Jump to: Smith's • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In biblical literature, the term "field" is used both literally and metaphorically, appearing frequently throughout the Old and New Testaments. The Hebrew word most commonly translated as "field" is "sadeh," while the Greek equivalent is "agros." Fields in the Bible are often associated with agriculture, sustenance, and divine provision, reflecting the agrarian society of ancient Israel.Old Testament Usage Fields are first mentioned in the context of creation and the early narratives of Genesis. In Genesis 2:5, the Bible notes that "no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground." This highlights the dependence of fields on divine provision and human stewardship. The field is also a place of labor and sustenance. In Genesis 4:8, Cain invites Abel to the field, where he ultimately kills him, marking the field as a place of both work and conflict. The fields of Boaz in the Book of Ruth (Ruth 2:3) serve as a setting for divine providence and human kindness, as Ruth gleans in the fields and finds favor in Boaz's eyes. Fields are often associated with God's blessings and curses. In Deuteronomy 28, the blessings for obedience include "the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land, and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks" (Deuteronomy 28:4), while the curses for disobedience include the opposite (Deuteronomy 28:18). New Testament Usage In the New Testament, fields continue to serve as important settings and symbols. Jesus frequently uses fields in His parables to illustrate spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9), the field represents the world where the seed of the Word of God is sown, and the various types of soil depict the different responses of human hearts. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) further uses the field as a metaphor for the world, where both good seed (the sons of the kingdom) and weeds (the sons of the evil one) grow together until the harvest, symbolizing the coexistence of good and evil until the end of the age. In Matthew 13:44, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to "treasure hidden in a field," emphasizing the value and hidden nature of the kingdom, which requires sacrifice and discernment to obtain. Theological Significance Fields in the Bible often symbolize the place of God's provision and human responsibility. They are settings for divine-human interaction, where God's blessings are realized through human labor and stewardship. The imagery of fields underscores themes of growth, harvest, and judgment, reflecting the spiritual realities of the kingdom of God. The field as a metaphor for the world in Jesus' teachings highlights the mission of the Church to sow the Word of God and prepare for the final harvest. The presence of both wheat and weeds in the field serves as a reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom. Cultural and Historical Context In ancient Israel, fields were central to daily life and survival. The agricultural cycle dictated the rhythm of life, with planting, tending, and harvesting marking the seasons. Fields were often family-owned and passed down through generations, as seen in the account of Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21), where the field represents heritage and identity. The biblical laws concerning fields, such as the prohibition against harvesting the edges of the field (Leviticus 19:9-10), reflect God's concern for justice and provision for the poor and the foreigner, emphasizing the communal responsibility to care for one another. Overall, the concept of the field in the Bible is rich with meaning, encompassing themes of provision, labor, judgment, and the kingdom of God. Smith's Bible Dictionary FieldThe Hebrew sadeh is applied to any cultivated ground, and in some instances in marked opposition to the neighboring wilderness. On the other hand the sadeh is frequently contrasted with what is enclosed, whether a vineyard, a garden or a walled town. In many passages the term implies what is remote from a house, (Genesis 4:8; 24:63; 22:25) or settled habitation, as in the case of Esau. (Genesis 25:27) The separate plots of ground were marked off by stones, which might easily be removed, (19:14; 27:17) cf. Job 24:2; Prov 22:28; 23:10 The absence of fences rendered the fields liable to damage from straying cattle, (Exodus 22:5) or fire, (Exodus 22:6; 2 Samuel 14:30) hence the necessity of constantly watching flocks and herds. From the absence of enclosures, cultivated land of any size might be termed a field. Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews sadeh), a cultivated field, but unenclosed. It is applied to any cultivated ground or pasture (Genesis 29:2; 31:4; 34:7), or tillage (Genesis 37:7; 47:24). It is also applied to woodland (Psalm 132:6) or mountain top (Judges 9:32, 36; 2 Samuel 1:21). It denotes sometimes a cultivated region as opposed to the wilderness (Genesis 33:19; 36:35). Unwalled villages or scattered houses are spoken of as "in the fields" (Deuteronomy 28:3, 16; Leviticus 25:31; Mark 6:36, 56). The "open field" is a place remote from a house (Genesis 4:8; Leviticus 14:7, 53; 17:5). Cultivated land of any extent was called a field (Genesis 23:13, 17; 41:8; Leviticus 27:16; Ruth 4:5; Nehemiah 12:29). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) Cleared land; land suitable for tillage or pasture; cultivated ground; the open country.2. (n.) A piece of land of considerable size; esp., a piece enclosed for tillage or pasture. 3. (n.) A place where a battle is fought; also, the battle itself. 4. (n.) An open space; an extent; an expanse. 5. (n.) Any blank space or ground on which figures are drawn or projected. 6. (n.) The space covered by an optical instrument at one view. 7. (n.) The whole surface of an escutcheon; also, so much of it is shown unconcealed by the different bearings upon it. 8. (n.) An unrestricted or favorable opportunity for action, operation, or achievement; province; room. 9. (n.) A collective term for all the competitors in any outdoor contest or trial, or for all except the favorites in the betting. 10. (n.) That part of the grounds reserved for the players which is outside of the diamond; -- called also outfield. 11. (v. i.) To take the field. 12. (v. i.) To stand out in the field, ready to catch, stop, or throw the ball. 13. (v. t.) To catch, stop, throw, etc. (the ball), as a fielder. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia FULLER'S FIELD, THEfool'-ers feld, (sedheh khobhec): In all references occurs "the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fuller's field"; this must have been a well-known landmark at Jerusalem in the time of the monarchy. Here stood Rabshakeh in his interview with Eliakim and others on the wall (2 Kings 18:17 Isaiah 36:2); clearly the highway was within easy earshot of the walls. Here Isaiah met Ahaz and Shear-jashub his son by command of Yahweh (Isaiah 7:3). An old view placed these events somewhere near the present Jaffa Gate, as here runs an aqueduct from the Birket Mamilla outside the walls of the Birket Hamam el Batrah, inside the walls; the former was considered the "Upper Pool" and is traditionally called the "Upper Pool" of Gihon. But these pools and this aqueduct are certainly of later date (see JERUSALEM). Another view puts this highway to the North side of the city, where there are extensive remains of a "conduit" running in from the North. In favor of this is the fact that the North was the usual side for attack and the probable position for Rabshakeh to gather his army; it also suits the conditions of Isaiah 7:3. Further, Josephus (BJ, V, iv, 2) in his description of the walls places a "Monument of the Fuller" at the Northeast corner, and the name "fuller" survived in connection with the North wall to the 7th century, as the pilgrim Arculf mentions a gate. West of the Damascus gate called Porta Villae Fullonis. The most probable view, however, is that this conduit was one connected with Gihon, the present "Virgin's Fountain" (see GIHON). This was well known as "the upper spring" (2 Chronicles 32:30), and the pool, which, we know, was at the source, would probably be called the "Upper Pool." In this neighborhood-or lower down the valley near En-rogel, which is supposed by some to mean "the spring of the fuller"-is the natural place to expect "fulling." Somewhere along the Kidron valley between the