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Definition and Context
Sowing, in biblical terms, refers to the act of planting seeds in the ground, a practice that is both literal and metaphorical throughout Scripture. It is a fundamental agricultural activity in the ancient Near East, essential for sustaining life and community. Beyond its literal sense, sowing is frequently used in the Bible as a metaphor for spiritual truths, moral actions, and the dissemination of God's Word.

Old Testament References
The practice of sowing is deeply embedded in the agrarian culture of the Israelites. InGenesis 26:12, Isaac's prosperity is highlighted through his sowing: "Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold, and the LORD blessed him." This passage underscores the connection between faithful labor, divine blessing, and abundance.

The Law of Moses also contains instructions related to sowing.Leviticus 19:19 commands, "You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed together two kinds of your livestock; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together." This reflects the importance of purity and order in the Israelites' daily lives.

New Testament Teachings
In the New Testament, sowing takes on a rich metaphorical significance. Jesus frequently used agricultural imagery in His parables to convey spiritual truths. The Parable of the Sower, found inMatthew 13:3-9,Mark 4:3-9, andLuke 8:5-8, illustrates how the Word of God is received differently depending on the condition of one's heart. InMatthew 13:23, Jesus explains, "But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold."

The Apostle Paul also employs the metaphor of sowing to describe the principles of giving and spiritual investment. In2 Corinthians 9:6, he writes, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." This principle emphasizes the relationship between one's actions and the resulting blessings or consequences.

Spiritual Implications
Sowing in the spiritual sense involves the dissemination of the Gospel and the cultivation of virtues.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 moral and eternal consequences of one's actions.

Practical Applications
The concept of sowing encourages believers to engage in acts of kindness, evangelism, and discipleship, trusting that God will bring about growth and fruitfulness. It serves as a reminder of the importance of patience and faithfulness, as the results of sowing are often not immediate but require time and divine intervention to come to fruition.

Conclusion
The biblical theme of sowing encompasses both the physical act of planting seeds and the spiritual act of investing in God's kingdom. It calls believers to be diligent in their efforts, trusting in God's promise of a bountiful harvest for those who sow in righteousness and faith.

Topical Bible Verses

Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.
Topicalbible.org

Galatians 6:8
For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Topicalbible.org

2 Corinthians 9:6
But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sow.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SOWER; SOWING

so'-er, so'-ing.

SeeAGRICULTURE.

Greek

4701. spora -- asowing, by impl. seed
... 4700, 4701. spora. 4702 . asowing, by impl.... Word Origin from speiro Definition
asowing, by impl. seed NASB Word Usage seed (1). seed....

4703. sporos -- asowing, ie seed (sown)
... asowing, ie seed (sown). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: sporos
Phonetic Spelling: (spro'-os) Short Definition: seed forsowing Definition...

2602. katabole -- a laying down
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: katabole Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-ab-ol-ay') Short Definition: a foundation, depositing,sowing Definition: (...

4687. speiro -- to sow (seed)
... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to sow (seed) NASB Word Usage sow (13), sowed
(6), sower (5), sower sows (1),sowing (1), sown (17), sows (8). sow, scatter....

Strong's Hebrew

2221. zerua -- asowing, thing sown
... 2220, 2221. zerua. 2222 . asowing, thing sown. Transliteration: zerua
Phonetic Spelling: (zay-roo'-ah) Short Definition:sowing....

2233. zera -- asowing, seed, offspring
... asowing, seed, offspring. Transliteration: zera Phonetic Spelling: (zeh'-rah) Short
Definition: descendants.... child, fruitful, seedtime,sowing- time....

4218. mizra -- place ofsowing
... 4217, 4218. mizra. 4219 . place ofsowing. Transliteration: mizra Phonetic
Spelling: (miz-raw') Short Definition: fields. Word Origin...

2232. zara -- to sow, scatter seed
... seed NASB Word Usage conceive (1), gives birth (1), perpetuated (1), plant seed
(1), scatter (1), set (1), sow (28), sowed (2), sower (2),sowing (2), sown (10...

