Topical Encyclopedia
Reaping is a significant agricultural and metaphorical concept in the Bible, symbolizing the act of gathering a harvest. It is often used to illustrate spiritual truths and moral principles. The process of reaping follows sowing and is a time of gathering the fruits of one's labor, whether in a literal or figurative sense.
Old Testament ContextIn the agrarian society of ancient Israel, reaping was a crucial part of the agricultural cycle. The Law of Moses provided specific instructions regarding reaping. For instance, farmers were commanded to leave the edges of their fields unharvested and not to gather the gleanings, so that the poor and the foreigner could collect them (
Leviticus 19:9-10). This practice demonstrated God's provision and care for the marginalized.
The concept of reaping is also used metaphorically in the Old Testament. In
Hosea 10:12, the prophet calls Israel to "sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers His righteousness on you" . Here, reaping is associated with the blessings that follow righteous living and seeking God.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, reaping continues to hold both literal and metaphorical significance. Jesus often used agricultural imagery in His parables. In the Parable of the Sower (
Matthew 13:1-23), the different types of soil represent the varied responses to the Word of God, with the good soil yielding a bountiful harvest. This parable emphasizes the importance of receptivity to God's message and the fruitful life that results from it.
The Apostle Paul also employs the metaphor of reaping to convey spiritual truths. In
Galatians 6:7-9, he writes, "Do not be deceived: God is not 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. Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" . This passage underscores the principle of sowing and reaping as a moral law, where actions have corresponding consequences.
Eschatological ReapingReaping is also used in an eschatological context, referring to the final judgment. In
Revelation 14:14-16, John describes a vision of the Son of Man with a sharp sickle, reaping the earth's harvest. This imagery signifies the gathering of the righteous at the end of the age, highlighting the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
Practical ImplicationsThe biblical principle of reaping serves as a reminder of the importance of living a life that aligns with God's will. It encourages believers to sow seeds of righteousness, knowing that their efforts will yield a spiritual harvest. The concept also calls for trust in God's justice, as He will ultimately reward the faithful and bring about His purposes in His perfect timing.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Reap.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
REAPINGrep'-ing (qatsar; therizo): Reaping in ancient times, as at present, consisted in either pulling up the grain by the roots or cutting it with a sickle (see SICKLE), and then binding the stalks into bundles to be carried to the threshing-floor. If the Egyptian sculptures are true to life, reaping was sometimes divided into two operations, the heads of grain and the stalks being reaped separately. In Palestine and Syria both pulling and cutting are still practiced, the former when the ground is stony and the spears scarce. Even where the sickle is used, much of the grain comes up by the roots, owing to the toughness of the dried stalks or the dullness of the sickle. The reaper sometimes wears pieces of cane on the fingers of the hand which gathers the grain in order to protect them from injury by the sharp grasses or the sickle. There were definite laws established by the Hebrews in regard to reaping (Leviticus 19:9;Leviticus 23:10;Leviticus 25:5, 11Deuteronomy 16:9). Samuel mentions the task of reaping the harvest as one of the requirements which would be made by the king for whom the people were clamoring (1 Samuel 8:12).
Figurative:
The certainty of the consequences of good and evil doing were often typified by the sowing and the reaping of harvests (Job 4:8Proverbs 22:8Hosea 8:7;Hosea 10:12, 132 Corinthians 9:6Galatians 6:7, 8). "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" is found in the liberated captives' song (Psalm 126:5). "He that regardeth the clouds shall not reap," i.e. a lack of faith in God's care will be punished (Ecclesiastes 11:4); compare also the lesson of trust drawn from the birds (Matthew 6:26Luke 12:24). Sowing and not reaping the harvest is mentioned as a punishment for disobedience (Job 31:8Jeremiah 12:13Micah 6:15). Reaping where he sowed not, showed the injustice of the landlord (Matthew 25:26), as did also the withholding of the reapers' wages (James 5:4). In God's Kingdom there is a division of labor: "He that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (John 4:36-38). In John's vision he saw an angel reap the earth (Revelation 14:15, 16).