Virgin's Fountain and the junction with the Tyropeon was the probable scene of the interview with Rabshakeh; the conversation may quite probably have occurred across the valley, the Assyrian general standing on some part of the cliffs now covered by the village of Siloam. ZOPHIM, THE FIELD OF zo'-fim, (sedheh tsophim; eis agrou skopian): The place on the top of Pisgah to which Balak took Balaam, whence only a part of the host of Israel could be seen (Numbers 23:14). Perhaps we should simply translate "field of watchers." Conder draws attention to the name Tal`at es-Sufa attached to an ascent leading up to the ridge of Neba from the North Here possibly is a survival of the old name. For Ramathaim-zophim see RAMAH. FIELD feld. POTTER'S FIELD pot'-erz. Greek 68. agros -- a field, the country ... a field, the country. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: agros Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ros') Short Definition: a field, the country Definition: a ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/68.htm - 6k 4702. sporimos -- sown, ie a sown field 184. Hakeldamach -- Hakeldama, a field appar. located south of the ... 5564. chorion -- a place, property 1091. georgion -- cultivation 63. agrauleo -- to live in the fields 2933. ktema -- a possession 2040. ergates -- a workman 350. anakrino -- to examine, investigate 1697. Hemmor -- Emmor, a Canaanite Strong's Hebrew 7704. sadeh -- field, land... 7703, 7704. sadeh. 7705 . field, land. Transliteration: sadeh Phonetic Spelling: (saw-deh') Short Definition: field. Word Origin ... /hebrew/7704.htm - 6k 1251. bar -- (an open) field 7709. shedemah -- a field 4750. miqshah -- field of cucumbers 3010. yageb -- a field 8309. sheremah -- field 7706a. saday -- field, land 1253b. bor -- a field 4618. maanah -- a field for plowing 6839. Tsophim -- "watchers," a field on the summit of Mount Pisgah Library My Mission-Field. A visit to the Harvest Field The Field and the Treasure Interpreted. Field-Preaching Expedient The Barley Field on Fire Defending Field Preaching The Field of the World. Field Hymns. The Holy Field Field-Preaching as Wesley's Cross Thesaurus Field (390 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews sadeh), a cultivated field, but unenclosed. It is ... outfield. 11. (vi) To take the field. 12. (vi ... /f/field.htm - 44k Field-work (12 Occurrences) Field-workers (3 Occurrences) Field-fly (2 Occurrences) Field-mouse (1 Occurrence) Blood-field (1 Occurrence) Grain-field (1 Occurrence) Akeldama (1 Occurrence) Aceldama (1 Occurrence) Cave (40 Occurrences) Resources How did Judas die? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of the cave of Machpelah? | GotQuestions.org What is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares? | GotQuestions.org Field: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Field (390 Occurrences)Matthew 3:4 Matthew 6:28 Matthew 6:30 Matthew 9:38 Matthew 13:24 Matthew 13:27 Matthew 13:31 Matthew 13:36 Matthew 13:38 Matthew 13:44 Matthew 22:5 Matthew 24:18 Matthew 24:40 Matthew 27:7 Matthew 27:8 Matthew 27:10 Mark 1:6 Mark 13:16 Mark 15:21 Mark 16:12 Luke 2:8 Luke 10:2 Luke 12:16 Luke 12:28 Luke 14:18 Luke 15:25 Luke 16:3 Luke 17:7 Luke 17:31 Luke 17:36 Luke 23:26 John 4:5 John 10:16 Acts 1:18 Acts 1:19 Acts 4:37 Romans 11:24 1 Corinthians 3:9 2 Corinthians 9:10 2 Corinthians 10:13 2 Corinthians 10:15 2 Corinthians 10:16 Galatians 6:8 Ephesians 6:13 2 Timothy 2:6 James 5:4 1 Peter 1:24 Genesis 2:5 Genesis 2:19 Genesis 2:20 Genesis 3:1 Genesis 3:14 Genesis 3:18 Genesis 4:8 Genesis 14:7 Genesis 23:9 Genesis 23:11 Genesis 23:13 Genesis 23:15 Genesis 23:17 Genesis 23:19 Genesis 23:20 Genesis 24:63 Genesis 24:65 Genesis 25:9 Genesis 25:10 Genesis 25:27 Genesis 25:29 Genesis 27:3 Genesis 27:5 Genesis 27:27 Genesis 27:30 Genesis 29:2 Genesis 30:14 Genesis 30:16 Genesis 31:4 Genesis 32:3 Genesis 33:19 Genesis 34:5 Genesis 34:7 Genesis 34:28 Genesis 36:35 Genesis 37:7 Genesis 37:15 Genesis 39:5 Genesis 41:48 Genesis 47:20 Genesis 47:24 Genesis 49:29 Genesis 49:30 Genesis 49:32 Genesis 50:13 Exodus 1:14 Exodus 9:3 Exodus 9:19 Exodus 9:21 Exodus 9:22 Exodus 9:25 Exodus 10:5 Exodus 16:25 Subtopics Related Terms |
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