Exodus 23:10 — Word Study
WLCוְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־ אַרְצֶ֑ךָ וְאָסַפְתָּ֖ אֶת־ תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃
BSAFor sixshêsh [a period of completion] yearsshâneh you are to sowzâraʻ▸ [plant seeds, scatter] your landʼerets [the earth, a country] and gatherʼâçaph [bring together, harvest] its producetᵉbûwʼâh [crops, fruit, revenue]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְשֵׁ֥שׁ | and six | Conjunction |
| שָׁנִ֖ים | years | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| תִּזְרַ֣ע | you will sow | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| אַרְצֶ֑ךָ | land your | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וְאָסַפְתָּ֖ | and you will gather | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect second person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃ | produce its | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce, |
| KJV | And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: |
| ASV | And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the increase thereof: |
| YLT | 'And six years thou dost sow thy land, and hast gathered its increase; |
| WEB | “For six years you shall sow your land, and shall gather in its increase, |
| BBE | For six years put seed into your fields and get in the increase; |
Where they part company is in the phrasing of the actions: see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by two actions, indicating a clear directive structure.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbזָרַע
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 23:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Laws about Farming and Land Usegenerated
Exodus 23:10 is part of a larger section where God provides laws to the Israelites regarding their conduct and responsibilities in the Promised Land. This specific verse outlines the agricultural practices they are to follow, emphasizing a cycle of sowing and gathering over a six-year period, followed by a year of rest for the land, as seen in the subsequent verses.
Cross References
The Key Word — תִּזְרַע, tiz.Ra'generated
The verb זָרַע (zara`) means 'to sow' or 'to plant seeds'. It is a Qal imperfect verb in the second person masculine singular, indicating an action directed at the listener, which in this case is the Israelite farmer. The root conveys the idea of scattering seeds, and it has broader implications, such as the figurative sense of spreading ideas or producing fruit.
This word is significant in the context of agricultural law, as it emphasizes the active role of the farmer in cultivating the land, which is a recurring theme in the Torah. The act of sowing is not just a physical task but also a spiritual one, reflecting the relationship between the people and the land God has given them.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses sow and gather for the actions described, aligning closely with the original Hebrew meanings.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in the verse is תִּזְרַע, you will sow, which governs the actions described in the sentence. The structure includes a noun phrase for the object of the verb, אֶת־אַרְצֶךָ, your land, followed by another verb phrase, וְאָסַפְתָּ, and you will gather, which introduces the second action.
The sentence's flow highlights the sequential nature of the commands, with the first action of sowing leading into the second action of gathering, establishing a clear agricultural rhythm.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb זָרַע is rendered as σπερεῖς, which means 'you will sow'. This choice reflects a direct translation of the agricultural action, maintaining the focus on planting.
The Greek term emphasizes the act of sowing as a physical and intentional action, consistent with the Hebrew sense of the word.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 23:10 instructs the Israelites to cultivate their land for six years and gather the crops produced. This command is part of God's laws about how they should manage their agricultural practices, emphasizing the importance of working the land responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To sow the land means to plant seeds in the ground to grow crops, which is an essential part of farming.
The seventh year of rest allows the land to rejuvenate, promoting sustainability and ensuring that the soil remains fertile.
This verse emphasizes the responsibility of the Israelites to cultivate and care for the land God has given them, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices.
Gathering produce signifies the harvest and the reward of the labor put into sowing, representing both physical sustenance and God's provision.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I practice stewardship over the resources I have been given?
- How can the principle of resting the land apply to other areas of my life?
- What does it mean to me to actively sow seeds of kindness or knowledge in my community?
- How can I ensure that I am gathering the fruits of my labor in a way that honors God?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 23:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd six years thou shall sow thy land, The land of Canaan, given to their ancestors and to them, and which they were now going to inherit; and when they came into it they were to plant it with vines
Read John Gill on Exodus 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: Six years thou shalt sow - intermitting the cultivation of the land every seventh year.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 23 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsExodus 23:10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:Ver. 10. Thou shalt sow thy land.] Here the wise man’ s counsel would be remembered, Laudato ingentia rura, exiguum colito. To be called a good husbandman, was of old a high praise.
