Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Reap. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia REAPING rep'-ing (qatsar; therizo): Reaping in ancient times, as at present, consisted in either pulling up the grain by the roots or cutting it with a sickle (see SICKLE), and then binding the stalks into bundles to be carried to the threshing-floor. If the Egyptian sculptures are true to life, reaping was sometimes divided into two operations, the heads of grain and the stalks being reaped separately. In Palestine and Syria both pulling and cutting are still practiced, the former when the ground is stony and the spears scarce. Even where the sickle is used, much of the grain comes up by the roots, owing to the toughness of the dried stalks or the dullness of the sickle. The reaper sometimes wears pieces of cane on the fingers of the hand which gathers the grain in order to protect them from injury by the sharp grasses or the sickle. There were definite laws established by the Hebrews in regard to reaping (Leviticus 19:9; Leviticus 23:10; Leviticus 25:5, 11 Deuteronomy 16:9). Samuel mentions the task of reaping the harvest as one of the requirements which would be made by the king for whom the people were clamoring (1 Samuel 8:12). Figurative: The certainty of the consequences of good and evil doing were often typified by the sowing and the reaping of harvests (Job 4:8 Proverbs 22:8 Hosea 8:7; Hosea 10:12, 13 2 Corinthians 9:6 Galatians 6:7, 8). "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" is found in the liberated captives' song (Psalm 126:5). "He that regardeth the clouds shall not reap," i.e. a lack of faith in God's care will be punished (Ecclesiastes 11:4); compare also the lesson of trust drawn from the birds (Matthew 6:26 Luke 12:24). Sowing and not reaping the harvest is mentioned as a punishment for disobedience (Job 31:8 Jeremiah 12:13 Micah 6:15). Reaping where he sowed not, showed the injustice of the landlord (Matthew 25:26), as did also the withholding of the reapers' wages (James 5:4). In God's Kingdom there is a division of labor: "He that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (John 4:36-38). In John's vision he saw an angel reap the earth (Revelation 14:15, 16). See AGRICULTURE; GLEANING. James A. Patch

Multi-Version Concordance Reaping (10 Occurrences) Matthew 25:24 "He also who had received the one talent came and said,'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV) Luke 19:22 "He said to him,'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) John 4:36 And he who is reaping doth receive a reward, and doth gather fruit to life age-during, that both he who is sowing and he who is reaping may rejoice together; (YLT) Revelation 14:15 And another, an angel, came out of the sanctuary, calling in a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, and saying, "Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the hour for reaping it has come: the harvest of the earth is over-ripe." (WEY DBY YLT) Genesis 45:6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. (See NIV) Leviticus 19:9 And in your reaping the harvest of your land ye do not completely reap the corner of thy field, and the gleaning of thy harvest thou dost not gather, (YLT) Leviticus 23:22 And in your reaping the harvest of your land thou dost not complete the corner of thy field in thy reaping, and the gleaning of thy harvest thou dost not gather, to the poor and to the sojourner thou dost leave them; I Jehovah 'am' your God.' (YLT) Ruth 2:9 Let thy eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art thirsty go to the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. (WBS RSV) 1 Samuel 6:13 They of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV) 1 Samuel 8:12 also to appoint for himself heads of thousands, and heads of fifties; also to plow his plowing, and to reap his reaping; and to make instruments of his war, and instruments of his charioteer. (YLT)