Topical Bible: Planting

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Topical Encyclopedia

Planting in the Bible is a significant activity that symbolizes growth, provision, and divine blessing. It is both a literal agricultural practice and a metaphor for spiritual truths. The act of planting is deeply rooted in the agrarian culture of the biblical world and is frequently mentioned throughout Scripture.

Agricultural Context

In the ancient Near East, planting was essential for survival and prosperity. The Israelites were primarily an agrarian society, and their calendar revolved around agricultural seasons. The Bible provides numerous references to planting crops such as wheat, barley, grapes, olives, and figs. In Genesis 26:12, Isaac's planting is blessed by God: "Isaac sowed seed in that land, and that year he reaped a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him."

The Law of Moses includes specific instructions regarding planting. For example, Leviticus 19:23-25 instructs the Israelites on how to treat newly planted trees: "When you enter the land and plant any kind of tree for food, you shall regard the fruit as forbidden. For three years it will be forbidden to you and must not be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the LORD your God."

Spiritual Symbolism

Planting is also used metaphorically in the Bible to convey spiritual truths. In the New Testament, Jesus often used agricultural imagery in His parables. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23) illustrates how the Word of God is like seed sown on different types of soil, representing the varied responses of human hearts.

The Apostle Paul uses planting as a metaphor for ministry and growth in the church. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, he writes, "I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." This passage emphasizes that while human effort is involved in spreading the Gospel, it is ultimately God who brings about spiritual growth.

Divine Planting

The Bible also speaks of God as the ultimate planter. In Isaiah 61:3, God promises to bestow on His people "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor." This imagery portrays God's people as a planting that reflects His glory and righteousness.

Furthermore, in Jeremiah 24:6, God reassures the exiled Israelites of His plans to restore them: "My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them." Here, planting signifies stability, restoration, and hope for the future.

Conclusion

Planting in the Bible encompasses both the practical aspects of agriculture and profound spiritual lessons. It serves as a reminder of God's provision, the importance of human responsibility in spiritual growth, and the assurance of God's sovereign care and purpose for His people.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Plant.

2. (n.) The act or operation of setting in the ground for propagation, as seeds, trees, shrubs, etc.; the forming of plantations, as of trees; the carrying on of plantations, as of sugar, coffee, etc.

3. (n.) That which is planted; a plantation.

4. (n.) The laying of the first courses of stone in a foundation.

Greek

5451. phuteia -- a planting
... a planting. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: phuteia Phonetic Spelling:
(foo-ti'-ah) Short Definition: a plant Definition: a plant, that which is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5451.htm - 6k

5452. phuteuo -- to plant
... set. Word Origin from phuton (a plant) Definition to plant NASB Word Usage
plant (1), planted (6), planting (1), plants (3). plant. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5452.htm - 6k

4690. sperma -- that which is sown, ie seed
... sown, ie Seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially,
a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting) -- issue, seed. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4690.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

4302. matta -- place or act of planting, a plantation
... 4301, 4302. matta. 4303 . place or act of planting, a plantation. Transliteration:
matta Phonetic Spelling: (mat-taw') Short Definition: planting. ...
/hebrew/4302.htm - 6k

5194. neta -- plantation, planting, plant
... 5193, 5194. neta. 5195 . plantation, planting, plant. Transliteration:
neta Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-tah) Short Definition: plant. ...
/hebrew/5194.htm - 6k

Library

The Planting of the Church in New England --Pilgrim and Puritan.
... A HISTORY OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY. CHAPTER VIII. THE PLANTING OF THE
CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND"PILGRIM AND PURITAN. THE attitude ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter viii the planting of.htm

Concerning the Choosing of a Day for Marriage, or for Planting, or ...
... Book V. Chapter 7."Concerning the Choosing of a Day for Marriage, or
for Planting, or Sowing. Now, will any one bring forward ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 7 concerning the choosing of.htm

"Rabbi," Says Nicodemus to Christ, "We Know that Thou Art a ...
... thought, that they affirm the direct contrary, and compare all their inspired teachings
and instructions to the dead works of bare planting and watering, and ...
/.../address 70 0 0 rabbi says nicodemus.htm

'A Time to Plant'
... I. Now, my first remark is this: that you are now in the planting time of your
lives. ... You are planting, whether you recognise the fact or no. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a time to plant.htm

Antecedents of Permanent Christian Colonization --The ...
... All these divisions among the European Christians of the seventeenth century were
to have their important bearing on the planting of the Christian church in ...
/.../a history of american christianity/chapter iv antecedents of permanent.htm

Importance of the Anniversaries Connected with the Years 1894-1897 ...
... an anniversary of the highest interest to all English people: to English Churchmen
first, for it is the thirteen-hundredth anniversary of the planting of the ...
/.../lecture i importance of the.htm

Avoid Schismatics.
... Chapter III."Avoid schismatics. Keep yourselves from those evil plants which Jesus
Christ does not tend, because they are not the planting of the Father. ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the philadelphians/chapter iii avoid schismatics.htm

Elegance and Grace
... fruit trees? Undoubtedly there should, and I would place them in a certain
order, and keep a due distance in planting them. What ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/elegance and grace.htm

