Topical Encyclopedia
The plough, an essential agricultural implement, holds significant symbolic and practical importance in the biblical narrative. In ancient agrarian societies, the plough was crucial for preparing the ground for sowing seeds, symbolizing preparation, diligence, and the hope of future harvests. The Bible references the plough in various contexts, illustrating both its literal and metaphorical significance.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, the plough is often mentioned in the context of agricultural practices. The Israelites, living in a predominantly agrarian society, relied heavily on farming tools like the plough to cultivate their land. In
1 Samuel 13:20, the text notes the dependence of the Israelites on the Philistines for sharpening their ploughshares, highlighting the strategic disadvantage they faced: "So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his ploughshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle."
The plough also appears in prophetic literature, symbolizing peace and transformation. In
Isaiah 2:4, the prophet envisions a future where instruments of war are converted into tools of agriculture: "They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war." This imagery underscores a divine promise of peace and prosperity.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the plough is used metaphorically to convey spiritual truths. Jesus employs the imagery of the plough to illustrate the commitment required to follow Him. In
Luke 9:62, Jesus declares, "No one who puts his hand to the plough and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." This statement emphasizes the necessity of unwavering dedication and focus in the Christian life, likening discipleship to the steady and forward-looking task of ploughing a field.
Symbolism and ApplicationThe plough symbolizes preparation and readiness, both in the physical and spiritual realms. Just as a farmer must diligently prepare the soil to ensure a fruitful harvest, believers are called to prepare their hearts and lives for spiritual growth and service. The act of ploughing requires effort and perseverance, reflecting the Christian's journey of faith and the cultivation of a life pleasing to God.
Furthermore, the transformation of swords into ploughshares, as prophesied in Isaiah, serves as a powerful symbol of God's redemptive plan for humanity. It points to a future where peace reigns, and the tools of conflict are repurposed for nurturing life and community.
Cultural and Historical ContextIn the ancient Near East, the plough was typically a simple wooden implement, often drawn by oxen or other draft animals. The design and effectiveness of the plough varied across regions and periods, but its fundamental purpose remained the same: to break up the soil and prepare it for planting. The reliance on such tools underscores the agrarian nature of biblical societies and the importance of agriculture in their daily lives and spiritual metaphors.
The plough's presence in biblical texts reflects its integral role in the life and economy of the people, serving as a reminder of the connection between physical labor and spiritual truths.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
PloughThe ploughs of ancient Egypt consisted of a share-often pointed with iron or bronze--two handles and a pole which was inserted into the base of the two handles. Ploughs in Palestine have usually but one handle with a pole joined to it near the ground and drawn by oxen, cows or camels.
ATS Bible Dictionary
PloughA slight and inefficient instrument in the East, but used from the earliest times,Genesis 45:6 De 22:10Job 1:14. See cut in MEROM.
The plough now generally used in Syria consists substantially of but three parts; the beam or pole fastened to the yoke; the ploughshare; and the handle. The two latter parts, and even all three, are sometimes formed of a single branch of a tree with two limbs projecting in opposite directions. The ploughshare is sometimes defended by a strip of iron,Isaiah 2:4Joel 3:10. As the handle was single, and with attention was easily managed by one hand,Luke 9:62, the ploughman brandished in the other a formidable goad, six or eight feet long, armed at the point with a pike, and at the heavy end, which was two inches thick, with a small iron spade for clearing the share from clay, Jud 3:311 Samuel 13:21Acts 9:5. Ploughs were drawn by oxen asses, and heifers, De 22:10 Jud 14:18; at this day camels and cows are also used in Palestine. Ploughing commenced soon after the autumnal rains had set in, towards the last of October.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
First referred to in
Genesis 45:6, where the Authorized Version has "earing," but the Revised Version "ploughing;" next in
Exodus 34:21 and
Deuteronomy 21:4. The plough was originally drawn by oxen, but sometimes also by asses and by men. (see
AGRICULTURE.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n. & v.) See Plow.
2. (n.) A well-known implement, drawn by horses, mules, oxen, or other power, for turning up the soil to prepare it for bearing crops; also used to furrow or break up the soil for other purposes; as, the subsoil plow; the draining plow.
3. (n.) Fig.: Agriculture; husbandry.
4. (n.) A carucate of land; a plowland.
5. (n.) A joiner's plane for making grooves; a grooving plane.
6. (n.) An implement for trimming or shaving off the edges of books.
7. (n.) Same as Charles's Wain.
8. (v. t.) To turn up, break up, or trench, with a plow; to till with, or as with, a plow; as, to plow the ground; to plow a field.
9. (v. t.) To furrow; to make furrows, grooves, or ridges in; to run through, as in sailing.
10. (v. t.) To trim, or shave off the edges of, as a book or paper, with a plow. See Plow, n., 5.
11. (n.) To cut a groove in, as in a plank, or the edge of a board; especially, a rectangular groove to receive the end of a shelf or tread, the edge of a panel, a tongue, etc.
