In biblical times, agriculture was a central aspect of life and economy, and the concept of "crop" is frequently mentioned throughout the Scriptures. The term "crop" generally refers to the produce of the land, including grains, fruits, and vegetables, which were essential for sustenance and trade.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament provides numerous references to crops, often highlighting their significance in the covenant relationship between God and His people. In Genesis 1:29, God provides for humanity by giving "every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it" as food. This establishes the divine provision of crops as a fundamental aspect of creation.

The Law of Moses contains specific instructions regarding the cultivation and harvest of crops. Leviticus 19:9-10 commands, "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God." This law underscores the importance of generosity and provision for the needy within the agricultural practices of Israel.

The cycle of sowing and reaping is also a recurring theme, symbolizing the principle of cause and effect. In Ecclesiastes 11:4, the Preacher observes, "He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap," emphasizing the need for diligence and faith in God's provision.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus frequently uses agricultural metaphors to convey spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9), Jesus describes different types of soil representing the varied responses to the Word of God. The "good soil" yields a bountiful crop, illustrating the fruitful life of those who hear and understand the message of the kingdom.

The Apostle Paul also employs agricultural imagery to teach spiritual principles. In Galatians 6:7-9, 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. Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Here, Paul emphasizes the moral and spiritual implications of one's actions, likening them to sowing and reaping.

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons

Crops in the Bible often symbolize God's blessing and faithfulness. The abundance of the harvest is seen as a sign of divine favor, as in Psalm 67:6, "The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us." Conversely, a failed crop or famine is sometimes depicted as a consequence of disobedience or judgment, as seen in the warnings of Deuteronomy 28.

The concept of the "firstfruits" is another significant aspect of biblical teaching on crops. The Israelites were instructed to offer the first and best portion of their harvest to God as an act of worship and acknowledgment of His provision (Exodus 23:19). This practice foreshadows the New Testament teaching of Christ as the "firstfruits" of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20), signifying His resurrection as the guarantee of the believer's future resurrection.

In summary, the biblical references to crops serve as a rich tapestry of practical, moral, and spiritual lessons, reflecting the integral role of agriculture in the life and faith of God's people.1. (n.) The pouch like enlargement of the gullet of birds, serving as a receptacle for food; the craw.

2. (n.) The top, end, or highest part of anything, especially of a plant or tree.

3. (n.) That which is cropped, cut, or gathered from a single field, or of a single kind of grain or fruit, or in a single season; especially, the product of what is planted in the earth; fruit; harvest.

4. (n.) Grain or other product of the field while standing.

5. (n.) Anything cut off or gathered.

6. (n.) Hair cut close or short, or the act or style of so cutting; as, a convict's crop.

7. (n.) A projecting ornament in carved stone. Specifically, a finial.

8. (n.) Tin ore prepared for smelting.

9. (n.) Outcrop of a vein or seam at the surface.

10. (n.) A riding whip with a loop instead of a lash.

11. (v. t.) To cut off the tops or tips of; to bite or pull off; to browse; to pluck; to mow; to reap.

12. (v. t.) Fig.: To cut off, as if in harvest.

13. (v. t.) To cause to bear a crop; as, to crop a field.

14. (v. i.) To yield harvest.

CROP

(1) As noun the translation of mur'-ah (Leviticus 1:16), which is the craw of a bird, especially of doves and pigeons, which had to be removed by the priest before he offered the birds as a burnt sacrifice.

(2) As a verb it is (Ezekiel 17:4, 22) the translation of qaTaph, which has the meaning of "cutting off," "cutting down," "plucking."

2326. therismos -- harvest
... Masculine Transliteration: therismos Phonetic Spelling: (ther-is-mos') Short Definition:
reaping, harvest Definition: reaping, harvest; met: the harvest, crop. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2326.htm - 6k

68. agros -- a field, the country
... Transliteration: agros Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ros') Short Definition: a field, the
country Definition: a field, especially as bearing a crop; the country, lands ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/68.htm - 6k

536. aparche -- the beginning of a sacrifice, ie the first fruit
... Feminine Transliteration: aparche Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ar-khay') Short Definition:
the first-fruits Definition: the first-fruits, the earliest crop of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/536.htm - 6k

2590. karpos -- fruit
... word Definition fruit NASB Word Usage benefit (2), crop (5), crops (2), descendants*
(1), fruit (43), fruitful (1), fruits (4), grain (1), harvest (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2590.htm - 7k

2325. therizo -- to reap
... reap. From theros (in the sense of the crop); to harvest -- reap. see GREEK theros.
(etheristhe) -- 1 Occurrence. (therizein) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2325.htm - 7k

4760. murah -- crop or alimentary canal
... 4759b, 4760. murah. 4761 . crop or alimentary canal. Transliteration:
murah Phonetic Spelling: (moor-aw') Short Definition: crop. ...
/hebrew/4760.htm - 6k

3954. leqesh -- the after-growth, spring crop
... 3953, 3954. leqesh. 3955 . the after-growth, spring crop. Transliteration:
leqesh Phonetic Spelling: (leh'-kesh) Short Definition: crop. ...
/hebrew/3954.htm - 6k

3953. laqash -- to take the second crop, to take everything
... 3952, 3953. laqash. 3954 . to take the second crop, to take everything.
Transliteration: laqash Phonetic Spelling: (law-kash') Short Definition: glean. ...
/hebrew/3953.htm - 6k

6998. qataph -- to pluck off or out
... crop off, cut down up, pluck. A primitive root; to strip off -- crop off, cut down
(up), pluck. 6997, 6998. qataph. 6999 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6998.htm - 6k

