A sickle is an agricultural tool with a curved blade, traditionally used for harvesting grain and reaping crops. In biblical times, the sickle was an essential implement for farmers, symbolizing the harvest and, metaphorically, divine judgment and the end times.

Biblical References:

1. Old Testament Usage:
· The sickle is first mentioned in the context of the harvest in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 16:9, the Israelites are instructed: "You are to count off seven weeks from the time you first put the sickle to the standing grain." This passage highlights the sickle's role in the Feast of Weeks, marking the beginning of the harvest season.
· In Joel 3:13, the sickle is used metaphorically to describe divine judgment: "Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the vats overflow, because their wickedness is great." Here, the sickle symbolizes the impending judgment of the nations.

2. New Testament Usage:
· The imagery of the sickle is also present in the New Testament, particularly in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 14:14-16 describes a vision of the Son of Man with a sickle: "Then I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, 'Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest; for the crop of the earth is ripe.' So the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested." This passage uses the sickle as a symbol of the final harvest, representing the gathering of believers and the execution of divine judgment.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In biblical literature, the sickle is a powerful symbol of both physical and spiritual harvest. It represents the gathering of crops, which is a time of joy and provision, as well as the gathering of souls, which is a time of divine reckoning. The sickle's sharpness and efficiency in cutting through the harvest make it an apt metaphor for the swiftness and decisiveness of God's judgment.

The use of the sickle in prophetic and apocalyptic literature underscores the urgency and inevitability of the end times. It serves as a reminder of the dual nature of God's work: the nurturing and provision of His people, and the righteous judgment of the wicked.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient agrarian societies, the sickle was a common tool, essential for the survival and prosperity of the community. Its presence in biblical texts reflects the everyday life of the Israelites and their dependence on agriculture. The sickle's role in the harvest festivals, such as the Feast of Weeks, highlights its importance in the religious and cultural practices of the time.

The sickle's enduring symbolism in Scripture continues to resonate with believers, reminding them of the cyclical nature of life, the certainty of God's promises, and the ultimate fulfillment of His divine plan.Of the Egyptians resembled that in modern use. The ears of corn were cut with it near the top of the straw. There was also a sickle used for warlike purposes, more correctly, however, called a pruning-hook (Deuteronomy 16:9; Jeremiah 50:16, marg., "scythe;" Joel 3:13; Mark 4:29). 1. (n.) A reaping instrument consisting of a steel blade curved into the form of a hook, and having a handle fitted on a tang. The sickle has one side of the blade notched, so as always to sharpen with a serrated edge. Cf. Reaping hook, under Reap.

2. (n.) A group of stars in the constellation Leo.

SICKLE

sik'-'l (chermesh (Deuteronomy 16:9; Deuteronomy 23:25), maggal; compare Arabic minjal (Jeremiah 50:16 Joel 3:13); drepanon (Mark 4:29 Revelation 14:14-19)): Although the ancients pulled much of their grain by hand, we know that they also used sickles. The form of this instrument varied, as is evidenced by the Egyptian sculptures. The earliest sickle was probably of wood, shaped like the modern scythe, although much smaller, with the cutting edge made of sharp flints set into the wood. Sickle flints were found at Tel el-Chesy. Crescent-shaped iron sickles were found in the same mound. In Palestine and Syria the sickle varies in size. It is usually made wholly of iron or steel and shaped much like the instrument used in western lands. The smaller-sized sickles are used both for pruning and for reaping.

James A. Patch

1407. drepanon -- a sickle, a pruning hook
... a sickle, a pruning hook. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: drepanon
Phonetic Spelling: (drep'-an-on) Short Definition: a sickle Definition: a sickle ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1407.htm - 6k2770. chermesh -- a sickle
... 2769, 2770. chermesh. 2771 . a sickle. Transliteration: chermesh Phonetic
Spelling: (kher-mashe') Short Definition: sickle. Word ...
/hebrew/2770.htm - 6k

4038. maggal -- a sickle
... 4037, 4038. maggal. 4039 . a sickle. Transliteration: maggal Phonetic
Spelling: (mag-gawl') Short Definition: sickle. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4038.htm - 5k

The Reaping of the vine.
... EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE. The Reaping of the Vine. "And another angel came
out of the temple in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the reaping of the vine.htm

The Harvest of the Earth.
... And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and one was seated on the cloud like the
Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the harvest of the earth.htm

Acts ii. 1, 2
... What is this Pentecost? The time when the sickle was to be put to the harvest,
and the ingathering was made. ... Himself first put in the sickle. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily iv acts ii 1.htm

The Fifth vision "On Earth"
... The last four form two pairs, in which the first of each has a sharp sickle, and
the second of each gives the command to use it. ... What he had. A sharp sickle. ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the fifth vision on earth.htm

Christ's Prayer for his People
... "And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having
a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/christs prayer for his people.htm

The Recovery and Revival of the Blessed Hope Itself.
... ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the
sickle, because the harvest is come" (Mark 4:26-29). Like ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/1 the recovery and revival.htm

From the Fourteenth Chapter.
... 15. "Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather in the grapes of the vine,"] he signifies
it of the nations that should perish on the advent of the Lord. ...
/.../from the fourteenth chapter.htm

The Life of St. Peter the Apostle
... And he said yet more: When my mother Rachel commanded me that I should go reap corn
in the field, and saw the sickle ready to reap with, I commanded the sickle ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of st peter.htm

The Seed Growing Secretly
... ear. But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle,
because the harvest is come." Mark 4:26-29 (RV) ST. Mark ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 4 26-29 the seed growing.htm

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat, like unto the
Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

Sickle (13 Occurrences)
... There was also a sickle used for warlike purposes, more correctly, however, called
a pruning-hook (Deuteronomy 16:9; Jeremiah 50:16, marg., "scythe;" Joel 3:13 ...
/s/sickle.htm - 12k

Reaping (10 Occurrences)
... ing (qatsar; therizo): Reaping in ancient times, as at present, consisted in either
pulling up the grain by the roots or cutting it with a sickle (see SICKLE...
/r/reaping.htm - 13k

Ripe (29 Occurrences)
... Ripe (29 Occurrences). Mark 4:29 But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts
forth the sickle, because the harvest has come." (WEB WEY ASV RSV NIV). ...
/r/ripe.htm - 16k

Thrust (92 Occurrences)
... Revelation 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice
to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time ...
/t/thrust.htm - 35k

Grapes (74 Occurrences)
... 14:18 Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he
called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Send forth ...
/g/grapes.htm - 31k

Ripened (8 Occurrences)
... Revelation 14:18 And another angel came out of the altar, having power over fire,
and called with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send thy ...
/r/ripened.htm - 9k

Bunches (7 Occurrences)
... 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar--he who had power over fire--and
he spoke in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Use your ...
/b/bunches.htm - 9k

Clusters (12 Occurrences)
... 14:18 Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he
called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Send forth ...
/c/clusters.htm - 10k

Sharp (115 Occurrences)
... 14:14 I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting like a son
of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. ...
/s/sharp.htm - 38k

Flung (11 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Revelation 14:16 Then He who sat on the cloud flung His sickle
on the earth, and the earth had its harvest reaped. (WEY). ...
/f/flung.htm - 9k

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