SeeAGRICULTURE;GLEANING.
James A. Patch
Greek
2326. therismos -- harvest... harvest. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: therismos Phonetic Spelling:
(ther-is-mos') Short Definition:
reaping, harvest Definition:
reaping...2325. therizo -- to reap
... Word Origin from theros Definition to reap NASB Word Usage did the harvesting
(1), reap (14), reaped (1),reaping (2), reaps (3). reap....
Strong's Hebrew
7114b. 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).
...Library
Sowing andReaping
Sowing andReaping. <. Sowing andReaping Dwight L. Moody. Produced
by Keith G. Richardson - from file kindly hosted...
Sowing andReaping.
... Chapter IV. Sowing andReaping.... In thereaping there is joy on earth and, on high,
the joy of bringing sheaves to the Lord. Gathereth fruit....
TheReaping of the vine.
... EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE. TheReaping of the Vine. "And another angel came
out of the temple in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle....
21ST DAY. A DueReaping.
... 21ST DAY. A DueReaping. "He is Faithful that Promised." "In due season we shall
reap, if we faint not.""Galatians 6:9. A DueReaping. Believer!...
Reaping.
...REAPING. Sad Ending of a Life that Might have been Otherwise. I remember a few years
ago I felt very anxious for a man who was present at a meeting like this....
Sowing in the Wind,Reaping under Clouds
... Sowing in the Wind,Reaping under Clouds. A Sermon (No.2264). Intended for Reading
on Lord's-Day, July 10th, 1892,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,....
Sowing andReaping. February 28.
... Sowing andReaping. February 28. So it is, that by every crime, folly,
even neglect of theirs, men drive a thorn into their own...
Reaping the Whirlwind.
...Reaping the Whirlwind. I remember in the north of England a prominent citizen told
a sad case that happened there in the city of Newcastle-on-Tyne....
Sowing andReaping
Sowing andReaping. <.... CHAPTER I. SOWING ANDREAPING. "Be not deceived; God
is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap....
Sowing andReaping
Sowing andReaping. <.... Title Page. SOWING ANDREAPING. BY. DL MOODY.
'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.'. Gal. vi: 7....
Thesaurus
Reaping (10 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Reap. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.
REAPING. rep'-ing (qatsar; therizo):
Reaping...Gathering (71 Occurrences)
... Matthew 25:24 "He also who had received the one talent came and said,'Lord, I knew
you that you are a hard man,reaping where you did not sow, and gathering...
Reap (35 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To cut with a sickle, scythe, orreaping
machine, as grain; to gather, as a harvest, by cutting....
Sickle (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Areaping instrument consisting of a steel blade curved into the form of
a hook, and having a handle fitted on a tang.... Cf.Reaping hook, under Reap....
Agriculture
... Thereaping of the corn was performed either by pulling it up by the roots, or cutting
it with a species of sickle, according to circumstances.... (2)Reaping....
Receiving (72 Occurrences)
... John 4:36 And he who isreaping doth receive a reward, and doth gather fruit to
life age-during, that both he who is sowing and he who isreaping may rejoice...
Age-during (167 Occurrences)
... John 4:36 And he who isreaping doth receive a reward, and doth gather fruit to
life age-during, that both he who is sowing and he who isreaping may rejoice...
Sow (61 Occurrences)
... Matthew 25:24 "He also who had received the one talent came and said,'Lord, I knew
you that you are a hard man,reaping where you did not sow, and gathering...
Sowed (20 Occurrences)
... Matthew 25:24 And he also that had received the one talent coming to him said, My
lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man,reaping where thou hadst not sowed...
Severe (53 Occurrences)
... Matthew 25:24 "But, next, the man who had the one talent in his keeping came and
said, "'Sir, I knew you to be a severe man,reaping where you had not sown and...
Resources
What does the Bible say about sowing and reaping? | GotQuestions.orgIs “you reap what you sow” biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about karma? | GotQuestions.orgReaping: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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