Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and General Overview:The term "reap" in the Bible primarily refers to the act of harvesting crops. It is used both literally and metaphorically throughout Scripture. In an agrarian society like that of ancient Israel, reaping was a significant activity, marking the culmination of the planting and growing seasons. Metaphorically, reaping is often used to describe the outcomes or consequences of one's actions, whether good or bad.
Old Testament Usage:In the Old Testament, reaping is frequently mentioned in the context of agricultural laws and practices. For example,
Leviticus 19:9-10 instructs the Israelites not to reap to the very edges of their fields or gather the gleanings of their harvest, leaving them for the poor and the foreigner. This reflects the social justice aspect of reaping, emphasizing care for the less fortunate.
The concept of reaping is also tied to divine blessing and judgment. In
Hosea 8:7, the prophet warns, "For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind," illustrating the principle that actions have consequences, often more severe than anticipated.
New Testament Usage:In the New Testament, the metaphorical use of reaping is prominent. Jesus uses the imagery of reaping in His parables to convey spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Sower (
Matthew 13:3-9), the different types of soil represent the varied responses to the Word of God, with the good soil yielding a bountiful harvest.
The Apostle Paul also employs the metaphor of reaping to teach about the spiritual law of sowing and reaping. In
Galatians 6:7-8, he writes, "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."
Theological Implications:The principle of reaping what one sows is a foundational biblical truth that underscores the moral order established by God. It serves as a reminder of personal responsibility and the inevitable consequences of one's actions. This principle is not only applicable to individuals but also to communities and nations.
Reaping is also associated with the end times and the final judgment. In
Revelation 14:14-16, the imagery of reaping is used to describe the harvest of the earth, symbolizing the gathering of believers and the execution of divine judgment.
Practical Application:For believers, the concept of reaping encourages a life of righteousness and obedience to God's commands. It serves as a motivation to sow seeds of faith, love, and good works, with the assurance that such sowing will yield a harvest of blessings, both in this life and the life to come.
In summary, the biblical concept of reaping encompasses both the literal act of harvesting and the broader spiritual principle of cause and effect. It is a vivid reminder of God's justice and mercy, calling believers to live lives that honor Him and reflect His character.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To cut with a sickle, scythe, or reaping machine, as grain; to gather, as a harvest, by cutting.
2. (v. t.) To gather; to obtain; to receive as a reward or harvest, or as the fruit of labor or of works; -- in a good or a bad sense; as, to reap a benefit from exertions.
3. (v. t.) To clear of a crop by reaping; as, to reap a field.
4. (v. t.) To deprive of the beard; to shave.
5. (v. i.) To perform the act or operation of reaping; to gather a harvest.
6. (n.) A bundle of grain; a handful of grain laid down by the reaper as it is cut.
Greek
2325. therizo -- toreap... to
reap. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: therizo Phonetic Spelling:
(ther-id'-zo) Short Definition: I
reap, gather Definition: I
reap, gather, harvest.
...270. amao -- toreap
... amao. 271 . toreap. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: amao Phonetic Spelling:
(am-ah'-o) Short Definition: I mow,reap Definition: I mow,reap, collect....
Strong's Hebrew
7114b. qatsar -- toreap, harvest... 7114a, 7114b. qatsar. 7115 . to
reap, harvest. Transliteration: qatsar
Short Definition:
reap. Word Origin a prim. root Definition
...3615. kalah -- to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished...
... Were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, X
fully, X have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, whollyreap, make clean...
4038. maggal -- a sickle
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a sickle NASB Word Usage sickle (2).
sickle. From an unused root meaning toreap; a sickle -- sickle. 4037, 4038....
7114. qatsar -- to be short
... literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain) -- X at all, cut
down, much discouraged, grieve, harvestman, lothe, mourn,reap(-er), (be, wax...
Library
September 19. "In Due Season we ShallReap if we Faint Not" (Gal....
... SEPTEMBER 19. "In due season we shallreap if we faint not" (Gal. vi. 9).
"In due season we shallreap if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9)....
A Man Expects toReap the Same Kind as He Sows.
... CHAPTER IV. A MAN EXPECTS TOREAP THE SAME KIND AS HE SOWS. "Herb yielding...
13. A Man Expects toReap the Same Kind as He Sows. If...
When a Man Sows, He Expects toReap.
... CHAPTER III. When a Man Sows, He Expects toReap. WHEN A MAN SOWS, HE EXPECTS
TOREAP. "Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious...
CM Jones Very. As Ye Sow, So Shall YeReap.
... As Ye Sow, So Shall YeReap.... 4 And soon the harvest of thy toil Rejoicing thou shalt
reap; Or o'er thy wild, neglected soil Go forth in shame to weep....
How the Soul is to Carry it Self in the Faults it Doth Commit...
... CHAP. XVII. How the Soul is to carry it self in the Faults it doth commit, that
it may not be disquieted thereby, butreap good out of it. 124....
A Man Reaps More than He Sows.
... If I sow a bushel, I expect toreap ten or twenty bushels. I can sow in one day
what will take ten men toreap.... Sow an act, andreap a habit....
November 17 Evening
... NOVEMBER 17 EVENING. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap."GAL.6:7. They that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness,reap...
God's Curse on Sin.
... They correspond also to the warning of St. Paul when he says""Be not deceived; God
is not mocked; whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he alsoreap....
Sowing and Reaping
... CHAPTER I. SOWING AND REAPING. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he alsoreap. For he...
The Promises of the Christian Home.
... What the parent sows, the child willreap. If the former sow to the flesh, the
latter shall of the fleshreap corruption. Thus, whatsoever...
Thesaurus
Reap (35 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To gather; to obtain; to receive as a reward or harvest, or as the fruit
of labor or of works; -- in a good or a bad sense; as, to
reap a benefit from
...Soweth (16 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shallreap also sparingly;
and he which soweth bountifully shallreap also bountifully....
Reaping (10 Occurrences)
... (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofReap. Int.... In John's vision he saw an angelreap the earth
(Revelation 14:15, 16). See AGRICULTURE; GLEANING. James A. Patch....
Sows (18 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will alsoreap sparingly.
He who sows bountifully will alsoreap bountifully. (WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV)....
Sowing (28 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:6 And this: He who is sowing sparingly, sparingly also shallreap;
and he who is sowing in blessings, in blessings also shallreap; (YLT)....
Gleanings (8 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 19:9 "'When youreap the harvest of your land, you shall not whollyreap
the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your...
Gleaning (10 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 19:9 "'When youreap the harvest of your land, you shall not whollyreap
the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your...
Wholly (67 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 19:9 "'When youreap the harvest of your land, you shall not whollyreap
the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your...
Spontaneous (5 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 25:5 the spontaneous growth of thy harvest thou dost notreap, and the
grapes of thy separated thing thou dost not gather, a year of rest it is to...
Sow (61 Occurrences)
... Sow (61 Occurrences). Matthew 6:26 See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow,
neither do theyreap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them....
Resources
Is “you reap what you sow” biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to sow the wind and reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about karma? | GotQuestions.orgReap: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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