12. (v. i.) To labor with, or as with, a plow; to till or turn up the soil with a plow; to prepare the soil or bed for anything.
Greek
2218. zugos -- a yoke... [2218 () two elements to work as , like when two pans (weights) operate together
on a balance-scale -- or a of oxen pulling a
plough.].
...723. arotron -- a plow
... Word Origin from aroo (to plow) Definition a plow NASB Word Usage plow (1). plow.
From aroo (to till); a plow --plough. (arotron) -- 1 Occurrence. 722, 723....
722. arotriao -- to plow
... Word Origin from arotron Definition to plow NASB Word Usage plow (1), plowing (1),
plowman (1). plow. From arotron; to plow --plough. see GREEK arotron....
Strong's Hebrew
1239. baqar -- to inquire, seek... A primitive root; properly, to
plough, or (generally) break forth, ie (figuratively)
to inspect, admire, care for, consider -- (make) inquire (-ry), (make
...6776. tsemed -- a couple, pair
... A yoke or team (ie Pair); hence, an acre (ie Day's task for a yoke of cattle to
plough) -- acre, couple, X together, two (donkeys), yoke (of oxen)....
6605. pathach -- to open
... A primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen,
begin,plough, carve -- appear, break forth, draw (out), let go free, (en...
2790. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow, devise
... A primitive root; to scratch, ie (by implication) to engrave,plough; hence (from
the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in...
Library
Spiritual Farming. --No. 2 Ploughing.
... 2. PLOUGHING. There have been during the last few years great improvements in the
construction of theplough, but no one dreams of any substitute for it....
Whether a Vow Consists in a Mere Purpose of the Will?
... Objection 3: Further, our Lord said (Lk.9:62): "No man putting his hand to theplough,
and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Now from the very fact...
Ploughing in Canaan.
... How different it is to ploughing in our own land! There is no coulter; and instead
of the broad steelplough-share we see a pointed piece of wood....
Acts of Peter and Andrew.
... The old man says to them: Wait a little, and look after the oxen, and theplough,
and the land, that I may go into the city, and get you loaves....
Swords Beaten into Ploughshares.
... done. The barber worships his razor; the blacksmith worships his bellows; and
the farmer hisplough, oxen, etcetera, etcetera. Daniel's...
An Exhortation to the People Respecting Fortitude and Patience...
... doctrine to push rapidly forwards. For this reason also, it is needful to
plough up a deep furrow. This the Prophet signified when...
Spiritual Farming. --No. 3 Cultivation.
... feel we have not pressed upon them with the force it deserves, the necessity of
what the Bible calls "breaking up the fallow ground." What theplough and spade...
The Sower.
... Secondly, as the preachers say,. YOU MUST SOW WHERE THEPLOUGH HAS BEEN FIRST. A
great deal of seed is lost because the ground has not been prepared....
On the Sunday Called "Episozomenes," to those who had Come to...
... to till the garden, and to keep it." Each of these men you may see at one time employed
in yoking the labouring oxen, and guiding theplough, and cutting the...
The Use of the Symbolic Style by Poets and Philosophers.
... relates, sent to Darius, on his passing the Ister in threat of war, a symbol, instead
of a letter, consisting of a mouse, a frog, a bird, a javelin, aplough....
Thesaurus
Plough (11 Occurrences)... 45:6, where the Authorized Version has "earing," but the Revised Version "ploughing;"
next in Exodus 34:21 and Deuteronomy 21:4. The
plough was originally
...Plough-blades (3 Occurrences)
Plough-blades.Plough,Plough-blades. Ploughed . Multi-Version
ConcordancePlough-blades (3 Occurrences). Isaiah 2:4...
Yoke (79 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Fitted on the neck of oxen for the purpose of binding
to them the traces by which they might draw theplough, etc....
Vine-knives (2 Occurrences)
... 2:4 And he will be the judge between the nations, and the peoples will be ruled
by his decisions: and their swords will be turned intoplough-blades, and their...
Earing (2 Occurrences)
... An Old English word (from the Latin aro, Iplough), meaning "ploughing." It is used
in the Authorized Version in Genesis 45:6; Exodus 34:21; 1 Samuel 8:12...
Ploughed (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (pp) ofPlough. Multi-Version Concordance Ploughed
(16 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 21:4 And they are to take...
Cattle (277 Occurrences)
... of Sharon. They were yoked to theplough (1 Kings 19:19), and were employed
for carrying burdens (1 Chronicles 12:40). They were...
Agriculture
... were drawn by oxen (Job 1:14), cows (1 Samuel 6:7), and asses (Isaiah 30:24); but
an ox and an ass must not be yoked together in the sameplough (Deuteronomy 22...
Hammered (22 Occurrences)
... (BBE NIV). Joel 3:10 Get yourplough-blades hammered into swords, and your
vine-knives into spears: let the feeble say, I am strong. (BBE)....
Hammer (15 Occurrences)
... 2:4 And he will be the judge between the nations, and the peoples will be ruled
by his decisions: and their swords will be turned intoplough-blades, and their...
Resources
Plough: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