4901. meshek -- a drawing, drawing up, a trail
... precious, price. From mashak; asowing; also a possession -- precious, price. see
HEBREW mashak. 4900, 4901. meshek. 4902 . Strong's Numbers.

Library

Sowing and Reaping
Sowing and Reaping. <.Sowing and Reaping Dwight L. Moody. Produced
by Keith G. Richardson - from file kindly hosted...

Sowing the Seed.
...SOWING THE SEED.... the rocky place? the thorny ground? or like a good field that has
been well prepared for the seed? [Illustration:SOWING THE SEED.]....

Sowing and Reaping.
... Chapter IV.Sowing and Reaping. The hearty reception given by the Samaritans
to the Jewish teacher shows that their hearts were...

The EnemySowing Tares.
... THE ENEMYSOWING TARES. A certain man sowed good seed... to store In His garner
evermore.". [Illustration: THE ENEMYSOWING TARES.]....

Sowing Beside all Waters.
... IX.SOWING BESIDE ALL WATERS. "Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters.""Isaiah
32:20. These words form part of a great prophetic vision....

Sowing Ourselves in Life's Soil.
... Each One of UsSowing Ourselves in Life's Soil.... Our presence among men was
meant to be God's greatestsowing of the seed of life....

Sowing in the Wind, Reaping under Clouds
...Sowing in the Wind, Reaping under Clouds. A Sermon (No.2264).... It is all meant
to save our corn-seed, and to save us the trouble ofsowing it....

Spiritual Farming --No. 4Sowing.
... XI. SPIRITUAL FARMING"NO. 4.SOWING. Those of us who live in the country
are reminded, as we see the springing corn, that some...

Sowing and Reaping. February 28.
...Sowing and Reaping. February 28. So it is, that by every crime, folly,
even neglect of theirs, men drive a thorn into their own...

Sowing and Reaping
Sowing and Reaping. <.... CHAPTER I.SOWING AND REAPING. "Be not deceived; God
is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap....

Thesaurus

Sowing (28 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Sow. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SOWER;SOWING. so'-er, so'-ing.
See AGRICULTURE. Multi-Version ConcordanceSowing (28 Occurrences)....

Sowing-seed (1 Occurrence)
Sowing-seed.Sowing,Sowing-seed.Sowing-time . Multi-Version Concordance
Sowing-seed (1 Occurrence). Leviticus 11:37 And if any...

Sowing-time (1 Occurrence)
Sowing-time.Sowing-seed,Sowing-time. Sown . Multi-Version
ConcordanceSowing-time (1 Occurrence). Leviticus 26:5 and...

Reaping (10 Occurrences)
... Figurative: The certainty of the consequences of good and evil doing were often
typified by thesowing and the reaping of harvests (Job 4:8 Proverbs 22:8 Hosea...

Age-during (167 Occurrences)
... John 4:36 And he who is reaping doth receive a reward, and doth gather fruit to
life age-during, that both he who issowing and he who is reaping may rejoice...

Agriculture
... commonwealth. The year in Palestine was divided into six agricultural periods:-.
I.SOWING TIME. Tisri... with. (1) Plowing andsowing. On...

Blessings (45 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:6 And this: He who issowing sparingly, sparingly also shall reap;
and he who issowing in blessings, in blessings also shall reap; (YLT)....

Sower (11 Occurrences)
... (n.) One who, or that which, sows. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SOWER;SOWING.
so'-er, so'-ing. See AGRICULTURE. Multi-Version Concordance...

Sown (45 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS). Leviticus 11:37 If part of their carcass falls on anysowing seed
which is to be sown, it is clean. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)....

Year (4027 Occurrences)
... In addition to this, the Jubilee Year was to be observed after the manner of the
sabbatic year, ie there should be neithersowing nor reaping nor pruning of...