Read John Trapp on Exodus 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersXXIII.(1-19) The “miscellaneous laws” are here continued. From Exodus 23:1 to Exodus 23:9 no kind of sequence in the laws can be traced; from Exodus 23:10 to the first clause of Exo 23:19 there is, on the contrary, a certain connection, since the laws enunciated are concerned with ceremonial observance. The closing law, however, is not ceremonial, but the prohibition of a practice considered to be cruel. On the whole, it may be said that The Book of the Covenant maintains its unsystematic character to the close. (See Note on Exodus 20:22-26.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10–12. The seventh year to be a fallow year, and the seventh day to be a day of rest. The motive, it may be noticed, is in each case a philanthropic one.
Read Cambridge on Exodus 23 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThis is the first mention of the Sabbatical year; the law for it is given at length in Leviticus 25:2.
Read Albert Barnes on Exodus 23 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce,
“For six years you shall sow your land, and shall gather in its increase,
For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce,
“For six years you are to sow your land and gather in its produce.
Tyndale line
And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:
And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the increase thereof:
And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the increase thereof:
And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:
Moreouer, sixe yeres thou shalt sowe thy land, and gather the fruites thereof,
Strictly literal
And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and gather in its produce;
'And six years thou dost sow thy land, and hast gathered its increase;
And [for] six years you sow your land and have gathered its increase;
And six years shalt thou sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof;
For six years you will sow seed on your land and gather in its produce.
From the Latin
Six years thou shalt sow thy ground, and shalt gather the corn thereof.
Simplified
Six years you are to sow your land and harvest crops,
For six years put seed into your fields and get in the increase;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls, however, show some damage with only partial words preserved, but the key elements align with the Masoretic Text.
וְשֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־ אַרְצֶ֑ךָ וְאָסַפְתָּ֖ אֶת־ תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃
6 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ושׁשׁ שׁנים תזרע את ארצך ואספת את תבואתה
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
ושש שנים תזרע [את] [ארצ׳ך] [ואספת] [את] תבואת׳ה
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 23:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שֵׁשׁ, transliterated as shesh, means 'six' and can function as both a cardinal and ordinal number, indicating the sixth position. It is a primitive number that signifies an excess beyond five, as noted in the entries. The Aramaic equivalent is שֵׁת (shet).
שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה 216 n.m. et f. six
base
H8337 שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה six
8337 shesh shaysh
masculine shishshah {shish-shaw'}; a primitive number; six
(as an overplus (see 7797) beyond five or the fingers of the
hand); as ord. sixth:--six((-teen, -teenth)), sixth.
see HEBREW for 07797
שֵׁשׁ (shesh) — six.
1) six
1a) six (cardinal number)
1b) sixth (ordinal number)
1c) in combination with other numbers
Aramaic equivalent: shet (שֵׁת "six" H8353)
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/Acbsa
שָׁנָה (shaneh) means 'year' and is derived from the root meaning to change or revolve. It encompasses various aspects of time, including divisions of time, measures of age, and even a lifetime. The Aramaic equivalent is שְׁנָה (she.nah), also meaning 'year'.
שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])
base
H8141 שָׁנָה year (etym. v. √[8138a])
8141 shaneh shaw-neh'
(in plura or (feminine) shanah {shaw-naw'}; from 8138; a year
(as a revolution of time):--+ whole age, X long, + old,
year(X -ly).
see HEBREW for 08138
שָׁנָה (sha.neh) — year.
1) year
1a) as division of time
1b) as measure of time
1c) as indication of age
1d) a lifetime (of years of life)
Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
זָרַע (zara`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sow or scatter seed. It covers various aspects of planting and yielding, including the figurative sense of producing or conceiving. The root can denote actions in different forms, such as being sown or becoming pregnant. The entries indicate a range of uses, from agricultural to reproductive contexts.
