In the context of the Bible, the term "unfertile" often refers to land that is barren or unable to produce crops, as well as to individuals, particularly women, who are unable to bear children. The concept of infertility is significant in biblical narratives, symbolizing both physical and spiritual conditions.

Unfertile Land

The Bible frequently mentions unfertile land as a consequence of disobedience to God. In Deuteronomy 28:23, as part of the curses for disobedience, it is stated, "The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron." This imagery conveys a land that is hard and unyielding, unable to produce the necessary sustenance for life. Similarly, in Jeremiah 4:26, the prophet laments, "I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert. All its cities were torn down before the LORD, before His fierce anger."

Unfertile land is often contrasted with the Promised Land, described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), symbolizing abundance and divine blessing. The transformation of barren land into fertile ground is a recurring theme, representing God's power to restore and bless His people when they turn back to Him.

Unfertile Individuals

Infertility is a poignant theme in the lives of several biblical figures. Sarah, the wife of Abraham, is one of the most notable examples. Initially barren, Sarah's account is one of divine intervention, as God promises Abraham that he will be the father of many nations. Genesis 21:1-2 records the fulfillment of this promise: "Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him."

Similarly, Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is another example of a woman who experienced infertility. Her deep anguish and fervent prayers are recorded in 1 Samuel 1:10-11: "In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. And she made a vow, saying, 'O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.'" God answered her prayers, and she bore a son, Samuel, who would become a significant prophet in Israel.

Spiritual Implications

Beyond the physical aspect, infertility in the Bible often carries spiritual implications. It can symbolize a lack of spiritual fruitfulness or a period of waiting and testing. The barrenness of Sarah and Hannah, for instance, serves as a backdrop for demonstrating God's faithfulness and power. Their eventual fruitfulness is a testament to God's ability to bring life and blessing where there was once desolation.

In the New Testament, Jesus uses agricultural metaphors to describe spiritual fruitfulness. In John 15:5, He states, "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." Here, spiritual fertility is linked to abiding in Christ, emphasizing the importance of a relationship with Him for producing spiritual fruit.

Conclusion

The theme of infertility, whether in land or individuals, serves as a powerful motif in the Bible, illustrating both the consequences of disobedience and the potential for divine intervention and blessing. Through the narratives of barren women and desolate lands, the Bible underscores God's sovereignty and His ability to bring life and abundance from places of emptiness and despair.(a.) Not fertile; infertile; barren.

The Wonderful Skill with which Origen Prepares Gregory and ...
... to us to remain with him for a time, then he took us in hand, as a skilled husbandman
may take in hand some field unwrought, and altogether unfertile, and sour ...
/.../argument vii the wonderful skill with.htm

Unfertile (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Unfertile (2 Occurrences). ... (BBE). Psalms 113:9 He gives
the unfertile woman a family, making her a happy mother of children. ...
/u/unfertile.htm - 7k

Unfeigned (5 Occurrences)

/u/unfeigned.htm - 8k

Unfilled (1 Occurrence)

/u/unfilled.htm - 6k

Unfruitfulness (1 Occurrence)
... spring from which the water came, and put salt in it, and said, The Lord says, Now
I have made this water sweet; no longer will it be death-giving or unfertile...
/u/unfruitfulness.htm - 6k

Death-giving (3 Occurrences)
... spring from which the water came, and put salt in it, and said, The Lord says, Now
I have made this water sweet; no longer will it be death-giving or unfertile...
/d/death-giving.htm - 7k

Sweet (147 Occurrences)
... spring from which the water came, and put salt in it, and said, The Lord says, Now
I have made this water sweet; no longer will it be death-giving or unfertile...
/s/sweet.htm - 40k

Happy (143 Occurrences)
... (BBE JPS). Psalms 113:9 He gives the unfertile woman a family, making her a
happy mother of children. Give praise to the Lord. (BBE NIV). ...
/h/happy.htm - 34k

Unfertile: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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