The term "cultivated" in the biblical context often refers to the act of preparing and using land for crops or gardening, as well as the broader concept of nurturing and developing something to its full potential. This concept is deeply rooted in the agrarian society of ancient Israel and is frequently used metaphorically in Scripture to describe spiritual growth and development.

Agricultural Context

In the Bible, cultivation is first seen in the Garden of Eden, where God placed Adam to "work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). This initial command highlights humanity's role as stewards of God's creation, tasked with cultivating the land to bring forth its fruits. The Promised Land is often described as a land "flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), indicating its potential for cultivation and abundance.

The Israelites were instructed in various agricultural practices, including the Sabbatical Year, where the land was to rest every seventh year (Leviticus 25:4). This practice not only allowed the land to rejuvenate but also served as a reminder of reliance on God's provision.

Metaphorical Usage

Cultivation is frequently used metaphorically in Scripture to describe spiritual growth and the development of character. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes different types of soil representing the hearts of people and their receptivity to the Word of God (Matthew 13:3-9). The "good soil" represents those who hear the word, understand it, and produce a fruitful harvest, illustrating the importance of cultivating one's heart to receive and nurture spiritual truth.

The Apostle Paul uses agricultural imagery to describe the process of spiritual growth and maturity. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 , Paul writes, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." This passage emphasizes the collaborative effort in spiritual cultivation, where human effort and divine intervention work together to produce growth.

Spiritual Implications

The concept of being cultivated extends to the development of virtues and the fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:22-23 , Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are cultivated in the believer's life through the work of the Holy Spirit and the believer's cooperation with God's transformative power.

The process of cultivation also involves pruning and discipline, as described in John 15:1-2 , where Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes to make it even more fruitful." This passage highlights the necessity of divine discipline in the believer's life to foster greater spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of cultivation encompasses both the physical act of tending the land and the spiritual process of nurturing one's faith and character. Through diligent effort and reliance on God's grace, believers are called to cultivate their lives to reflect the image of Christ and bear fruit for His kingdom.(imp. & p. p.) of Cultivate.2565. kallielaios -- a cultivated olive (tree)
... a cultivated olive (tree). Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kallielaios
Phonetic Spelling: (kal-le-el'-ah-yos) Short Definition: a cultivated ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2565.htm - 7k

65. agrielaios -- of the wild olive
... the " (believing ) as part of the . See also 1484 ("Gentile") and 2565
("a cultivated olive tree"). Word Origin from agrios and elaia ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/65.htm - 7k

4680. sophos -- skilled, wise
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sophos Phonetic Spelling: (sof-os') Short
Definition: wise Definition: wise, learned, cultivated, skilled, clever. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4680.htm - 6k

1091. georgion -- cultivation
... cultivation, husbandry. Word Origin from georgos Definition cultivation NASB
Word Usage field (1). cultivated land, field. Neuter of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1091.htm - 6k

4808. suke -- a fig tree
... Definition: a fig-tree. 4808 -- fig tree which grows plentifully in Palestine
as a wild and cultivated tree. The fig tree bears ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4808.htm - 6k

5737b. adar -- to hoe
... adar. 5737c . to hoe. Transliteration: adar Short Definition: cultivated. Word
Origin a prim. root Definition to hoe NASB Word Usage cultivated (1), hoed (1). ...
/hebrew/5737b.htm - 5k

7709. shedemah -- a field
... blasted, field. Apparently from sadeh; a cultivated field; -- blasted, field. see
HEBREW sadeh. 7708, 7709. shedemah. 7710 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7709.htm - 6k

5647. abad -- to work, serve
... root Definition to work, serve NASB Word Usage become slaves (1), been slaves (1),
bondage (2), burdened (2), cultivate (7), cultivated (2), cultivates (1), do ...
/hebrew/5647.htm - 6k

Virginity to be Cultivated and Commended in Every Place and Time.
... Discourse IV."Theopatra. Chapter VI."Virginity to Be Cultivated and Commended
in Every Place and Time. Further, the expression ...
/.../chapter vi virginity to be cultivated.htm

