Grass-land, often referred to in biblical texts, represents areas of fertile ground covered with grass, suitable for grazing livestock. These lands are significant in the biblical narrative, symbolizing both physical sustenance and spiritual abundance. The term "grass-land" is not explicitly used in most English translations of the Bible, but the concept is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, particularly in the context of pastoral life and God's provision.

Biblical References and Symbolism

1. Provision and Abundance: Grass-lands are frequently associated with God's provision for His people. In Psalm 23:2 , the psalmist declares, "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." Here, the "green pastures" symbolize God's care and the peace and sustenance He provides to His followers.

2. Pastoral Life: The patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were nomadic herders who relied on grass-lands for the survival of their flocks. Genesis 13:10 describes the land of the Jordan Valley as "well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD," indicating its suitability for grazing and its resemblance to Eden, a place of divine blessing.

3. Divine Judgment and Restoration: Grass-lands also appear in prophetic literature, often in the context of judgment and restoration. In Isaiah 15:6 , the prophet speaks of the desolation of Moab, saying, "The waters of Nimrim are dried up, and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone, and nothing green is left." This imagery of withered grass signifies divine judgment. Conversely, Isaiah 35:7 promises restoration: "The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt of jackals, their resting place, grass will become reeds and rushes."

4. Transience of Life: Grass-lands also serve as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of human life. In Isaiah 40:6-8 , the prophet declares, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers, the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." This passage contrasts the temporary nature of human existence with the eternal nature of God's word.

5. Messianic Imagery: In the New Testament, Jesus uses the imagery of grass to teach about God's provision and care. In Matthew 6:30 , He states, "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Here, grass-lands illustrate God's attention to creation and His greater care for humanity.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, grass-lands were vital for the agrarian and pastoral economies. The Israelites, like many of their neighbors, depended on these lands for grazing sheep, goats, and cattle. The availability of fertile grass-lands often determined the wealth and stability of a community. The biblical narrative reflects this dependence, as seen in the disputes over wells and grazing rights, such as the conflict between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot in Genesis 13.

Theological Implications

Grass-lands in the Bible underscore themes of divine provision, judgment, and the transient nature of life. They remind believers of God's faithfulness in providing for physical needs while also pointing to spiritual truths. The imagery of grass-lands invites reflection on the sufficiency of God's care and the importance of trusting in His eternal promises.

June the First the Beauty of Variety
... loveliness. There are mountains, and sea, and grassland, and trees, and
a wide-stretching sky, and white pebbles at my feet. And ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/june the first the beauty.htm

The Importance of a Choice
... An acre or two more or less of grass land does not look all-important, when
our vision of the city which hath foundations is clear. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the importance of a choice.htm

Grass-land (9 Occurrences)
Grass-land. Grasshoppers, Grass-land. Grasslands . Multi-Version
Concordance Grass-land (9 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles ...
/g/grass-land.htm - 9k

Grazing (6 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 34:14 I will give them good grass-land for their food, and their safe place
will be the mountains of the high place of Israel: there they will take ...
/g/grazing.htm - 8k

Dirty (9 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 34:18 Does it seem a small thing to you to have taken your food on good
grass-land while the rest of your grass-land is stamped down under your feet? ...
/d/dirty.htm - 9k

Stamped (27 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 34:18 Does it seem a small thing to you to have taken your food on good
grass-land while the rest of your grass-land is stamped down under your feet? ...
/s/stamped.htm - 16k

Grasshoppers (11 Occurrences)

/g/grasshoppers.htm - 10k

Pasture (120 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Specifically: Grass growing for the food of cattle; the food of cattle taken
by grazing. 3. (n.) Grassland for cattle, horses, etc.; pasturage. ...
/p/pasture.htm - 33k

Grasslands (1 Occurrence)

/g/grasslands.htm - 6k

Peace-loving (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 4:40 And they came to some good fertile grass-land, in a wide quiet
country of peace-loving people; for the people who were living there before ...
/p/peace-loving.htm - 7k

Pasturage
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Grazing ground; grassland used for pasturing;
pasture. 2. (n.) Grass growing for feed; grazing. ...
/p/pasturage.htm - 6k

Sirion (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 5:16 And they were living in Gilead in Bashan, in its small towns
and in all the grass-land of Sirion as far as its limits. (BBE). ...
/s/sirion.htm - 8k

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