The term "pastured" refers to the act of grazing livestock in a field or pasture, where they feed on grass and other vegetation. In biblical times, pasturing was a common practice for shepherds and herdsmen, who relied on the land to provide sustenance for their flocks and herds. The concept of pasturing is deeply embedded in the pastoral imagery found throughout the Bible, symbolizing care, provision, and guidance.

Biblical References:

1. Psalm 23:1-2 : "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." This well-known psalm portrays God as the ultimate Shepherd who provides for His people, leading them to places of rest and nourishment. The imagery of "green pastures" signifies abundance and peace, reflecting God's provision and care.

2. Ezekiel 34:14-15 : "I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will tend My flock and make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD." Here, God promises to be the Shepherd of Israel, ensuring that His people are well-fed and cared for. The "good pasture" symbolizes the spiritual nourishment and safety that God provides.

3. John 10:9 : "I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture." Jesus, identifying Himself as the gate for the sheep, assures believers of salvation and the promise of spiritual sustenance. The "pasture" here represents the spiritual nourishment and freedom found in Christ.

Theological Significance:

In the Bible, pasturing is not merely an agricultural practice but a metaphor for divine care and guidance. Shepherds in ancient Israel were responsible for leading their flocks to safe and fertile pastures, protecting them from predators, and ensuring their well-being. This role is often used to describe God's relationship with His people, emphasizing His protective and nurturing nature.

The imagery of pasturing also highlights the dependence of the flock on the shepherd. Just as sheep rely on their shepherd for sustenance and safety, believers are called to trust in God's provision and guidance. This dependence is a recurring theme in Scripture, illustrating the relationship between God and His people.

Pasturing in the Life of Believers:

For Christians, the concept of being "pastured" by God is a reminder of His constant care and provision. It encourages believers to seek spiritual nourishment through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship with other believers. The assurance of being led to "green pastures" offers comfort and hope, especially in times of uncertainty or difficulty.

Furthermore, the role of pastors and church leaders can be seen as an extension of this pastoral care. They are called to shepherd their congregations, providing spiritual guidance and ensuring that their flock is fed with the Word of God. This responsibility mirrors the divine care exemplified by God and Christ, the Good Shepherd.

In summary, the biblical concept of pasturing encompasses themes of provision, guidance, and divine care. It serves as a powerful metaphor for God's relationship with His people, illustrating His role as the ultimate Shepherd who leads His flock to spiritual nourishment and rest.(imp. & p. p.) of Pasture.7462a. raah -- to pasture, tend, graze
... 1), eat (3), fed (1), feed (16), feeding (4), feeds (4), graze (7), grazed (2),
grazing (1), herdsmen (6), keeper (1), pasture (12), pastured (2), pastures (2 ...
/hebrew/7462a.htm - 6k

The Nativity of Jesus the Messiah.
... He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, the tower of the flock.' [950] This Migdal
Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks which pastured on the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi the nativity of.htm

In Judaea
... at long distances dotted it; [17] desolate, lonely, tenanted only by the solitary
shepherd, or the great proprietor, like Nabal, whose sheep pastured along it ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

Ranee Khet Mission.
... on one side, the country for miles around was covered with forests of pine, oak,
and rhododendron, over which the people of the valleys pastured their cattle ...
/.../chapter xxii ranee khet mission.htm

The Angel of Death
... had searched throughout the length and breadth of Israel and found Rachel not, he
led his horse from the distant meadow, where he had been pastured, and turned ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xli the angel of.htm

A Tricky Ox
... When the cattle come to these stockyards they are not tame cattle like the cows
we see out in our pastures, but they are cattle that have pastured out on the ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/a tricky ox.htm

Here Followeth the History of Job
... ate, and drank wine, in the house of the oldest brother, there came a messenger
to Job which said: The oxen eared in the plough and the ass pastured in the ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here followeth the history of.htm

To Gregory xi
... It demands that you execute justice on the abundance of many iniquities committed
by those who are fed and pastured in the garden of Holy Church; declaring ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to gregory xi 6.htm

Of the Two Classes of Voluptuous Men, and of their Death, Falling ...
... These, accordingly, thus entangled, pastured amongst the thorns and thistles, and
were exceedingly miserable, being beaten by him; and he drove them hither and ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/similitude sixth of the two.htm

National Wealth
... Not merely in lonely forests and unexplored mountains, but on farms where the sheep
have been pastured for years past; ay, even Melbourne streets were full of ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xvi national wealth.htm

Three Homilies. On Our Lord.
... dead idols. For the one calf which they made in the desert, [560] pastured
on their lives as on grass in the desert. For that idolatry ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/three homilies on our lord.htm

Pastured (4 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Pasture. Multi-Version Concordance Pastured (4 Occurrences).
Genesis 36:24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. ...
/p/pastured.htm - 7k

Nabal (18 Occurrences)
... or "wicked"; Nabal): A wealthy man of Maon in the highlands of Judah, not far from
Hebron, owner of many sheep and goats which he pastured around Carmel in the ...
/n/nabal.htm - 16k

Jeshimon (6 Occurrences)
... 7 passages in poetical parallelism to midhbar, translated "wilderness," it really
means a much more hopeless place; in a midhbar animals can be pastured, but a ...
/j/jeshimon.htm - 11k

Depastureth (1 Occurrence)
... Exodus 22:5 When a man depastureth a field or vineyard, and hath sent out his beast,
and it hath pastured in the field of another, 'of' the best of his field ...
/d/depastureth.htm - 6k

Pasture-fed (1 Occurrence)
Pasture-fed. Pastured, Pasture-fed. Pasture-grounds . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See NAS RSV NIV). Pastured, Pasture-fed. Pasture-grounds . Reference Bible
/p/pasture-fed.htm - 6k

Cattle (277 Occurrences)
... The finest herds were found in Bashan, beyond Jordan (Numbers 32:4). Large
herds also pastured on the wide fertile plains of Sharon. ...
/c/cattle.htm - 52k

Chaldees (13 Occurrences)
... should be stated that there are scholars who hold, with the Septuagint, that Ur
means, not a city, but perhaps a land in which the patriarch pastured his flocks ...
/c/chaldees.htm - 15k

Shepherd (76 Occurrences)
... onerous. "In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching
at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. ...
/s/shepherd.htm - 42k

Hagarene
... "A Hagarite had charge of David's flocks, and an Ishmaelite of his herds, because
the animals were pastured in districts where these nomadic people were ...
/h/hagarene.htm - 7k

Repay (79 Occurrences)
... Exodus 22:5 When a man depastureth a field or vineyard, and hath sent out his beast,
and it hath pastured in the field of another, 'of' the best of his field ...
/r/repay.htm - 28k

Who was Nabal in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Pastured: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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