The term "plowshare" refers to the cutting blade of a plow, an essential tool in ancient agriculture used to break up the soil for planting crops. In biblical times, the plowshare was a symbol of agricultural productivity and sustenance, representing the agrarian lifestyle of many Israelite communities. The plowshare is mentioned in several passages throughout the Bible, often in a metaphorical context that contrasts war and peace.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 2:4 : "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war." This verse is part of a prophetic vision of a future era of peace, where instruments of war are transformed into tools for agriculture, symbolizing the end of conflict and the beginning of a harmonious existence.

2. Micah 4:3 : "Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war." Similar to Isaiah, this passage from Micah envisions a time when God’s justice will prevail, leading to global peace and the repurposing of weapons into farming tools.

3. Joel 3:10 : "Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’" In contrast to Isaiah and Micah, this verse from Joel calls for the opposite transformation, where tools of peace are turned into weapons of war. This reflects a time of impending conflict and the need for readiness and strength.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The imagery of plowshares in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of transformation and hope. The conversion of swords into plowshares signifies a divine promise of peace and the restoration of creation to its intended harmony. This transformation is often associated with the Messianic age, a time when God’s kingdom will be fully realized on earth.

In the context of biblical prophecy, the plowshare represents the ideal of peace and the cessation of hostilities. It underscores the biblical theme of God’s ultimate plan for humanity, where justice and righteousness prevail, and the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, agriculture was the backbone of society, and the plowshare was a vital component of daily life. The plowshare's role in farming made it a familiar and relatable image for the original audience of the biblical texts. The transformation of weapons into plowshares would have been a powerful and hopeful image for a people often beset by war and conflict.

The prophetic vision of turning swords into plowshares has resonated throughout history, inspiring movements for peace and justice. It reflects a deep longing for a world where human efforts are directed towards nurturing life rather than destroying it.

Conclusion:

The biblical concept of the plowshare, with its rich symbolism and prophetic significance, continues to inspire and challenge believers to seek peace and pursue justice in accordance with God’s will.(n.) Alt. of Ploughshare.4281. machareshah -- a plowshare
... 4280, 4281. machareshah. 4282 . a plowshare. Transliteration: machareshah
Phonetic Spelling: (makh-ar-ay-shaw') Short Definition: hoe. ...
/hebrew/4281.htm - 6k

855. eth -- a plowshare
... 854, 855. eth. 855a . a plowshare. Transliteration: eth Phonetic Spelling:
(ayth) Short Definition: coulter. coulter, plowshare ...
/hebrew/855.htm - 5k

855a. eth -- a plowshare
... 855, 855a. eth. 855b . a plowshare. Transliteration: eth Short Definition:
plowshares. Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition ...
/hebrew/855a.htm - 5k

The Revelation to which the Scripture of the Old Testament Owes ...
... This word was followed by the deed. God's word does not return void; it is not
a sound, but a power. It is a plowshare subsoiling the soul. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xiv the revelation to which.htm

Talmage -- a Bloody Monster
... As long as you make drinking respectable, drinking customs will prevail, and the
plowshare of death, drawn by terrible disasters, will go on turning up this ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/talmage a bloody monster.htm

Our Spiritual Ancestry
... purely human. Through the gospel histories Strauss ran his critical theory
like a plowshare through a field of daisies. He showed ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/i our spiritual ancestry.htm

The Best of the Best
... field; he was only thinking of the field, and how much corn it would take to sow
it; and he was ploughing up and down, when suddenly, his plowshare hit upon ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/the best of the best.htm

The Condescension of Christ
... day troubled on account of sin"and there are many such here"God has not let you
alone; he has been plowing your heart with the sharp plowshare of conviction ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the condescension of christ.htm

The Barley Field on Fire
... is not broken. Some of you all but break the plowshare: you are such rocks
that it seems in vain to plow upon you. As for trouble ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/the barley field on fire.htm

Plowshare (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Alt. of Ploughshare. Multi-Version Concordance
Plowshare (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 13:20 but all the ...
/p/plowshare.htm - 6k

Plowshares (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 13:20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every
man his plowshare, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. ...
/p/plowshares.htm - 8k

Goad (2 Occurrences)
... The pointed end is to prod the oxen while plowing. The flattened iron at the
other end is to scrape off the earth which clogs the plowshare. ...
/g/goad.htm - 9k

Mattocks (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 13:20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every
man his plowshare, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. ...
/m/mattocks.htm - 7k

Mattock (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 13:20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every
man his plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle; (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS ...
/m/mattock.htm - 8k

Plows (3 Occurrences)

/p/plows.htm - 7k

Colter (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A knife or cutter, attached to the beam of a plow
to cut the sward, in advance of the plowshare and moldboard. ...
/c/colter.htm - 6k

Sickle (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 13:20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every
man his plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle; (WEB DBY RSV NIV). ...
/s/sickle.htm - 12k

Share (138 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The part (usually an iron or steel plate) of a
plow which cuts the ground at the bottom of a furrow; a plowshare. ...
/s/share.htm - 37k

Sickles (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 13:20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen
every man his plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle; (See NIV). ...
/s/sickles.htm - 6k

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