In biblical times, the ploughman held a significant role in the agrarian society of ancient Israel. The ploughman was responsible for tilling the soil, preparing it for the sowing of seeds, and ensuring a fruitful harvest. This occupation is frequently mentioned in the Bible, symbolizing both the physical labor required to sustain life and the spiritual labor necessary for cultivating a righteous life.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 28:24-25 : "Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil? When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in rows, barley in plots, and spelt as their border?" This passage highlights the wisdom and discernment required in the work of a ploughman, emphasizing the importance of timing and technique in agricultural practices.

2. Amos 9:13 : "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes, the sower of seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it." Here, the ploughman is part of a prophetic vision of abundance and blessing, where the cycle of sowing and reaping is so bountiful that the ploughman and reaper overlap in their work.

3. 1 Kings 19:19 : "So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him." This account of Elisha's calling illustrates the ploughman's readiness to leave his earthly toil for a divine mission, symbolizing the call to spiritual service.

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons:

The ploughman is often used metaphorically in Scripture to convey spiritual truths. Just as the ploughman prepares the ground for planting, believers are called to prepare their hearts for the Word of God. The act of plowing represents breaking up the fallow ground of one's heart, making it receptive to spiritual growth and transformation.

In the New Testament, Jesus uses agricultural imagery to teach about the Kingdom of God. In Luke 9:62 , Jesus says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." This statement underscores the commitment and focus required in following Christ, likening the dedication of a ploughman to the steadfastness expected of a disciple.

Cultural and Historical Context:

The ploughman in ancient Israel would typically use a wooden plow drawn by oxen. This method required significant physical strength and skill, as the ploughman had to guide the oxen and ensure the plow cut straight furrows. The work was labor-intensive and essential for the community's survival, as successful plowing and planting determined the yield of the harvest.

In summary, the ploughman in the Bible is a figure of diligence, wisdom, and spiritual readiness. Through the imagery of plowing, Scripture communicates profound lessons about preparation, commitment, and the fruitful life that results from faithful labor in both the physical and spiritual realms.1. (n.) One who plows, or who holds and guides a plow; hence, a husbandman.

2. (n.) A rustic; a countryman; a field laborer.

406. ikkar -- a plowman, husbandman
... husbandman, ploughman. From an unused root meaning to dig; a farmer -- husbandman,
ploughman. 405, 406. ikkar. 407 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/406.htm - 5k

Spiritual Farming. --No. 2 Ploughing.
... "The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold." If the ploughman means to
succeed he must count on suffering ... "THE PLOUGHMAN SHALL OVERTAKE THE REAPER.". ...
/.../champness/broken bread/iii spiritual farming no 2 ploughing.htm

The Red Library
... By CH SPURGEON. According to Promise. BY CH SPURGEON. John Ploughman's Talks. By
CH SPURGEON. John Ploughman's Pictures. By CH SPURGEON. Good Tidings. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/secret power/the red library.htm

The Red Library
... By CH Spurgeon. According to Promise. BY CH Spurgeon. John Ploughman's Talks. By
CH Spurgeon. John Ploughman's Pictures. By CH Spurgeon. Good Tidings. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/the overcoming life/the red library.htm

Of Certain Deities Peculiar to Barbarians, and their Sacred Rites ...
... When Hercules had arrived at the place, and was suffering hunger, he saw a ploughman
at work, and began to ask him to sell one of his oxen. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxi of certain deities peculiar.htm

Vindication of Christian Women.
... Jerome relates, "You could not go into the field, but you might hear the ploughman's
hallelujahs, the mower's hymns, and the vine-dresser's chant of the Psalms ...
/.../tatians address to the greeks/chapter xxxiii vindication of christian women.htm

A Revival Sermon
... and I think that the beginning of its fulfilment is now to be discerned, and we
shall see the Lord's good hand upon us, so that is ploughman shall overtake the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a revival sermon.htm

A Sermon of the Reverend Father Master Hugh Latimer, Preached in ...
... And it is in the gospel: Exivit qui seminat seminare semen suum; "He that soweth,
the husbandman, the ploughman, went forth to sow his seed." So that a ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon of the reverend.htm

Providence
... too, tells us that the common work of the farm, tilling the ground, sowing, and
reaping, were taught to men by God; and says of the ploughman, that 'His God ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xiii providence.htm

Biographical Preface.
... The ploughman at his daily toil"the workman who plies the shuttle"the merchant in
his counting-house"the scholar in his study"the lawyer in the courts ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/biographical preface.htm

Sixteenth Lesson. Speedily, Though Bearing Long;'
... It knows how, just as the ploughman has to take his ten thousand steps, and sow
his ten thousand seeds, each one a part of the preparation for the final harvest ...
/.../sixteenth lesson speedily though bearing.htm

Ploughman (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A rustic; a countryman; a field laborer. Multi-Version Concordance Ploughman
(2 Occurrences). Isaiah 28:24 Is the ploughman for ever ploughing? ...
/p/ploughman.htm - 7k

Planting (57 Occurrences)
... (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). ...
/p/planting.htm - 24k

Ox (197 Occurrences)
... "The ploughman still carries his goad, a weapon apparently more fitted
for the hand of the soldier than the peaceful husbandman. ...
/o/ox.htm - 43k

Juice (8 Occurrences)
... Amos 9:13 Lo, days are coming -- an affirmation of Jehovah, And come nigh hath the
ploughman to the reaper, And the treader of grapes to the scatterer of seed ...
/j/juice.htm - 9k

Farmer (17 Occurrences)
... (WEB BBE). Isaiah 28:24 Is the ploughman for ever ploughing? does he not get
the earth ready and broken up for the seed? (See NAS NIV). ...
/f/farmer.htm - 11k

Delicate (32 Occurrences)
... In the old English writers "delicate" is often used for voluptuous: "Dives
for his delicate life to the devil went" (Piers Ploughman). ...
/d/delicate.htm - 19k

Delicately (11 Occurrences)
... In the old English writers "delicate" is often used for voluptuous: "Dives
for his delicate life to the devil went" (Piers Ploughman). ...
/d/delicately.htm - 11k

Dropt (1 Occurrence)
... Amos 9:13 Lo, days are coming -- an affirmation of Jehovah, And come nigh hath the
ploughman to the reaper, And the treader of grapes to the scatterer of seed ...
/d/dropt.htm - 6k

Men (18419 Occurrences)
... 14. (n.) Plural of Orangeman. 15. (n.) Plural of Plainsman. 16. (n.) Plural of
Ploughman. 17. (n.) Plural of Pointsman. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/m/men.htm - 12k

Ploughing-time (1 Occurrence)
Ploughing-time. Ploughing, Ploughing-time. Ploughman . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(YLT). Ploughing, Ploughing-time. Ploughman . Reference Bible.
/p/ploughing-time.htm - 6k

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