In biblical times, agriculture was a central aspect of daily life and economy, and the concept of furrows is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures. A furrow is a trench made in the soil by a plow, used for planting seeds. The imagery of furrows is often employed in the Bible to convey spiritual truths, moral lessons, and divine principles.

Biblical References:

1. Psalm 65:10 : "You soak its furrows and level its ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its growth." This verse highlights God's providential care over the earth, emphasizing His role in nurturing and sustaining creation. The furrows, representing human effort in agriculture, are blessed by God's provision of rain, illustrating the partnership between divine blessing and human labor.

2. Job 39:10 : "Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he plow the valleys behind you?" Here, God challenges Job with questions about the natural world, pointing to the strength and independence of the wild ox. The mention of furrows underscores the human endeavor in agriculture, contrasting it with the untamed nature of God's creation.

3. Hosea 10:4 : "They speak mere words, with false oaths they make covenants; so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field." This passage uses the imagery of furrows to depict the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness. Just as weeds can overtake a field, so can injustice and falsehood corrupt a society, leading to divine judgment.

4. Proverbs 21:4 : "Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin." While this verse does not directly mention furrows, the agricultural metaphor is implicit in the broader biblical context. Pride and wickedness are likened to poor cultivation practices that lead to unproductive or harmful results, contrasting with the humility and diligence required for fruitful labor.

Spiritual and Moral Lessons:

The imagery of furrows in the Bible often serves as a metaphor for spiritual preparation and moral integrity. Just as furrows must be carefully plowed and maintained for a successful harvest, so must the human heart be prepared and cultivated for spiritual growth and righteousness. The process of plowing furrows can symbolize repentance and the breaking up of fallow ground, as seen in Hosea 10:12 : "Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain."

Divine Partnership:

The concept of furrows also illustrates the partnership between human effort and divine blessing. While humans are responsible for the labor of plowing and planting, it is ultimately God who provides the increase. This principle is echoed in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 , where Paul writes, "I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

In summary, furrows in the Bible serve as a rich symbol of human responsibility, divine provision, and the moral and spiritual lessons that arise from the agricultural practices of the ancient world. Through the imagery of furrows, Scripture communicates profound truths about the nature of God's relationship with humanity and the moral order He has established.

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Furrow's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Furrow's (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 14:14 That first
slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was ...
/f/furrow's.htm - 6k

Acre (1 Occurrence)
... The translation of the Revised Version (British and American), "within as it were
half a furrow's length in an acre of land," means, strictly, that they were ...
/a/acre.htm - 9k

Furrows (8 Occurrences)

/f/furrows.htm - 8k

Bearer (23 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was
about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land ...
/b/bearer.htm - 14k

Armorbearer (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armorbearer made,
was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of ...
/a/armorbearer.htm - 11k

Area (66 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made,
was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre ...
/a/area.htm - 26k

Further (121 Occurrences)

/f/further.htm - 38k

Slaughter (121 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was
about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land ...
/s/slaughter.htm - 40k

Length (135 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was
about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land ...
/l/length.htm - 37k

Armor (53 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:14 That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was
about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land ...
/a/armor.htm - 41k

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