זָרַע vb. sow, scatter seed
Qal
lit. sow
of shrub and tree producing, yielding seed
fig.
Niph. be sown, fructified
be sown
be fructified, made pregnant
Pu. of princes and judges under fig. of trees
Hiph.
produce seed
of a woman, = bear a child
base
H2232 זָרַע sow, scatter seed .. lit. sow
2232 zara` zaw-rah'
a primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate,
plant, fructify:--bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er),
yield.
זָרַע (za.ra) — to sow.
1) to sow, scatter seed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sow
1a2) producing, yielding seed
1b)(Niphal)
1b1) to be sown
1b2) to become pregnant, be made pregnant
1c) (Pual) to be sown
1d) (Hiphil) to produce seed, yield seed
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
sou.
See SWINE.
[SWINE]
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp2ms
אָסַף (acaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gather or remove. It encompasses a range of actions including collecting, assembling, and withdrawing. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like gathering individuals or being gathered. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
אָסַף 209 vb. gather, remove
Qal
gather, collect
gather an individual into company of others
bring up the rear of
gather and take away, remove, withdraw
Niph.
assemble, be gathered, reflex.
pass. of Qal 2
Pass. of Qal 4; be taken away, removed, perish
Pi.
gather harvest
take in, receive into
as subst. rearguard, rearward
Pu. be gathered, of men
Hithp. gather themselves
base
H622 אָסַף gather, remove
622 'acaph aw-saf'
a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to
receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put
up, restore, etc.):--assemble, bring, consume, destroy,
felch, gather (in, together, up again), X generally, get
(him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from
leprosy), (be) rereward, X surely, take (away, into, up), X
utterly, withdraw.
אָסַף (a.saph) — to gather.
1) to gather, receive, remove, gather in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to gather, collect
1a2) to gather (an individual into company of others)
1a3) to bring up the rear
1a4) to gather and take away, remove, withdraw
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to assemble, be gathered
1b2) (pass of Qal 1a2)
1b2a) to be gathered to one's fathers
1b2b) to be brought in or into (association with others)
1b3) (pass of Qal 1a4)
1b3a) to be taken away, removed, perish
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to gather (harvest)
1c2) to take in, receive into
1c3) rearguard, rearward (subst)
1d) (Pual) to be gathered
1e) (Hithpael) to gather oneself or themselves
Conj | V-Qal-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singularHc/Vqq2ms
gath'-er ('acaph, qabhats; sullego, sunago):
"Gather," transitive "to bring together," "collect," etc., and intransitive "to come together," "assemble," etc., occurs frequently and represents many Hebrew and Greek words. It is the translation of 'acaph, "to bring together," in Jos 6:9, the King James Version margin "gathering host"; Ps 27:10, the King James Version margin "The Lord will gather me"; compare Nu 12:14,15; Isa 52:12 King James Version margin. The phrases "gather thee unto thy fathers," "gathered unto his fathers," "gathered into the grave," etc., are frequently used for "to die" and "death" (Ge 25:8,17…
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
תְּבוּאָה (tbuw'ah) refers to produce or revenue, typically from the earth, including crops and income. It can also figuratively denote gains, such as wisdom or the product of lips. The word is derived from a root meaning to bring forth, and its usage spans both literal and figurative contexts.
תְּבוּאָה n.f. proventus, product, revenue
product, yield, usually of earth
income, revenue, in general
fig. gain of wisdom
base
H8393 תְּבוּאָה proventus, product, revenue
8393 tbuw'ah teb-oo-aw'
from 935; income, i.e. produce (literally or
figuratively):--fruit, gain, increase, revenue.
see HEBREW for 0935
תְּבוּאָה (te.vu.ah) — produce.
1) produce, product, revenue
1a) product, yield, crops (of the earth usually)
1b) income, revenue
1c) gain (of wisdom) (fig)
1d) product of lips (fig)
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3fs