the Cervus dama, which is said to be...
Laws (184 Occurrences)
... 1. The Sabbath Year: In every seventh year the land was to liefallow "that the
poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beast of the field shall eat...
Agrarian
... 1. The Sabbath Year: In every seventh year the land was to liefallow "that the
poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beast of the field shall eat...
Resources
How should a Christian view environmentalism? | GotQuestions.orgWas 2017 a Jubilee Year? Was Christ supposed to return in 2017? | GotQuestions.orgFallow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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