The term "hundredfold" is used in the Bible to signify a large, abundant increase or blessing, often in the context of God's provision and reward for faithfulness. It is a term that conveys the idea of multiplication and divine favor, reflecting the principle that God rewards those who are faithful to Him with blessings that far exceed their initial offerings or sacrifices.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the concept of a hundredfold increase is illustrated in the agricultural context. Genesis 26:12 provides a notable example: "Isaac sowed seed in that land, and that year he reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD had blessed him." This passage highlights God's blessing upon Isaac, demonstrating that divine favor can result in extraordinary prosperity, even in times of famine or difficulty. The hundredfold return is a testament to God's ability to provide abundantly for His people.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus uses the concept of a hundredfold return to teach about the rewards of discipleship and the kingdom of God. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes how the seed that falls on good soil yields a crop, "producing a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold." (Matthew 13:8) This parable illustrates the varying degrees of fruitfulness in the lives of believers, with the hundredfold return symbolizing the maximum potential of spiritual growth and impact when one's heart is receptive to God's word.

Furthermore, Jesus promises a hundredfold reward to those who sacrifice for His sake. In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life." This promise underscores the principle that sacrifices made for the kingdom of God are met with abundant spiritual and material blessings, both in this life and in eternity.

Spiritual Implications

The concept of a hundredfold return is not merely about material wealth but encompasses spiritual blessings and growth. It serves as an encouragement for believers to invest their lives, resources, and efforts into the work of God's kingdom, trusting that God will multiply their contributions in ways that surpass human understanding. The hundredfold principle is a reminder of God's faithfulness and generosity, encouraging believers to live with an eternal perspective, knowing that their labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Conclusion

The biblical use of "hundredfold" emphasizes the abundant blessings and rewards that come from God to those who are faithful and obedient. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to multiply and bless beyond measure, encouraging believers to trust in His provision and to live lives of sacrificial service for His glory.(n.) A hundred times as much or as many.1542. hekatontaplasion -- a hundred times
... times. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hekatontaplasion Phonetic Spelling:
(hek-at-on-ta-plah-sec'-own) Short Definition: a hundredfold Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1542.htm - 7k

1540. hekaton -- a hundred
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition a hundred NASB Word Usage hundred (7),
hundredfold (4), hundreds (1), one hundred (4). hundred. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1540.htm - 6k

8180. shaar -- a measure
... 8179, 8180. shaar. 8181 . a measure. Transliteration: shaar Phonetic Spelling:
(shah'-ar) Short Definition: hundredfold. ... hundredfold. ...
/hebrew/8180.htm - 6k

3967. meah -- hundred
... 1), 8,600* (1), 800,000* (1), 822* (1), 832* (1), 845* (1), 928* (1), 945* (1),
956* (1), 973* (2), eleven* (3), hundred (220), hundredfold* (1), hundreds (27 ...
/hebrew/3967.htm - 8k

6471. paam -- a beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
... twice (7), two times (1), usual (1). anvil, corner, footstep, going, hundredfold,
now, this once, order,. Or (feminine) pa;amah {pah-am ...
/hebrew/6471.htm - 6k

How the Promise of an Hundredfold in this Life is Made to those ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XXVI. How the promise of an hundredfold
in this life is made to those whose renunciation is perfect. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xxvi how the promise.htm

Whether the Aureole Differs from the Fruit?
... Now the aureole and the hundredfold fruit correspond to the same merit, according
to a gloss on Mat.13:8, "Some a hundredfold." Therefore the aureole is the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the aureole differs from.htm

Whether virginity is the Greatest of virtues?
... virtue. Now the greatest reward is due to virginity, namely the hundredfold
fruit, according to a gloss on Mat.13:23. Therefore ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether virginity is the greatest.htm

Whether the Fruits are Suitably Enumerated by the Apostle?
... good ground, viz. "hundredfold, sixtyfold," and "thirtyfold." Therefore
one should not reckon twelve fruits. Objection 3: Further ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the fruits are suitably.htm

The First Great Group of Parables.
... a horse can not push through them.] 8 And others { ^c other} ^b fell into { ^a upon}
^b the good ground, ^c and grew, and brought forth a hundredfold, ^b and ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/liv the first great group 2.htm

Letter Xlviii. To Pammachius.
... Yields of one hundredfold, of sixtyfold, and of thirtyfold [1049] may all come from
one soil and from one sowing, yet they will differ widely in quantity. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xlviii to pammachius.htm

Private Property and the Common Good
... And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them: and others
fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty ...
/.../the social principles of jesus/chapter viii private property and.htm

The Sower
... And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing;
and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 4 3-9 14-20 the sower.htm

John Chapter xix. 24-30.
... [1899] That disciple, therefore, had an hundredfold more than he had cast away,
whereunto to receive the mother of Him who had graciously bestowed it all. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxix john chapter xix.htm

The Sower.
... And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing;
and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold." And he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the sower.htm

Sixtyfold (3 Occurrences)
... Sixtyfold (3 Occurrences). Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought
forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. (KJV). ...
/s/sixtyfold.htm - 7k

Indeed (628 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:8 and others fell upon the good ground, and were giving fruit, some
indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty. (YLT). ...
/i/indeed.htm - 34k

Fold (23 Occurrences)
... seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which
also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty ...
/f/fold.htm - 17k

Fields (199 Occurrences)
... and every one who left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or
wife, or children, or fields, for my name's sake, an hundredfold shall receive ...
/f/fields.htm - 37k

Thirtyfold (3 Occurrences)
... Thirtyfold (3 Occurrences). Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought
forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. (KJV). ...
/t/thirtyfold.htm - 7k

Age-during (167 Occurrences)
... and every one who left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or
wife, or children, or fields, for my name's sake, an hundredfold shall receive ...
/a/age-during.htm - 36k

Soever (24 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 24:3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people,
how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the ...
/s/soever.htm - 14k

Hundredfold (10 Occurrences)
...Hundredfold (10 Occurrences). Matthew 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and
brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ...
/h/hundredfold.htm - 9k

Hundred-fold (7 Occurrences)
Hundred-fold. Hundredfold, Hundred-fold. Hundreds . ... (WBS). Genesis 26:12 And
Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold. ...
/h/hundred-fold.htm - 8k

Brethren (528 Occurrences)
... forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children,
or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall ...
/b/brethren.htm - 51k

What does the Bible say about sowing and reaping? | GotQuestions.org

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Hundredfold: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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