Grain-fields hold significant importance in the biblical narrative, serving as a symbol of sustenance, provision, and divine blessing. Throughout the Scriptures, grain-fields are frequently mentioned in various contexts, reflecting the agrarian society of ancient Israel and the surrounding regions.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, grain-fields are often associated with God's provision and the covenantal blessings promised to the Israelites. The Promised Land is described as "a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey" (Deuteronomy 8:8). This description underscores the abundance and fertility of the land that God provided for His people.

The account of Ruth provides a vivid depiction of life in the grain-fields. Ruth, a Moabite widow, gleans in the fields of Boaz during the barley harvest, as described in Ruth 2:2-3. This practice of gleaning was a provision in the Law of Moses, allowing the poor and the foreigner to gather leftover grain (Leviticus 19:9-10). The narrative highlights themes of kindness, redemption, and God's providence.

The grain-fields also play a role in the prophetic literature. In Joel 1:10-12, the devastation of the fields due to locusts and drought serves as a metaphor for the spiritual desolation of Israel, calling the people to repentance and renewal.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, grain-fields continue to serve as a backdrop for teaching and ministry. One notable instance is found in the Gospels, where Jesus and His disciples walk through the grain-fields on the Sabbath. The disciples begin to pick heads of grain, leading to a confrontation with the Pharisees who accuse them of breaking the Sabbath law (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5). Jesus responds by emphasizing the principle of mercy over sacrifice and asserting His lordship over the Sabbath.

The parables of Jesus often draw on agricultural imagery, including grain-fields, to convey spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30), Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a man who sows good seed in his field, only for an enemy to sow weeds among the wheat. This parable illustrates the coexistence of good and evil in the world until the final judgment.

Symbolism and Theological Themes

Grain-fields symbolize God's provision and the sustenance necessary for life. They are a reminder of the dependence of humanity on God's creation and the cycles of sowing and reaping. The imagery of grain-fields also points to the spiritual harvest, as seen in Jesus' words, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Matthew 9:37), calling believers to participate in the mission of spreading the Gospel.

In the broader biblical narrative, grain-fields reflect the themes of abundance, judgment, and redemption. They serve as a tangible representation of God's faithfulness and the hope of a future harvest, both physically and spiritually.4702. sporimos -- sown, ie a sown field
... neut. plur: sown fields. Word Origin from speiro Definition sown, ie a sown
field NASB Word Usage grainfields (3). cornfield. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4702.htm - 6k

Jesus Defends Disciples who Pluck Grain on the Sabbath.
... b 23 And ^c 1 Now it came to pass ^a 1 At that season ^b that he ^a Jesus went {
^b was going} on the { ^ca} ^b sabbath day through the grainfields; ^a and ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxviii jesus defends disciples who.htm

The Land and the People.
... may still be seen gleaning after the reapers in the grainfields, as she did ... Mount
Gerizim, and Mount Ebal, the town of Shechem, the grain-fields whitening to ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm

The Social Test of Religion
... And it came to pass, that he was going on the sabbath day through the grainfields;
and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears. ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter ix the social test.htm

Moody's Anecdotes And Illustrations
... tares Weedy plants of the genus Vicia, especially the common vetch. Several weedy
plants that grow in grain fields. [End Transcriber's Notes]. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/title page.htm

The Tragic Break in the Plan.
... (3) criticizing Jesus' personal conduct, Matthew 9:10-17 with parallels. (4)
grain fields on the Sabbath, Matthew 12:1-8 with parallels. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/3 the tragic break in.htm

The Aggressive Rejection.
... The Sabbath question comes up again through the disciples satisfying their hunger
in the grain fields, and brings from Jesus the keen comment that man wasn't ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the aggressive rejection.htm

The Christian Sabbath --Peter's Confession of Faith.
... The same Pharisees who had followed Jesus as spies when He walked through the
grain-fields were watching Him in the Synagogue to see if He would heal on the ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvi the christian sabbathpeters.htm

Plucking Grain on the Sabbath.
... At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples
were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat, rubbing them in their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/plucking grain on the sabbath.htm

Jesus Finds Joy in all his Work
... One Sabbath Jesus was walking through the grain-fields; and his disciples, as they
made their way through, began to pull off the heads of the grain. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/jesus finds joy in all.htm

Jesus at the Well.
... Passover is annually celebrated by the remnant of the Samaritan sect, according
to the prescription of Moses; there are the waving grain-fields, ripening for ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus at the well.htm

Grainfields (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Grainfields (3 Occurrences). Matthew 12:1 At that
season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields...
/g/grainfields.htm - 7k

Grain-fields (3 Occurrences)
Grain-fields. Grainfields, Grain-fields. Grain-floor . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Grainfields, Grain-fields. Grain-floor . Reference Bible.
/g/grain-fields.htm - 7k

Fields (199 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:1 At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grainfields.
His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. ...
/f/fields.htm - 37k

Grain (413 Occurrences)
... in. (BBE). Matthew 9:38 Make prayer, then, to the Lord of the grain-fields,
that he may send out workers to get in his grain. (BBE). ...
/g/grain.htm - 39k

Pick (37 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:1 At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grainfields.
His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. ...
/p/pick.htm - 18k

Heads (439 Occurrences)
... are all numbered. (WEY). Matthew 12:1 At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath
day through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry ...
/h/heads.htm - 38k

Workers (76 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:38 Make prayer, then, to the Lord of the grain-fields, that he
may send out workers to get in his grain. (BBE NAS NIV). ...
/w/workers.htm - 28k

Picking (4 Occurrences)
... Mark 2:23 It happened that he was going on the Sabbath day through the grainfields,
and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain. ...
/p/picking.htm - 8k

Pluck (41 Occurrences)
... Gehenna. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). Matthew 12:1 At that time, Jesus went
on the Sabbath day through the grainfields. His disciples ...
/p/pluck.htm - 19k

Grain-floor (27 Occurrences)
Grain-floor. Grain-fields, Grain-floor. Grain-floors . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Grain-fields, Grain-floor. Grain-floors . Reference Bible.
/g/grain-floor.htm - 15k

What is the meaning of gleaning in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of Ruth and Boaz? | GotQuestions.org

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