Ploughing

Cutting up the furrows in soil and turning it up before work can be done on the land.

Ploughing as a way of life

1 Kings 19:19–21; Luke 17:7 See also 1 Samuel 8:12, 1 Samuel 13:19–21; Job 1:14; Proverbs 20:4; Isaiah 28:24; Ezekiel 36:9; Amos 9:13

So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

Rules concerning ploughing

Exodus 23:10–11, Exodus 34:21; Deuteronomy 22:10

Ploughing used figuratively

Job 4:8; Luke 9:62 See also Judges 14:18; Psalm 129:3, Psalm 141:7; Isaiah 2:4; Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:11–12; Amos 6:12; 1 Corinthians 9:10

As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.

Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”