Dictionaries :: Reaping

Reaping:

rep'-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 (Le 19:9; 23:10; 25:5,11; De 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 (1Sa 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 4:8; Pr 22:8; Ho 8:7; 10:12,13; 2Co 9:6; Ga 6:7,8). "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" is found in the liberated captives' song (Ps 126:5). "He that regardeth the clouds shall not reap," i.e. a lack of faith in God's care will be punished (Ec 11:4); compare also the lesson of trust drawn from the birds (Mt 6:26; Lu 12:24). Sowing and not reaping the harvest is mentioned as a punishment for disobedience (Job 31:8; Jer 12:13; Mic 6:15). Reaping where he sowed not, showed the injustice of the landlord (Mt 25:26), as did also the withholding of the reapers' wages (Jas 5:4). In God's Kingdom there is a division of labor: "He that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (Joh 4:36-38). In John's vision he saw an angel reap the earth (Re 14:15,16).

Written by James A. Patch

See AGRICULTURE

See GLEANING

Reaping: General Scriptures Concerning

Psa 129:7

Reaping: At the Time Of

The ark of the covenant returned by the Philistines,

1Sa 6:13.

Reaping: Laws concerning Gleaning at the Time Of

See GLEANING

Reaping: Figurative:

Psa 126:6; Hsa 10:12, 13

Reaping: Is the Cutting of the Corn in Harvest

Job 24:6; Lev 23:10

Reaping: The Sickle Used For

Deu 16:9; Mar 4:29

Reaping: Both Men and Women Engaged In

Rth 2:8,9

Reaping: The Jews Not to Reap

The corners of their fields

Lev 19:9; 23:22

During the Sabbatical year

Lev 25:5

During the year of jubilee

Lev 25:11

The fields of others

Deu 23:25

Reaping: Mode of Gathering the Corn For, Alluded To

Psa 129:7; Isa 17:5

Reaping: Corn After, Was Bound up into Sheaves

Gen 37:7; Psa 129:7

Reaping: Persons Engaged In

Under the guidance of a steward

Rth 2:5,6

Visited by the master

Rth 2:4; 2Ki 4:18

Fed by the master who himself presided at their meals

Rth 2:14

Received wages

Jhn 4:36; Jam 5:4

Reaping: A Time of Great Rejoicing

Psa 126:5,6

Reaping: The Jews Often Hindered From, on Account of Their

Mic 6:15

Reaping: Often Unprofitable on Account of Sin

Jer 12:13

Reaping: Illustrative Of

Receiving the reward of wickedness

Job 4:8; Pro 22:8; Hsa 8:7; Gal 6:8

Receiving the reward of righteousness

Hsa 10:12; Gal 6:8,9

Ministers receiving temporal provision for spiritual labours

1Cr 9:11

Gathering in souls to God

Jhn 4:38

The judgments of God on the antichristian world

Rev 14:14-16

The final judgment

Mat 13:30,39-43