A husbandman in the Bible refers to a farmer or one who works the land. The original Greek and Hebrew words translated as “husbandman” carry the meaning of a tiller of the ground, vine dresser, or one who labors on land or with crops. While the term is not extremely common in Scripture, there are a number of passages that shed light on the biblical concept of a husbandman.
Old Testament Usage
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated “husbandman” is iysh (אִישׁ), which simply means “man” or “husband.” However, in certain contexts it refers specifically to a tiller of the ground or farmer. For example:
“Cain was a tiller of the ground (iysh adamah)” (Genesis 4:2).
“Noah began to be a husbandman (iysh adamah), and he planted a vineyard” (Genesis 9:20).
Thus, the term husbandman in the OT is used to describe those who work the land, planting and cultivating crops. The husbandman fulfills the command of God to Adam to work the ground (Genesis 2:5, 15).
Some additional Old Testament references to husbandmen include:
– Genesis 26:12 – Isaac sowed seed and reaped a hundredfold, becoming very wealthy, indicating he was a skilled husbandman.
– 2 Chronicles 26:10 – Uzziah loved husbandry, having much livestock and employees to tend the herds and fields.
– Jeremiah 31:24 – Judah and all its cities will dwell together as husbandmen, pointing to an agrarian society.
– Zechariah 13:5 – False prophets will claim “I am no prophet, I am a husbandman.”
So in summary, the OT portrays husbandmen positively as hard workers who obey God’s mandate to cultivate the land. Skilled husbandmen were prosperous and essential to ancient agrarian societies.
New Testament Usage
In the Greek New Testament, the word translated “husbandman” is geōrgos (γεωργός), referring to a farm worker, vine dresser, or one who tills the soil. For example:
“A certain householder planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen (geōrgois)” (Matthew 21:33).
“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard (geōrgō), ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none.'” (Luke 13:6-7)
Jesus also used husbandmen to illustrate spiritual truths in his parables:
“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)
Parables like this portrayed the husbandman as a diligent laborer depending on God to produce spiritual fruit, which at harvest time is rewarded.
Some other NT passages referencing husbandmen include:
– Matthew 9:37 – Jesus tells his disciples to pray for laborers, literally “workmen” or “husbandmen” to go out into the harvest.
– John 15:1 – Jesus declares himself the true vine and the Father as the husbandman who prunes the branches.
– 1 Corinthians 3:9 – Paul says he and Apollos are laborers together with God, who owns the land.
– James 5:7 – James encourages believers to wait patiently for the Lord’s coming just as a husbandman waits for his crops.
So the NT uses the analogy of a hard-working, patient, dependent husbandman to depict the believer’s role in serving and obeying Christ.
Duties and Practices of Biblical Husbandmen
Though the Bible does not provide extensive details, it does give insight into some of the main duties and practices of husbandmen in ancient biblical times:
– Clearing and Preparing Land: Before planting, husbandmen had to clear away stones, thorns, and weeds and plow the ground (Isaiah 5:2).
– Sowing and Planting: The husbandman was very familiar with planting techniques, sowing seed by hand and knowing optimal planting times (Ecclesiastes 11:4).
– Cultivating and Pruning: Skilled cultivation included fertilizing, irrigating, and pruning vines and trees to maximize fruitfulness (Leviticus 25:3-4).
– Guarding Crops and Land: Husbandmen and their servants guarded land against predators, theft, and trampling that could ruin harvests (Job 24:6, Isaiah 1:7-8).
– Managing Laborers: Large landowners hired and oversaw laborers for plowing, sowing, threshing, and harvesting crops (Matthew 20:1-16).
– Harvesting Crops: At the right time, the husbandman meticulously harvested grains, grapes, olives, figs, and fruits produced by their labor (James 5:4).
– Processing and Storing Foods: Husbandmen processed grapes into wine, grains into bread, olives into oil, etc. and properly stored foodstuffs (Matthew 6:19-20).
So in summary, biblical husbandmen performed a wide range of duties to successfully grow and gather abundant harvests from the land. Their provision of food sustained families, communities, and temple sacrifices.
Positive Biblical Images of Husbandmen
Though an often overlooked occupation, the Bible uses husbandmen to convey many positive images and spiritual lessons:
– Stewards and Caregivers: Husbandmen were stewards tasked with caring for God’s creation by cultivating the land (Genesis 2:15).
– Partners with God: As co-laborers with God, husbandmen partnered with God’s creative work yet humbly depended on Him (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).
– Diligent and Patient Workers: Successful husbandmen exhibited diligence and patience, trusting God from planting to harvest (James 5:7-8).
– Recipients of Blessing: Those who fear God are promised blessings like flourishing crops and full barns (Malachi 3:10-11).
– Teachers of Spiritual Lessons: Jesus highlighted principles like sowing and reaping, laborers, and fruits of righteousness through husbandry analogies (Luke 10:2, John 4:35-38).
So while not glamorous, husbandmen portray ideal virtues like stewardship, diligence, patience, trust, and hope in God’s provision. And caring for the land reflects man’s original purpose in the Garden of Eden.
Importance of Husbandmen in Ancient Israel
Husbandmen fulfilled a crucial role in the agrarian economy and society of biblical Israel:
– Provided Food: By growing grains, wine, oil, fruits, and vegetables, husbandmen enabled families to eat and communities to thrive.
– Supported Temple: Offerings came from the husbandmen’s harvests of wheat, oil, wine, animals, and firstfruits (Nehemiah 10:35-37).
– Produced Income: For landowners, abundant harvests produced extra income through trading of commodities like grains, wine, oils, etc. (Deuteronomy 28:4).
– Instilled Work Ethic: Farming life taught discipline, hard work, and rest on Sabbath (Exodus 20:9). Children learned husbandry starting at young ages.
