A grainfield, as referenced in the Bible, is an agricultural field where grains such as wheat, barley, or other cereal crops are cultivated. These fields are significant in biblical narratives, symbolizing sustenance, provision, and the agrarian lifestyle of ancient Israel. Grainfields are often mentioned in the context of God's provision and the cycles of sowing and reaping, which are central to the agrarian society of the biblical world.

Biblical References:

1. Provision and Sustenance:
Grainfields are emblematic of God's provision for His people. In the Old Testament, the Promised Land is described as "a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey" (Deuteronomy 8:8). This description highlights the abundance and fertility of the land, with grainfields being a key component of this prosperity.

2. Sabbath Observance:
One of the most notable New Testament references to grainfields is found in the Gospels, where Jesus and His disciples walk through the fields on the Sabbath. In Matthew 12:1-2 , it is written: "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, 'Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.'" This passage highlights the tension between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding the interpretation of the Sabbath law, emphasizing the principle of mercy over ritualistic observance.

3. Harvest and Judgment:
Grainfields also serve as a metaphor for harvest and judgment. In the parable of the weeds, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). The harvest represents the end of the age, where the wheat (righteous) and weeds (wicked) are separated, symbolizing divine judgment.

4. Ruth and Boaz:
The Book of Ruth provides a narrative set in the context of grainfields. Ruth, a Moabite widow, gleans in the fields of Boaz during the barley harvest (Ruth 2:2-3). This account illustrates themes of loyalty, redemption, and God's providence, as Boaz becomes Ruth's kinsman-redeemer, ultimately leading to the lineage of King David.

5. Agricultural Laws:
The Mosaic Law contains specific instructions regarding grainfields, reflecting God's concern for justice and care for the poor. For instance, landowners were commanded not to reap to the very edges of their fields or gather the gleanings of their harvest, leaving them for the poor and the foreigner (Leviticus 19:9-10). This law ensured that the marginalized had access to food and sustenance.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, grainfields were a vital part of the economy and daily life. The agricultural calendar revolved around the planting and harvesting of grains, with festivals such as the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) celebrating the wheat harvest. The imagery of grainfields in Scripture often conveys themes of abundance, divine blessing, and the moral and spiritual lessons associated with labor and harvest.

Grainfields, therefore, are not merely agricultural sites but are imbued with spiritual significance, serving as settings for divine encounters, moral teachings, and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan throughout biblical history.(n.) A field where grain is grown.

Jesus Defends Healing a Withered Hand on the Sabbath.
... But, taught by their experience in the grainfield, they changed their bold assertion,
"It is not lawful," and approached the subject with a guarded question ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxix jesus defends healing a.htm

Grainfield (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A field where grain is grown. Multi-Version
Concordance Grainfield (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 23:25 ...
/g/grainfield.htm - 6k

Grain-cutting (19 Occurrences)
Grain-cutting. Grain-cutters, Grain-cutting. Grainfield . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (BBE). Grain-cutters, Grain-cutting. Grainfield . Reference Bible.
/g/grain-cutting.htm - 12k

Grain-field (1 Occurrence)
Grain-field. Grainfield, Grain-field. Grainfields . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Grainfield, Grain-field. Grainfields . Reference Bible.
/g/grain-field.htm - 6k

Grainfield: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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