1061. bikkurim -- first fruits
... first fruit ripe figuratively, hasty fruit. From bakar; the first-fruits of the
crop -- first fruit (-ripe (figuratively)), hasty fruit. see HEBREW bakar. ...
/hebrew/1061.htm - 6k

1210. batsir -- a vintage
... 2). vintage. From batsar; clipped, ie The grape crop -- vintage. see HEBREW
batsar. 1209, 1210. batsir. 1211 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1210.htm - 6k

7105. qatsiyr -- harvesting, harvest
... From qatsar; severed, ie Harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or
figuratively; also a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage) -- bough, branch ...
/hebrew/7105.htm - 5k

2779. choreph -- harvest time, autumn
... From charaph.; properly, the crop gathered, ie (by implication) the autumn (and
winter) season; figuratively, ripeness of age -- cold, winter (-house), youth. ...
/hebrew/2779.htm - 6k

2981. yebul -- produce (of the soil)
... fruit, increase. From yabal; produce, ie A crop or (figuratively) wealth -- fruit,
increase. see HEBREW yabal. 2980, 2981. yebul. 2982 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2981.htm - 6k

5599. caphiyach -- outpouring
... From caphach; something (spontaneously) falling off, ie A self-sown crop; figuratively,
a freshet -- (such) things as (which) grow (of themselves), which ...
/hebrew/5599.htm - 5k

The Poetry of a Root Crop
... THE POETRY OF A ROOT CROP. Underneath their eider-robe Russet swede and
golden globe, Feathered carrot, burrowing deep, Steadfast ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the poetry of a root.htm

Chap. xxviii. How the Same St. Cuthbert, Living the Life of an ...
... Cuthbert, living the life of an Anchorite, by his prayers obtained a spring in a
dry soil, and had a crop from seed sown by the labour of his hands out of ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxviii how the same.htm

The Tares.
... If the last season's crop was of inferior quality, he and his children have cheerfully
lived upon the worst, that the best might be reserved for sowing; if the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/ii the tares.htm

The Husbandman and his Operations
... strong. But sorrow is not enough; joy is indispensable too. The crop is threshed
in tribulation, but is grown mostly in sunshine. Calm ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the husbandman and his operations.htm

Your Origen Allows Himself to Treat of the Transmigration of Souls ...
... Go over Aristotle once more and Alexander the commentator on Aristotle; you will
recognize from reading these what a plentiful crop of uncertainties exists ...
/.../20 your origen allows himself.htm

Mingled in Growth, Separated in Maturity
... The question has been eagerly debated whether the tares are bad men in the Church,
and whether, consequently, the mingled crop is a description of the Church ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/mingled in growth separated in.htm

The Problem of Foreign Missions
... The planter soon finds out that there are many soils in the world, some suited to
one crop and some to another; that seed must be put in for each particular ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the problem of foreign missions.htm

The God of the Rain
... and honey and oil olive; a land of vines and figs and pomegranates; a rich land;
but a most uncertain land"a land which might yield a splendid crop one year ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xvii the god of.htm

Hindrances to Revivals.
... But the farmer might just as well reason so, and think he could go and cut down
his wheat and not hurt the crop, because it is God that makes grain grow. ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xv hindrances to revivals.htm

Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work
... Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.' Nothing is more to the
honour of a husbandman than to succeed in raising an abundant crop"much fruit ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/working for god/xii bearing fruit in every.htm

Crop (33 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Hair cut close or short, or the act or style of so cutting; as, a convict's
crop. ... 13. (vt) To cause to bear a crop; as, to crop a field. 14. ...
/c/crop.htm - 17k

Gleaning (10 Occurrences)
... The generosity of the master of the crop determined the value of the gleanings,
as the story of Ruth well illustrates (Ruth 2:16). ...
/g/gleaning.htm - 12k

Figtree
... In the case of many trees the whole of this first crop may thus abort, so that by
May no figs at all are to be found on the tree, but with the best varieties ...
/f/figtree.htm - 15k

Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)
... In the case of many trees the whole of this first crop may thus abort, so that by
May no figs at all are to be found on the tree, but with the best varieties ...
/f/fig-tree.htm - 26k

Fig (45 Occurrences)
... In the case of many trees the whole of this first crop may thus abort, so that by
May no figs at all are to be found on the tree, but with the best varieties ...
/f/fig.htm - 33k

Reapers (15 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV). Mark 4:29 But no sooner is the crop ripe, than
he sends the reapers, because the time of harvest has come." (WEY). ...
/r/reapers.htm - 10k

Millet (1 Occurrence)
... A somewhat similar grain, much more widely cultivated as a summer crop, is the
Indian millet-also called "Egyptian maize"-the Sorghum annuum. ...
/m/millet.htm - 8k

Barley (35 Occurrences)
... Barley of the first crop was ready for the harvest by the time of the Passover,
in the middle of April (Ruth 1:22; 2 Samuel 21:9). Mention is made of barley ...
/b/barley.htm - 23k

Preparation (28 Occurrences)
... for a particular purpose, use, service, or condition; previous arrangement or
adaptation; a making ready; as, the preparation of land for a crop of wheat; the ...
/p/preparation.htm - 19k

Crops (48 Occurrences)
... It produced twelve kinds of fruit, yielding a fresh crop month by month, and the
leaves of the tree served as medicine for the nations. (See NIV). ...
/c/crops.htm - 19k

Does the Bible say anything about crop circles? | GotQuestions.org

How does God restore the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25)? | GotQuestions.org

What is a sabbatical year? | GotQuestions.org

Crop: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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