– Passed Down Land Inheritance: Land stayed in families through generations as fathers passed occupations and land inheritances down to sons (Psalm 37:18).
– Shaped Culture: Rural life, agrarian laws, festivals, sacrifices, worship songs, proverbs, and teachings reflected the pivotal role of husbandmen (1 Samuel 8:10-18).
So in many ways, the lifestyle and livelihood of husbandmen fundamentally shaped the fabric of Old Testament Jewish civilization. Their provision of food was essential for sustaining life and worship of God.
Husbandmen and Land Ownership
Though many husbandmen owned the land they worked, others labored on rented land or as hired hands:
– Owners: Some small landowners worked their own land passed down to them as an inheritance (Ruth 4:3-9).
– Tenant Farmers: Many husbandmen rented land from large absentee landowners and gave a percentage of crops as payment (Song of Solomon 8:11-12).
– Hired Laborers: Landowners hired labor from husbandmen temporarily during peak planting and harvest times (Matthew 20:1-15).
– Slaves: Some slaves labored as farming husbandmen, though this was less common in Israel (Exodus 21:32).
– Sharecroppers: Landowners shared half of produce with husbandmen who lived and worked on their land (Isaiah 61:5).
Of course, owning land provided more security, stability, and motivation for husbandmen. Laws protected lands staying in families (Leviticus 25:8-24). But some opted to lease land to avoid debt.
Treatment of Husbandmen in the Bible
The Bible instructs people to treat husbandmen and their land ethically and compassionately:
– Pay Fair Wages: Do not exploit or underpay hired laborers; pay them promptly (Deuteronomy 24:14-15).
– Provide Rest: Slaves, livestock, and land should be given Sabbath rest from labor (Exodus 20:8-11).
– Leave Gleanings: Do not harvest edges of fields so the poor and travelers may eat remaining produce (Leviticus 23:22).
– Return Lost Animals: Return even a donkey or ox that has gone astray to a husbandman (Exodus 23:4-5).
– Do Not Covet Land: Do not scheme to unjustly obtain a husbandman’s household, land, or livestock (Micah 2:2).
– Repay Stolen or Damaged Property: Make restitution when a husbandman’s property, crops, or livestock are stolen or destroyed (Exodus 22:1-5).
– Aid Husbandmen in Need: Help poor husbandmen by leaving produce, forgiving debts, and showing mercy (Deuteronomy 15:1-2).
So the Bible promotes justice, generosity, compassion, and repayment to prevent husbandmen from losing their livelihood and falling into poverty or slavery when unable to repay debts.
Warnings and Judgments Against Ungodly Husbandmen
Though husbandmen are generally portrayed positively, the Bible issues warnings against husbandmen who are unfaithful, greedy, and unjust:
– Consuming Offerings: Do not profane offerings by allowing husbandmen to eat what is dedicated as holy (Leviticus 22:10).
– Defiling the Land: Ungodly practices and unjust gain can defile the land and God may remove His blessings (Jeremiah 12:10-13).
– Prideful Boasting: Do not boast proudly in skill or riches gained by husbandry independent of God (Deuteronomy 8:11-14).
– Fraud and Greed: Do not move boundary markers of fields or seize land and houses (Micah 2:1-2).
– Exploiting Poor: Do not refuse wages, exploit laborers, or crush the poor (Malachi 3:5).
– Unfaithfulness: God judges the people and leaders who are unfaithful like an untended vineyard (Jeremiah 12:10-11).
– Withholding Offerings: Do not steal from God by withholding full offerings and tithes (Malachi 3:8-9).
Thus, husbandmen who are greedy, unjust, prideful, and ungenerous face God’s displeasure and remedial judgments. But He blesses those who honor Him and treat others fairly.
New Testament Husbandmen Parables
Jesus frequently used the familiar imagery of husbandmen to teach deeper spiritual lessons. His agricultural parables provide insights into the kingdom of God:
The Sower (Matthew 13:1-9) – The seed is the word of God; people respond differently to the gospel message based on the condition of their heart.
Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30) – The righteous and unrighteous grow together until separated at the final harvest and judgment.
Mustard Seed and Leaven (Matthew 13:31-33) – The kingdom starts small but grows large; its invisible influence spreads like leaven in dough.
Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44) – The kingdom is of surpassing value, worth sacrificing all to obtain.
Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46) – The kingdom is a priceless treasure, worth selling everything to acquire.
Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9) – God patiently waits for people to bear spiritual fruit before judgment falls.
Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) – God graciously rewards all who serve Him, whether long or short seasons.
Wicked Husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-45) – Despite repeated patience, God judges those who reject and kill His servants and Son.
The Vine and Branches (John 15:1-6) – Christ is the vine, believers are branches drawing life from Him; unfruitful branches are cut off.
So Jesus masterfully used agricultural images to colorfully illustrate spiritual truths about the nature of the kingdom, the promise of harvest, the need for diligence, the certainty of judgment, and more. The husbandman imagery reinforced His authority as Lord of the harvest.
Final Reflections on Biblical Husbandmen
In closing, the humble occupation of a husbandman may not seem lofty. But this overlooked vocation is used positively throughout Scripture to model virtues like stewardship, diligence, patience, faith, and compassion. God is intimately involved with husbandmen – instructing, providing, rewarding, correcting. Though daily labor in the field is undramatic, God assigns dignity to the mundane tasks of sowing, reaping, and tending the land. The produce from husbandmen’s toil is an act of partnership with God that fills bellies, honors God in worship, and delights hearts at harvest feasts. Beyond physical provision, the analogy of the husbandman teaches deep spiritual lessons. All followers of Christ are called to be husbandmen – cultivating our lives carefully to bear lasting fruit that benefits others and glorifies God.