Avoid the Deadly Errors of the Docet??.
... dies. For these men are not the planting of the Father. ... ever. These men are
not the planting of the Father, but are an accursed brood. ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the trallians/chapter xi avoid the deadly errors.htm

The Apostolic Scriptures.
... A tree can be planted only once; an organism can be born only once; the planting
or founding of the Church could take place only once. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxx the apostolic scriptures.htm

Thesaurus

Planting (57 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Planting (57 Occurrences). ... (BBE). John 4:37 In this the
saying is a true one, One does the planting, and another gets in the grain. ...
/p/planting.htm - 24k

Planting-places (1 Occurrence)
Planting-places. Planting, Planting-places. Plantings . Multi-Version
Concordance Planting-places (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel ...
/p/planting-places.htm - 6k

Uprooting (10 Occurrences)
... Psalms 44:2 Uprooting the nations with your hand, and planting our fathers in their
place; cutting down the nations, but increasing the growth of your people. ...
/u/uprooting.htm - 9k

Uproot (17 Occurrences)
... (WEB BBE). Ecclesiastes 3:2 A time for birth and a time for death; a time for
planting and a time for uprooting; (Root in BBE NAS NIV). ...
/u/uproot.htm - 11k

Vine-gardens (41 Occurrences)
... full of good things not stored up by you, and places for storing water which you
did not make, and vine-gardens and olive-trees not of your planting; and you ...
/v/vine-gardens.htm - 19k

Watering (21 Occurrences)
... to watering? (KJV ASV WBS). 1 Corinthians 3:6 I did the planting, Apollos did
the watering, but God gave the increase. (BBE). 1 Corinthians ...
/w/watering.htm - 12k

Acts (271 Occurrences)
... This section has been entitled "From Jerusalem to Antioch." It contains the history
of the planting and extension of the church among the Jews by the ministry ...
/a/acts.htm - 101k

Growth (77 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 3:7 so that neither is he who is planting anything, nor he who
is watering, but He who is giving growth -- God; (YLT NAS RSV). ...
/g/growth.htm - 29k

Overturning (14 Occurrences)
... this day I have put you over the nations and over the kingdoms, for uprooting and
smashing down, for destruction and overturning, for building up and planting. ...
/o/overturning.htm - 10k

Beautified (7 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 60:21 And thy people 'are' all of them righteous, To the age they possess
the earth, A branch of My planting, A work of My hands, to be beautified. ...
/b/beautified.htm - 8k

Resources

What is church planting? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Acts 29 Network? | GotQuestions.org

What is a Bible Baptist Church, and what do Bible Baptists believe? | GotQuestions.org

Planting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Planting (57 Occurrences)

Luke 17:28
The same was true in the time of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building;
(WEY BBE YLT NAS NIV)

John 4:36
He who does the cutting now has his reward; he is getting together fruit for eternal life, so that he who did the planting and he who gets in the grain may have joy together.
(BBE)

John 4:37
In this the saying is a true one, One does the planting, and another gets in the grain.
(BBE)

John 4:38
I sent you to get in grain which you had no hand in planting: other men did that work, and you take the reward.
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 3:6
I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God gave the increase.
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 3:7
so that neither is he who is planting anything, nor he who is watering, but He who is giving growth -- God;
(YLT)

1 Corinthians 3:8
and he who is planting and he who is watering are one, and each his own reward shall receive, according to his own labour,
(YLT)

1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are workers with God: you are God's planting, God's building.
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 9:11
If we have been planting the things of the Spirit for you, does it seem a great thing for you to give us a part in your things of this world?
(BBE)

Revelation 10:2
In his hand he held a small scroll unrolled; and, planting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
(WEY)

Genesis 21:33
And Abraham, after planting a holy tree in Beer-sheba, gave worship to the name of the Lord, the Eternal God.
(BBE)

Genesis 26:12
Now Isaac, planting seed in that land, got in the same year fruit a hundred times as much, for the blessing of the Lord was on him.
(BBE)

Exodus 15:17
You will take them in, planting them in the mountain of your heritage, the place, O Lord, where you have made your house, the holy place, O Lord, the building of your hands.
(BBE)

Exodus 40:18
Moses put up the House; placing its bases in position and lifting up its uprights, putting in the rods and planting the pillars in their places;
(BBE)

Leviticus 11:37
If any part of the dead body of one of these gets on to any seed for planting, it is clean;
(BBE)

Leviticus 26:5
And the crushing of the grain will overtake the cutting of the grapes, and the cutting of the grapes will overtake the planting of the seed, and there will be bread in full measure, and you will be living in your land safely.
(BBE NIV)

Numbers 33:49
Planting their tents by the side of Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the lowlands of Moab.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 6:11
And houses full of good things not stored up by you, and places for storing water which you did not make, and vine-gardens and olive-trees not of your planting; and you have taken food and are full;
(BBE)