Resources

What does the Bible say about sowing and reaping? | GotQuestions.org

Is “you reap what you sow” biblical? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of “Cast your bread upon the waters” in Ecclesiastes 11:1? | GotQuestions.org

Sowing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance •Bible Dictionary •Bible Encyclopedia •Topical Bible •Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Sowing (28 Occurrences)

Matthew 13:4
and in hissowing, some indeed fell by the way, and the fowls did come and devour them,
(YLT)

Matthew 13:24
Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens has become like a mansowing good seed in his field;
(DBY YLT)

Matthew 13:37
And he answering said to them, 'He who issowing the good seed is the Son of Man,
(YLT)

Mark 4:4
and it came to pass, in thesowing, some fell by the way, and the fowls of the heaven did come and devour it;
(YLT NAS)

Mark 4:14
He who issowing doth sow the word;
(YLT)

Luke 8:5
The sower went forth to sow his seed, and in hissowing some indeed fell beside the way, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the heaven did devour it.
(YLT)

John 4:36
And he who is reaping doth receive a reward, and doth gather fruit to life age-during, that both he who issowing and he who is reaping may rejoice together;
(YLT)

1 Corinthians 15:37
and as for what you sow, it is not the plant which is to be that you aresowing, but a bare grain, of wheat (it may be)
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 9:6
And this: He who issowing sparingly, sparingly also shall reap; and he who is sowing in blessings, in blessings also shall reap;
(YLT)

2 Corinthians 9:10
Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed forsowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
(WEB ASV DBY NAS)

Galatians 6:8
because he who issowing to his own flesh, of the flesh shall reap corruption; and he who is sowing to the Spirit, of the Spirit shall reap life age-during;
(YLT)

Genesis 1:11
And God saith, 'Let the earth yield tender grass, herbsowing seed, fruit-tree (whose seed 'is' in itself) making fruit after its kind, on the earth:' and it is so.
(YLT)

Genesis 1:12
And the earth bringeth forth tender grass, herbsowing seed after its kind, and tree making fruit (whose seed 'is' in itself) after its kind; and God seeth that 'it is' good;
(YLT)

Genesis 1:29
And God saith, 'Lo, I have given to you every herbsowing seed, which 'is' upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which 'is' the fruit of a tree sowing seed, to you it is for food;
(YLT)

Leviticus 11:37
If part of their carcass falls on anysowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Leviticus 25:22
And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat of the produce, the old store; until the ninth year, until her produce come in, ye shall eat the old store.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 26:5
Your threshing shall reach to the vintage, and the vintage shall reach to thesowing time; and you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 27:16
"'If a man dedicates to Yahweh part of the field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it: thesowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
(WEB JPS ASV RSV)

Psalms 126:5
Thosesowing in tears, with singing do reap,
(YLT)

Psalms 126:6
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed forsowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.
(WEB ASV RSV)

Proverbs 6:14
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth evil continually; he soweth discord.
(See RSV)

Proverbs 11:18
The wicked is getting a lying wage, And whoso issowing righteousness -- a true reward.
(YLT)

Proverbs 22:8
Whoso issowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 11:6
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 28:24
Is the plowman never done with plowing to sow, with the opening and harrowing of his ground?
(See RSV)

Isaiah 32:20
Happy 'are' yesowing by all waters, Sending forth the foot of the ox and the ass!
(YLT NIV)

Ezekiel 13:18
And thou hast said: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Wo to thosesowing pillows for all joints of the arm, And to those making the kerchiefs For the head of every stature -- to hunt souls, The souls do ye hunt of My people? And the souls ye have do ye keep alive?
(YLT)

Zechariah 8:12
Because of thesowing of peace, The vine doth give her fruit, And the earth doth give her increase, And the heavens do give their dew, And I have caused the remnant of this people To inherit all these.
(YLT RSV)

Subtopics

Sowing

Sowing Discord

Sowing Sower

Related Terms

Sowing-seed (1 Occurrence)

Sowing-time (1 Occurrence)

Reaping (10 Occurrences)

Age-during (167 Occurrences)

Agriculture

Blessings (45 Occurrences)

Sower (11 Occurrences)