In biblical times, agriculture was a central aspect of daily life and survival, and the role of the tiller was crucial in the cultivation of the land. The term "tiller" refers to one who tills or works the soil, preparing it for planting and ensuring that crops can grow. This role is often associated with the broader vocation of farming, which is frequently mentioned throughout the Bible.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 2:15 · "Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it."
This verse highlights the divine mandate given to humanity to work and care for the land. The act of tilling is part of the stewardship responsibilities entrusted to mankind by God.

2. Genesis 4:2 · "Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the soil."
Here, Cain is identified as a tiller of the soil, indicating his role in agriculture. This distinction between Cain and Abel's vocations underscores the diversity of work and the importance of agriculture in early human society.

3. Proverbs 12:11 · "He who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment."
This proverb emphasizes the value of diligent work in agriculture, suggesting that those who faithfully till their land will be rewarded with abundance. It contrasts the practical, steady work of a tiller with the folly of pursuing unrealistic dreams.

4. Isaiah 28:24-26 · "Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil? When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in rows, barley in its place, and spelt as its border? For his God instructs and teaches him properly."
This passage illustrates the wisdom and skill involved in tilling and planting, acknowledging that God provides guidance to the farmer. The tiller must understand the seasons and the appropriate methods for preparing the soil and planting various crops.

Theological Significance:

The role of the tiller in the Bible is deeply connected to themes of stewardship, diligence, and reliance on God's provision. Tilling the soil is not merely a physical task but a spiritual vocation that reflects obedience to God's command to care for the earth. The tiller's work is a partnership with God, who provides the growth and harvest.

In a broader sense, the act of tilling can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual cultivation. Just as the soil must be prepared and maintained to yield a fruitful harvest, so must the human heart be tended to produce spiritual fruit. This analogy is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks of the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9), illustrating the importance of a receptive and well-prepared heart for receiving God's word.

Cultural Context:

In ancient Israel, agriculture was the backbone of society, and the tiller played a vital role in sustaining the community. The agrarian lifestyle required knowledge of the land, weather patterns, and crop cycles. The tiller's work was labor-intensive and required patience and perseverance, qualities that are often commended in biblical teachings.

The tiller's role also had economic implications, as successful farming ensured food security and stability for families and communities. This economic aspect is reflected in various biblical laws and instructions regarding land use, harvests, and the treatment of workers, underscoring the importance of justice and fairness in agricultural practices.

Overall, the tiller is a figure that embodies the virtues of hard work, faithfulness, and trust in God's provision, serving as a model for believers in their spiritual and daily lives.1. (n.) One who tills; a husbandman; a cultivator; a plowman.

2. (n.) A shoot of a plant, springing from the root or bottom of the original stalk; a sucker.

3. (n.) A sprout or young tree that springs from a root or stump.

4. (n.) A young timber tree.

5. (v. i.) To put forth new shoots from the root, or round the bottom of the original stalk; as, wheat or rye tillers; some spread plants by tilling.

6. (n.) A lever of wood or metal fitted to the rudder head and used for turning side to side in steering. In small boats hand power is used; in large vessels, the tiller is moved by means of mechanical appliances.

7. (n.) The stalk, or handle, of a crossbow; also, sometimes, the bow itself.

8. (n.) The handle of anything.

9. (n.) A small drawer; a till.

2202. zeukteria -- bands, ropes
... band. Feminine of a derivative (at the second stage) from the same as zugos; a
fastening (tiller-rope) -- band. see GREEK zugos. (zeukterias) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2202.htm - 6k5647. abad -- to work, serve
... 9), performed (2), plowed (1), rendered (1), serve (141), served (52), serves (2),
serving (5), slave (1), slaves (1), subject (1), till (1), tiller (1), tiller ...
/hebrew/5647.htm - 6k

376. ish -- man
... 1), soldiers* (3), some (8), son* (1), steward* (1), swordsmen* (1), this one (1),
this one and that one (1), those (1), those who (3), tiller* (1), together ...
/hebrew/376.htm - 7k