Joshua 24:13
And I gave you a land on which you had done no work, and towns not of your building, and you are now living in them; and your food comes from vine-gardens and olive-gardens not of your planting.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 7:10
And I will make a resting-place for my people Israel, planting them there, so that they may be living in the place which is theirs, and never again be moved; and never again will they be troubled by evil men as they were at the first,
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 17:9
And I will make a resting-place for my people Israel, planting them there, so that they may be in the place which is theirs and never again be moved; and never again will they be made waste by evil men, as they were at first,
(BBE)

Psalms 44:2
Uprooting the nations with your hand, and planting our fathers in their place; cutting down the nations, but increasing the growth of your people.
(BBE)

Psalms 80:8
You took a vine out of Egypt: driving out the nations, and planting it in their land.
(BBE)

Psalms 104:16
The trees of the Lord are full of growth, the cedars of Lebanon of his planting;
(BBE)

Proverbs 22:8
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
(BBE)

Proverbs 31:16
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 2:4
I undertook great works, building myself houses and planting vine-gardens.
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 2:5
I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts.
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 3:2
A time for birth and a time for death; a time for planting and a time for uprooting;
(BBE)

Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah the plant of His delight; and He looked for justice, but behold violence; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 17:11
In the day of your planting, you hedge it in. In the morning, you make your seed blossom, but the harvest flees away in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY)

Isaiah 28:24
Is the ploughman for ever ploughing? does he not get the earth ready and broken up for the seed?
(See NIV)

Isaiah 32:20
Happy are you who are planting seed by all the waters, and sending out the ox and the ass.
(BBE)

Isaiah 60:21
Your people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 61:3
to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 65:21
And they will be building houses and living in them; planting vine-gardens and getting the fruit of them.
(BBE)

Isaiah 65:22
They will no longer be building for the use of others, or planting for others to have the fruit: for the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and my loved ones will have joy in full measure in the work of their hands.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 1:10
See, this day I have put you over the nations and over the kingdoms, for uprooting and smashing down, for destruction and overturning, for building up and planting.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 11:17
And Jehovah of Hosts, who is planting thee, Hath spoken evil concerning thee, For the evil of the house of Israel, and of the house of Judah, That they have done to themselves, To provoke Me to anger, to make perfume to Baal.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 18:9
And whenever I say anything about building up a nation or a kingdom, and planting it;
(BBE)

Jeremiah 24:6
For I will keep my eyes on them for good, and I will take them back again to this land, building them up and not pulling them down, planting them and not uprooting them.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 29:5
Go on building houses and living in them, and planting gardens and using the fruit of them;
(BBE)

Jeremiah 29:28
For he has sent to us in Babylon saying, The time will be long: go on building houses and living in them, and planting gardens and using the fruit of them.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 31:5
Again will your vine-gardens be planted on the hill of Samaria: the planters will be planting and using the fruit.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 31:28
And it will come about that, as I have been watching over them for the purpose of uprooting and smashing down and overturning and sending destruction and causing trouble; so I will be watching over them for the purpose of building up and planting, says the Lord.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 32:41
And truly, I will take pleasure in doing them good, and all my heart and soul will be given to planting them in this land in good faith.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 42:10
If you still go on living in the land, then I will go on building you up and not pulling you down, planting you and not uprooting you: for my purpose of doing evil to you has been changed.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 17:5
And he took some of the seed of the land, planting it in fertile earth, placing it by great waters; he put it in like a willow-tree.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 17:7
And there is another great eagle, Great-winged, and abounding with feathers, And lo, this vine hath bent its roots toward him, And its thin shoots it hath sent out toward him, To water it from the furrows of its planting,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 28:26
And they will be safe there, building houses and planting vine-gardens and living without fear; when I have sent my punishments on all those who put shame on them round about them; and they will be certain that I am the Lord their God.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 31:4
Waters have made it great, The deep hath exalted him with its flowings, Going round about its planting, And its conduits it hath sent forth unto all trees of the field.
(YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 34:29
And I will give them planting-places of peace, and they will no longer be wasted from need of food or put to shame by the nations.
(BBE NAS)

Hosea 8:7
For they have been planting the wind, and their fruit will be the storm; his grain has no stem, it will give no meal, and if it does, a strange nation will take it.
(BBE)

Amos 9:13
See, the days will come, says the Lord, when the ploughman will overtake him who is cutting the grain, and the crusher of the grapes him who is planting seed; and sweet wine will be dropping from the mountains, and the hills will be turned into streams of wine.
(BBE)

Amos 9:14
And I will let the fate of my people Israel be changed, and they will be building up again the waste towns and living in them; they will again be planting vine-gardens and taking the wine for their drink; and they will make gardens and get the fruit of them.
(BBE)

Micah 1:6
Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field, like places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down its stones into the valley, and I will uncover its foundations.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Zephaniah 1:13
And their wealth will be violently taken away, and their houses will be made waste: they will go on building houses and never living in them, and planting vine-gardens but not drinking the wine from them.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Planting

Planting Seeds

Planting Your Garden

Related Terms

Planting-places (1 Occurrence)

Uprooting (10 Occurrences)

Uproot (17 Occurrences)

Vine-gardens (41 Occurrences)

Watering (21 Occurrences)

Acts (271 Occurrences)

Growth (77 Occurrences)