📖 Biblical Definition
Scripture sows repeatedly: "Whatever one sows, that will he also reap" (Gal 6:7). "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (2 Cor 9:6). "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy" (Ps 126:5). Jesus' parable of the sower (Matt 13) is the template for all gospel work. Paul's teaching on giving repeatedly uses sowing language. Sowing is faith's signature action — releasing what you cannot retrieve, expecting what you do not yet see.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
SOW, v.t.
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SOW, v.t. [Sax. sawan.] To scatter seed on the ground, that it may grow. In Scripture, sowing is one of the most frequent verbs for faithful work whose harvest lies in the future: sowing the gospel seed, sowing in tears that will be reaped in joy, sowing generously in expectation of generous reaping. Sowing is faith's action — releasing what you cannot retrieve, expecting what you do not yet see.
📖 Key Scripture
Galatians 6:7-8 — "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will He also reap."
2 Corinthians 9:6 — "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
Psalm 126:5-6 — "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."
John 12:24 — "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern instant-gratification culture cannot sow. Sowing requires releasing what you cannot retrieve for a harvest you cannot see yet.
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Prosperity teachers have weaponized "you reap what you sow" into seed-faith money schemes — sow into my ministry to reap your harvest. The corruption inverts the moral seriousness of the principle (Galatians warns the corrupting flesh-sower) into transactional manipulation.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
H2232 — zara. G4687 — speirō.
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H2232 — zara (זָרַע) — to sow, to scatter seed.
G4687 — speirō (σπείρω) — to sow.
Usage
"Those who sow in tears reap in joy. The tears are part of the seed; do not begrudge them."
"Whatever a man sows, that will He reap. No mocking of God; no exceptions."