Sower; Sowing

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

Cereal seeds were sown by hand
(Psa. 126:6; Amos 9:13; Mark 4:3-29). In moist ground seeds were tramped in by cattle (Isa. 32:20). Mixed seeds prohibited (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:9).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

A man sowing seeds in Israel.
Besides the common reference to agriculture (for which see SEASONS), sowing is used symbolically for spreading the gospel, as in the parable of the Sower, of which the Lord graciously gave His own explanation. When He came to Israel He found no fruit, and He became the Sower, and sowed the good seed, which fell upon different descriptions of ground, with varied results, as the Lord explains. Notwithstanding the influence of Satan to hinder any seed taking root, some fell upon good ground (not good by nature, but prepared by God), and fruit was the result (Matt. 13:3-43). Whenever the gospel is preached, the seed is being sown, and doubtless falls upon different sorts of ground as in the parable. Blessed are they that sow beside all waters: God’s servant will reap if he does not faint.
Sowing is also the beautiful figure used as to placing the body in the ground. For the Christian it is sown a natural body, in corruption, dishonor, and weakness; but will be raised a spiritual body, in incorruption, in glory, and in power (1 Cor. 15:36-44).

“510. Sowing” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Isaiah 32:20. Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
There are two different opinions in reference to what customs are alluded to in this verse. Some think reference is made to the fields which are irrigated by artificial means (see note on Psa. 1:3, #426) and to the practice of covering the seeds by plowing instead of by harrowing. The seed is sown in the irrigated fields, and the ox and the ass are used to draw the plow through the soil. Though oxen and asses were used for plowing (see Isa. 30:20) it was forbidden to plow with them together. See Deuteronomy 22:10.
Others suppose reference to be made to the method of planting rice. Chardin says: “They sow it upon the water; and before sowing it, and while the earth is covered with water, they cause the ground to be trodden by oxen, horses, and asses, who go mid-leg deep, and this is the way of preparing the ground for sowing” (Harmer's Observations, vol.1, p. 477).

“663. Going Forth to Sow” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Matthew 13:3. Behold, a sower went forth to sow.
See also Mark 4:3; Luke 8:5.
According to Dr. Thomson, this statement is more literally true than would appear to a hasty reader. The farmers in Palestine go forth to sow their seed, the fields being at a considerable distance from their homes, sometimes six or eight miles. See The Land and the Book, vol.1, pp. 115-118.

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