Seed, (זֶרִע, zera; σπέρμα). The seed time of Palestine (Leviticus 26:5) for grain came regularly in November and December (Lightfoot, Hor. Hebr. p. 340, 1003; Korte, Reis. p. 432). Since the harvest began in the middle of Nisan, the time of growth and culture was about four months (John 4:35; see Lücke, ad loc.). But this was certainly a very general reckoning, and perhaps had become proverbial. (In this passage the word ἔτι, yet, does not seem to accord with this explanation; see also Anger, De Temp. Act. Ap. p. 24 sq.; Wieseler, Chronol. Synops. p. 216 sq.; Jacobi, in Stud. u. Krit. 1838, p. 858 sq.). SEE AGRICULTURE.
Sowing was done by the hand, as often with us, though according to the Gemara (Baba Metsia, fol. 105) the Jews used machines also for this purpose (Otho, Lex. Rab. p. 685). The seed when sown and the young plants have more enemies in the East than even here: not only drought, hail, mice (1 Samuel 6:5), fire, but also grasshoppers and locusts (see these words), often destroy promising harvests. The following legal regulations are found in the Pentateuch:
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Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia
Keywords: Seed
Bible reference(s): 1 John 3:9, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 Samuel 6:5, Galatians 3:16, Genesis 3:15, Genesis 4:25, Isaiah 28:25, Isaiah 53:10, Jeremiah 31:27, John 4:35, Leviticus 11:37, Leviticus 19:19, Leviticus 26:5, Luke 1:26, Luke 8:5, Matthew 1:18, Matthew 13:38, Romans 4:16
Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.
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