Field-workers in the Bible are often depicted as laborers who engage in agricultural tasks such as sowing, reaping, and tending to crops. These individuals play a crucial role in the agrarian society of ancient Israel, where agriculture was the backbone of the economy and daily life. The Bible provides numerous references to field-workers, highlighting their importance and the spiritual lessons that can be drawn from their labor.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, field-workers are frequently mentioned in the context of Israel's agricultural laws and practices. The Law of Moses includes specific instructions regarding the treatment of laborers. For instance, Leviticus 19:13 commands, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand." This underscores the ethical treatment of field-workers, emphasizing fairness and prompt payment for their labor.

The account of Ruth provides a vivid depiction of field-workers during the time of the Judges. Ruth, a Moabite widow, gleans in the fields of Boaz to provide for herself and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Boaz's kindness and adherence to the law of gleaning, which allowed the poor and foreigners to gather leftover crops, illustrate the social safety nets in place for field-workers and the marginalized (Ruth 2:2-3).

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus frequently uses agricultural metaphors and parables to convey spiritual truths, often involving field-workers. In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9), Jesus describes a sower scattering seed on different types of soil, symbolizing the reception of God's word by various hearts. The field-workers' task of sowing and reaping becomes a metaphor for evangelism and the spread of the Gospel.

Another significant reference is found in Matthew 9:37-38, where Jesus says to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest." Here, field-workers symbolize those who labor in God's kingdom, spreading the message of salvation and gathering souls for eternal life.

Spiritual Lessons and Symbolism

Field-workers in the Bible are often used to illustrate spiritual diligence, perseverance, and the importance of laboring for God's kingdom. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, likens himself and Apollos to field-workers, stating, "I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." This passage highlights the collaborative effort in ministry and the ultimate reliance on God for spiritual growth.

The imagery of field-workers also serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly labor compared to the eternal significance of spiritual work. In John 4:35-36, Jesus encourages His disciples to recognize the spiritual harvest, saying, "Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest. Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together."

Conclusion

Field-workers in the Bible are emblematic of both the physical labor necessary for sustenance and the spiritual labor required for the growth of God's kingdom. Through their depiction, Scripture teaches valuable lessons about diligence, fairness, and the eternal impact of our work in the Lord's service.

A Full Reward.
... Christian worker is a faith-worker. But in the foreign field workers are peculiarly
cast on GOD. There are special dangers and difficulties ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a ribband of blue/a full reward.htm

Field-workers (3 Occurrences)
Field-workers. Field-work, Field-workers. Fierce . Multi-Version
Concordance Field-workers (3 Occurrences). Mark 12:1 ...
/f/field-workers.htm - 7k

Vine-garden (43 Occurrences)
... had a vine-garden planted, and put a wall about it, and made a place for crushing
out the wine, and put up a tower, and let it out to field-workers, and went ...
/v/vine-garden.htm - 19k

Wall (227 Occurrences)
... of a house made a vine garden, and put a wall round it, and made a place for crushing
out the wine, and made a tower, and let it out to field-workers, and went ...
/w/wall.htm - 49k

Field-work (12 Occurrences)
Field-work. Fieldstones, Field-work. Field-workers . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Fieldstones, Field-work. Field-workers . Reference Bible.
/f/field-work.htm - 9k

Farmed (4 Occurrences)
... God; (See NIV). 1 Chronicles 27:26 Ezri, the son of Chelub, had authority
over the field-workers and farmers; (See NIV). Ezekiel 36:34 ...
/f/farmed.htm - 7k

Farmers (23 Occurrences)
... the crops. (WEB). 1 Chronicles 27:26 Ezri, the son of Chelub, had authority
over the field-workers and farmers; (BBE). 2 Chronicles ...
/f/farmers.htm - 12k

Crushing (93 Occurrences)
... had a vine-garden planted, and put a wall about it, and made a place for crushing
out the wine, and put up a tower, and let it out to field-workers, and went ...
/c/crushing.htm - 35k

Stories (30 Occurrences)
... had a vine-garden planted, and put a wall about it, and made a place for crushing
out the wine, and put up a tower, and let it out to field-workers, and went ...
/s/stories.htm - 16k

Story (92 Occurrences)
... Luke 20:9 And he gave the people this story: A man made a vine-garden and gave the
use of it to some field-workers and went into another country for a long time ...
/s/story.htm - 34k

Workers (76 Occurrences)
... upward. (See NIV). 1 Chronicles 27:26 Ezri, the son of Chelub, had authority
over the field-workers and farmers; (BBE NAS NIV). 2 ...
/w/workers.htm - 28k

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