The concept of farming, or agriculture, is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting the agrarian society in which the events of the Bible took place. From the earliest chapters of Genesis, farming is presented as a fundamental aspect of human life and stewardship of God's creation.

Creation and the Mandate to Cultivate

In Genesis 2:15, God places Adam in the Garden of Eden "to work it and take care of it" . This mandate establishes the divine intention for humanity to engage in the cultivation and stewardship of the earth. The act of farming is thus seen as a partnership with God in maintaining and nurturing His creation.

The Curse and Toil

Following the fall of man, the nature of farming changes significantly. Genesis 3:17-19 describes the curse placed upon the ground, making agriculture a laborious task: "Cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread" . This passage highlights the toil and hardship associated with farming post-Fall, contrasting with the ease of tending the Garden of Eden.

Farming in the Patriarchal Period

The patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were primarily pastoralists, but they also engaged in farming. Genesis 26:12 records that Isaac "sowed seed in that land, and in the same year he reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him" . This instance underscores the belief that agricultural success is ultimately dependent on divine blessing.

The Promised Land and Agricultural Laws

The Promised Land is frequently described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), indicating its agricultural abundance. The Mosaic Law contains numerous regulations concerning farming, emphasizing justice, rest, and provision for the poor. For example, Leviticus 19:9-10 instructs, "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 leave them for the poor and the foreigner" . These laws reflect God's concern for social justice and care for the marginalized.

Prophetic Imagery and Eschatological Hope

The prophets often use agricultural imagery to convey spiritual truths and eschatological hope. Isaiah 55:10-11 compares God's word to rain and snow that water the earth, causing it to "bud and flourish" . Similarly, Amos 9:13 envisions a time of unprecedented agricultural prosperity: "The days are coming, declares the LORD, when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes the sower of seed" . These images point to a future restoration and blessing.

New Testament Parables and Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus frequently employs agricultural metaphors in His parables and teachings. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9) illustrates the different responses to the Gospel message, while the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) addresses the coexistence of good and evil until the final judgment. These parables highlight the spiritual lessons drawn from farming practices.

Spiritual Lessons and Symbolism

Farming in the Bible is rich with spiritual symbolism. The process of sowing and reaping is often used to describe the principles of spiritual growth and divine justice. Galatians 6:7-9 warns, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return" . This principle underscores the moral and spiritual consequences of one's actions.

In summary, farming in the Bible is not merely an economic activity but a profound expression of humanity's relationship with God, creation, and one another. It serves as a backdrop for divine instruction, blessing, and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.(imp. & p. p.) of Farm.

From John Yeardley's Conversion to the Commencement of his Public ...
... His parents, Joel and Frances Yeardley, farmed some land, chiefly pasture, and his
mother is said to have been famous for her cream-cheeses, which she carried ...
/.../chapter i from john yeardleys.htm

The Home and the Boy
... prerogatives of the father and mother, so far as they pertain to the physical, social,
mental and moral development of boyhood, have been farmed out to other ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/i the home and the.htm

Goes to Housekeeping. Discussions with Mr. Maddox. Attends Meeting ...
... disturbed in regard to the right way of the Lord. I farmed for three years
after marriage. The last year, we lived on the railroad just ...
/.../chapter vi goes to housekeeping.htm

The Friend of Sinners
... Beside, these publicans did not merely gather the taxes, as they do in free England;
they farmed them, compounded for them with the Roman emperor; that is ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxxiii the friend of.htm

Spiritual Farming. --No. 1 Draining.
... 1. DRAINING. If the men who farmed England in the olden time could return, few
things would surprise them more than the condition of the land. ...
/.../champness/broken bread/i spiritual farming no 1 draining.htm

"But they are Gods to Us," You Say. ...
... under the registration of the qu??stor. Deity is struck off and farmed
out to the highest bidder. But indeed lands burdened with ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xiii but they are.htm

Reformation.
... granted to Albert, elector of Mentz and archbishop of Magdeburg, the benefit of
the indulgences of Saxony, and the neighboring parts, and farmed out those of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/reformation.htm

How Cleopatra, when She had Gotten from Antony Some Parts of Judea ...
... expedition to Armenia as far as Euphrates, she returned back, and came to Apamia
and Damascus, and passed on to Judea, where Herod met her, and farmed of her ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how cleopatra when.htm

Introduction.
... 8. "What," answer they, "is sweeter than honey, and what is stronger than a lion?"
To which he replied: "If ye had not farmed with my heifer, you would not ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/introduction 2.htm

The Historical Situation
... 5. There were two sorts of Roman taxes in Judea: direct, which were collected by
salaried officials; and customs, which were farmed out to the highest bidder. ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/i the historical situation.htm

Farmed (4 Occurrences)
...Farmed (4 Occurrences). ... Ezekiel 36:34 And the land which was waste will be farmed,
in place of being a waste in the eyes of everyone who went by. (BBE). ...
/f/farmed.htm - 7k

Farm (9 Occurrences)
... the owner. 5. (a. & n.) A district of country leased (or farmed) out for
the collection of the revenues of government. 6. (a. & ...
/f/farm.htm - 11k

Farmer (17 Occurrences)

/f/farmer.htm - 11k

Publican (7 Occurrences)
... One who farmed the taxes (eg, Zacchaeus, Luke 19:2) to be levied from a town or
district, and thus undertook to pay to the supreme government a certain amount. ...
/p/publican.htm - 9k

Procurator
... Under the Republic the influence of the equestrian class was chiefly exerted in
the financial transactions of the companies which farmed the variable revenues. ...
/p/procurator.htm - 13k

Custom (51 Occurrences)
... See Ryle, Cambridge Bible, Ezra-Nehemiah, in the place cited Telos in New Testament
and Maccabees is an indirect tax farmed out to the publicans. ...
/c/custom.htm - 28k

Assessor
... The kings of Judah, it would seem, made free use of the temple treasures. (3) Later
the Roman government "farmed out" the taxes of the provinces. ...
/a/assessor.htm - 9k

Matthew (5 Occurrences)
... Galilee, or possibly a subordinate officer, belonging to the class called portitores,
serving under the publicani, or superior officials who farmed the Roman ...
/m/matthew.htm - 38k

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)
... Oriental. He raised the immense fine that Necoh imposed upon him by a direct
taxation, which he farmed out to unscrupulous officials. ...
/j/jehoiakim.htm - 33k

Who were the Sumerians? | GotQuestions.org

Farmed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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