A Cultivated Conservative Friend of Mine once Exhibited Great ...
... Chapter 42 A cultivated Conservative friend of mine once exhibited great
distress because in a gay moment? A cultivated Conservative ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 42 a cultivated conservative.htm

Letter viii. Who are the Cultivated?
... WHO ARE THE CULTIVATED? ... What, then, is the secret that lies behind the demeanor and
manners of the cultivated man or woman, or the cultivated family? ...
/.../letter viii who are the.htm

Different Degrees of Knowledge.
... "Now the wild olive is inserted into the fatness of the olive," [3423] and
is indeed of the same species as the cultivated olives. ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xv different degrees of knowledge.htm

Letter i. Behavior and Manners.
... being the object of remark; who expresses opinions on all subjects with forward
self-confidence, is rightly regarded by all thoughtful and cultivated people as ...
/.../letter i behavior and manners.htm

An Impossible Neutrality
... that afternoon. I was once talking with a cultivated gentleman who volunteered
to tell me his attitude toward religion. He wished ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lxiv an impossible neutrality.htm

A Secret Life of Prayer.
... There must be the secret contact with Jesus cultivated habitually if there is to
be a sweet, strong outer life. And not cultivated by hothouse methods. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on service/a secret life of prayer.htm

The Work of Regeneration.
... The successful grafting of a budding shoot of the cultivated grape upon the
wild vine results in a good tree growing upon the wild trunk. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxii the work of regeneration.htm

Spiritual Growth
... As a matter of fact, there is no more important principle to be cultivated
than the law of progression or advance in the Divine life. ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xvii spiritual growth.htm

Letter vii. Tact --Unobtrusiveness.
... Quietness, repose, order, are distinguishing marks of cultivated social life everywhere,
and to people who are habituated to these conditions of life it is ...
/.../letter vii tactunobtrusiveness.htm

Cultivated (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Cultivate. Multi-Version Concordance
Cultivated (8 Occurrences). Romans 11:24 For if you ...
/c/cultivated.htm - 8k

Field (390 Occurrences)
... (Hebrews sadeh), a cultivated field, but unenclosed. ... It denotes sometimes a cultivated
region as opposed to the wilderness (Genesis 33:19; 36:35). ...
/f/field.htm - 44k

Millet (1 Occurrence)
... It is universally cultivated in the East as one of the smaller corn-grasses. ... Noah
Webster's Dictionary. (n.) A type of grasses cultivated for hay or grain. ...
/m/millet.htm - 8k

Vine (76 Occurrences)
... frequently noticed both in the Old and New Testaments, and in the ruins of terraced
vineyards there are evidences that it was extensively cultivated by the Jews ...
/v/vine.htm - 46k

Music (143 Occurrences)
... Music was now for the first time systematically cultivated. ... 1. The Sole Art Cultivated:
The place held by music in the Old Testament is unique. ...
/m/music.htm - 78k

Wheat (56 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary One of the earliest cultivated grains. It bore the Hebrew
name hittah, and was extensively cultivated in Palestine. ...
/w/wheat.htm - 28k

Flax (11 Occurrences)
... pulp). This plant was cultivated from earliest times. The ... 31). It was
extensively cultivated both in Egypt and Palestine. Reference ...
/f/flax.htm - 13k

Olive (61 Occurrences)
... seeded drupes. The tree has been cultivated for its fruit for thousands
of years, and its branches are the emblems of peace. The ...
/o/olive.htm - 37k

Garlic (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) A plant of the genus Allium (A. sativum is the cultivated variety), having
a bulbous root, a very strong smell, and an acrid, pungent taste. ...
/g/garlic.htm - 8k

Goshen (16 Occurrences)
... If the Septuagint reading Gesem be correct, the word, which in its Hebrew form has
no known meaning, may mean "cultivated"-comparing the Arabic root jashima ...
/g/goshen.htm - 19k

What is the significance of the olive tree in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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Cultivated: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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