Chapter iv
... scholarship. 2. After that she bore his brother Abel, and Abel was a keeper
of sheep and Cain was a tiller of the soil,. The scriptural ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter iv.htm

The Resurrection
... After it has sprung up, what does it next, but TILLER?"and every new shoot that
tillers out bears its own ear, ripens its own grain, twenty, thirty, or forty ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xvii the resurrection.htm

The First Book
... For they clearly understood that as the helmsman never takes his hand from the tiller,
so God never in the slightest degree withdraws his care from the world ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the first book.htm

A Strain of Jonah the Prophet.
... To tighten the girth's noose: straitly to bind. 70 The tiller's struggles; or, with
breast opposed,. T' impel reluctant curves. Part, turn by turn,. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/1 a strain of jonah.htm

Book V Here She Made an End and was for Turning the Course of Her ...
... For neither the burier nor the tiller intended that the gold should be found; but,
as I said, it was a coincidence, and it happened that the one dug up what ...
/.../boethius/the consolation of philosophy/book v here she made.htm

The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
... This does not imply that Noah was the first who began to till the ground, and, more
especially, to cultivate the vine; for Cain, too, was a tiller of the ground ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessings of noah upon.htm

Jesus --"All Blessing and all Blest"
... Still he loves to bless. Standing at the helm of all affairs, he guides the tiller
of Providence with a view to the blessing of his chosen. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/jesusall blessing and all blest.htm

A Sermon on the Boat Race.
... steering. Don't let him come aboard you! Proverbs 3:6, tells you whom to
trust with the tiller ropes. "HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xxi a sermon on the.htm

Here Beginneth the Life of Isaac
... born. And after this, when they were grown to reasonable age, Esau became
a ploughman, and a tiller of the earth, and an hunter. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here beginneth the life of.htm

On his Father'S Silence, Because of the Plague of Hail.
... away the earth, and increases the proportion of the farmer's loss: while a gentle
fall, which sinks deep, enriches the soil, benefits the tiller and makes the ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xvi on his fathers.htm

Tiller (3 Occurrences)
... In small boats hand power is used; in large vessels, the tiller is moved by means
of mechanical appliances. ... Multi-Version Concordance Tiller (3 Occurrences). ...
/t/tiller.htm - 8k

Helm (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) See straw. 2. (n.) The apparatus by which a ship is steered, comprising
rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used of the tiller or wheel alone. ...
/h/helm.htm - 7k

Cain (18 Occurrences)
... (1.) The first-born son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4). He became a tiller of the ground,
as his brother Abel followed the pursuits of pastoral life. ...
/c/cain.htm - 23k

Abel (22 Occurrences)
... 1. A Shepherd: "Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground,"
thus representing the two fundamental pursuits of civilized life, the two ...
/a/abel.htm - 22k

Soil (59 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Genesis 4:2 Again she gave birth, to Cain's brother Abel. Abel was a
keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (See NIV). ...
/s/soil.htm - 23k

Husbandman (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The master of a family. 2. (n.) A farmer; a
cultivator or tiller of the ground. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/h/husbandman.htm - 11k

Livelihood (3 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Zechariah 13:5 but he will say,'I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the
ground; for I have been made a bondservant from my youth.' (See NIV). ...
/l/livelihood.htm - 7k

Wheel (20 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A circular frame having handles on the periphery, and an axle which is so
connected with the tiller as to form a means of controlling the rudder for ...
/w/wheel.htm - 18k

Farmer (17 Occurrences)
... Zechariah 13:5 but he will say,'I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground;
for I have been made a bondservant from my youth.' (See NIV). ...
/f/farmer.htm - 11k

Tillegath-pilneser (3 Occurrences)
Tillegath-pilneser. Tilled, Tillegath-pilneser. Tiller . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See JPS). Tilled, Tillegath-pilneser. Tiller . Reference Bible.
/t/tillegath-pilneser.htm - 7k

Why wasn't Cain's punishment death (Genesis 4:14)? | GotQuestions.org

Tiller: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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