Exodus 23:10 kjv

And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:

Exodus 23:10 nkjv

"Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce,

Exodus 23:10 niv

"For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops,

Exodus 23:10 esv

"For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield,

Exodus 23:10 nlt

"Plant and harvest your crops for six years,

Exodus 23 verses

Exodus 23 10 Meaning

Exodus 23:10 outlines the fundamental command for the agricultural rhythm of ancient Israel: for a period of six consecutive years, the Israelites were to diligently cultivate their fields and diligently harvest their produce. This instruction served as the active phase, establishing a pattern of purposeful labor and productivity that was a prelude to the commanded rest and cessation of work in the seventh year. It laid the groundwork for the divine economy of their land use, emphasizing both human responsibility and an anticipated pause dictated by God.

Exodus 23 10 Context

Exodus 23:10 is an introductory command concerning the septennial land-rest, known as the Sabbatical year (Shemitah). It explicitly mandates the six-year period of active agriculture which immediately precedes the instruction for the seventh year's rest outlined in the subsequent verse (Ex 23:11) and elaborated in Lv 25. This verse is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Ex 20:22 – 23:33), which serves as a detailed expansion of the Ten Commandments, presenting God's civil laws, ordinances for justice, and instructions for various aspects of Israelite society, including agricultural practices. For ancient Israel, an agrarian society, the land was central to their existence. The command to work the land for six years taught diligent stewardship and acknowledged their role in cultivation, yet by dictating a subsequent period of rest, it simultaneously highlighted their absolute dependence on God as the ultimate provider, a striking contrast to the continuous farming practices and fertility deity worship prevalent among surrounding nations.

Exodus 23 10 Word analysis

• For six years: (Hebrew: שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים - shesh shanim)

  • Six: This number signifies a complete cycle of work, often leading to a climax or transition, paralleling the six days of creation and weekly labor. It marks a definite period for activity.
  • Years: Specifies the duration of the labor, emphasizing a sustained, long-term pattern of effort and diligence, establishing an agricultural rhythm.

• you are to sow: (Hebrew: תִּזְרַע - tizra, from the root זָרַע - zara', meaning "to sow, scatter seed")

  • Implies the active and purposeful planting of crops. It denotes the essential human effort in initiating the growth cycle, showcasing their responsibility and participation.
  • This action signifies preparing for a future harvest, requiring foresight and consistent effort.

• your fields: (Hebrew: אֶת אַרְצֶךָ - et artzecha, literally "your land")

  • Your land: Refers to the specific plots of land belonging to each Israelite family. It underscores the concept of stewardship and the personal responsibility tied to the covenantal possession of the promised land.
  • This phrase emphasizes the direct relationship between the people, their efforts, and the specific portion of the land given to them by God.

• and gather in: (Hebrew: וְאָסַפְתָּ - ve'asafta, from the root אָסַף - asaf, meaning "to gather, collect, bring in")

  • Signifies the process of harvesting the mature crops. This is the culmination of the six years of work, indicating the expected fruitful outcome of their labor.
  • "Gather in" implies bringing the produce into storage, essential for sustaining the household, community, and providing for future needs.

• their produce: (Hebrew: אֶת תְּבוּאָתָהּ - et tevua'tah, literally "its produce/yield," referring to the land's yield)

  • Produce: Refers to the fruits, grains, and other cultivated plants. It represents the actual yield or bounty provided by the land as a result of both human effort and divine blessing.
  • Its: A possessive suffix referring to the land, underscoring that the bounty ultimately originates from the land, which in turn is blessed by God.

• Words-group analysis

  • "For six years you are to sow your fields and gather in their produce.": This entire phrase delineates the commanded active agricultural phase within a divinely ordered time frame. It highlights the requirement for diligent, consistent labor over a substantial period, laying the practical and theological groundwork for the subsequent instruction regarding the Sabbatical year. It showcases the interplay of human industry, land stewardship, and the expectation of harvest, all under the overarching authority and provision of God.

Exodus 23 10 Bonus section

• Theological Parallel to Creation: The pattern of six units of work followed by one of rest is deeply ingrained in creation (Gen 1-2:3) and the weekly Sabbath (Ex 20:9-10), demonstrating a consistent divine principle of rhythm and balance across all spheres of life, from cosmic to individual to communal and agricultural.
• A Polemic against Pagan Beliefs: By mandating a sabbatical for the land, God directly challenged the widespread ancient Near Eastern belief that land fertility depended solely on human rituals or the favor of local agricultural deities (like Baal). This law asserted Yahweh as the sole Giver of fertility and sustainment, demonstrating His absolute control over creation.
• Foreshadowing of Jubilee: This verse's instruction for the Sabbatical year is a foundational building block for the even more expansive Jubilee Year (Lv 25), which occurred after seven Sabbatical cycles (the 50th year). Both systems taught liberation, debt cancellation, and return of property, highlighting God's principles of social justice, equity, and cyclical renewal.
• Ethical and Economic Implications: The Sabbatical year, predicated on the six-year cycle, served practical functions: soil rejuvenation, pest control (by breaking crop cycles), and a unique social welfare system, as the produce of the land in the seventh year was explicitly for the poor, servants, and animals (Ex 23:11, Lv 25:6-7), promoting communal solidarity and charity.

Exodus 23 10 Commentary

Exodus 23:10 sets the stage for a unique aspect of Israelite law: the Sabbatical year. By specifying six years of consistent labor—sowing and harvesting—God commanded diligence and productivity in the agrarian life of His people. This was not simply a mundane instruction but a foundational lesson in stewardship and obedience. It instilled discipline and an understanding that while human effort was essential, it operated within God's sovereign design and temporal order. The detailed command to work for six years also implicitly prepared Israel to embrace the radical faith required to rest for an entire seventh year, trusting that God, not continuous labor, was their ultimate provider. This agricultural rhythm fostered reliance on divine blessing, taught conservation of resources, and underlined God's claim as owner of the land and source of all sustenance.