### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun מִזְרָע (mizrâʻ, `{{H4218}}`) is derived from the verbal root זָרַע (zâraʻ, `{{H2232}}`), meaning "to sow" or "to scatter seed." As a noun, mizrâʻ typically denotes either the *place* where seed is sown, thus "a sown field" or "cultivated land," or the *object* of sowing, referring to "that which is sown," "sowing seed," or "seed-plot." Its semantic range encompasses the agricultural act of planting and the resultant ground or produce, inherently linking human effort in cultivation with the expectation of future yield.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
מִזְרָע (mizrâʻ, `{{H4218}}`) appears a limited number of times in the Hebrew Bible, but each instance carries significant contextual weight:
* **[[Leviticus 11:37]] and [[Leviticus 11:38]]**: In these verses, mizrâʻ appears in the phrase זֶרַע מִזְרָע (zeraʻ mizrâʻ), which is best translated as "sowing seed" or "seed for sowing." The context is the Mosaic law concerning ritual purity, specifically regarding the defilement caused by contact with the carcasses of unclean animals. The law distinguishes between dry seed, which remains clean if an unclean carcass falls upon it, and wetted seed, which becomes unclean. This distinction highlights the vital importance of the seed intended for planting. It underscores the sacredness of the means of sustenance and the need to preserve its purity to ensure the community's food supply and ritual cleanness. The very future of the community depended on the viability and purity of this "sowing seed."
* **[[Isaiah 17:10]]**: Here, mizrâʻ is used in a more metaphorical and poetic sense, מִזְרַע נַעֲמָנִים (mizraʻ naʻamanim), often rendered as "pleasant plants," "choice plantings," or "delightful gardens." The prophet Isaiah rebukes Israel for their idolatry and lack of trust in God, likening their spiritual choices to planting "pleasant plants" and "foreign shoots" instead of relying on the "Rock of your refuge." This "sowing" symbolizes Israel's misguided efforts to secure their future through human alliances and false worship rather than through fidelity to Yahweh. The implication is that such a "sowing" will yield a bitter, unproductive harvest, a direct consequence of their spiritual infidelity.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **זָרַע (zâraʻ, `{{H2232}}`):** The root verb "to sow," which fundamentally undergirds mizrâʻ. This verb emphasizes the action of planting and the hope for a future harvest, whether agricultural or metaphorical.
* **זֶרַע (zeraʻ, `{{H2233}}`):** "Seed," "offspring," "descendants." This noun is closely related and often appears alongside mizrâʻ (e.g., זֶרַע מִזְרָע). It connects the physical act of planting seed to the broader biblical themes of covenant, progeny, and the continuity of God's promises (e.g., the "seed" of Abraham).
* **שָׂדֶה (sadeh, `{{H7704}}`):** "Field," "countryside." This general term for agricultural land provides the physical setting for a mizrâʻ (sown field).
* **קָצִיר (qatsir, `{{H7105}}`):** "Harvest," "reaping." This concept is the natural and expected outcome of mizrâʻ (sowing). The immutable law of "sowing and reaping" is a pervasive biblical principle, applied to agricultural, ethical, and spiritual realms (e.g., [[Galatians 6:7]]).
### Theological Significance
The word mizrâʻ (`{{H4218}}`) carries several layers of theological significance:
* **Divine Providence and Human Responsibility:** The act of preparing a mizrâʻ and sowing seed highlights the essential human responsibility in working the land, yet it simultaneously underscores an absolute dependence on God for the elements necessary for growth—rain, sunshine, and fertility. Without divine blessing, the sown field remains barren, a powerful reminder that human effort must be consecrated by divine favor.
* **Purity and Consecration:** The Levitical laws concerning the purity of mizrâʻ (sowing seed) reveal a deep theological concern for holiness. What is essential for life and sustenance must be kept ritually undefiled, reflecting God's own holiness and the order He establishes for His people. The defilement of the seed would not only threaten physical life but also spiritual integrity.
* **Spiritual Sowing and Reaping:** The metaphorical usage in Isaiah extends the agricultural principle to the spiritual and moral spheres. Just as one sows physical seed and expects a physical harvest, so too do spiritual actions (or inactions) lead to spiritual consequences. Israel's "pleasant plants" represent self-serving choices and idolatrous practices, which, though seemingly desirable, inevitably lead to a bitter harvest of divine judgment. This principle reinforces the moral order of the cosmos, where choices have consequences, and God is the ultimate arbiter of the harvest.
* **Hope and Future Provision:** The very act of preparing a mizrâʻ and planting seed is an act of faith and hope, anticipating future sustenance and blessing. It embodies a tangible trust in God's ongoing provision for His creation and His people.
### Summary
מִזְרָע (mizrâʻ, `{{H4218}}`) is a Hebrew noun signifying primarily "a sown field" or "seed for sowing," derived from the root זָרַע (zâraʻ, `{{H2232}}`) "to sow." Its occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, though few, are profoundly insightful. In [[Leviticus 11:37-38]], mizrâʻ underscores the vital importance and ritual purity of seed designated for planting, connecting physical sustenance with the broader concept of holiness essential for the community's well-being. In [[Isaiah 17:10]], the term is employed metaphorically, depicting Israel's spiritual infidelity as the planting of "pleasant plants"—choices based on human folly rather than divine wisdom—which inevitably yield a harvest of judgment. Thus, mizrâʻ encapsulates fundamental biblical truths: the interplay of divine providence and human responsibility, the necessity of purity and consecration, and the universal principle that what is sown, whether literally in a field or metaphorically in one's life choices, will ultimately determine what is reaped.
TRV