Bible Strands
Isaiah 32:20
Blessed are those who sow beside abundant waters, who let the ox and donkey range freely.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet Isaiah addresses Judah immediately after describing hail leveling the forest and a city sinking to the depths, marking a moment of national devastation. The words — The opening term אַשְׁרֵי ('ash.rei) translates literally as "how blessed," while מְשַׁלְּחֵי (me.sha.le.Chei) means "those who let loose." The thread — Ecclesiastes 11:1 records casting bread on waters and finding it after many days. Isaiah 30:23 describes God sending rain for sown seed and yielding food from the land. Isaiah 55:10 notes rain and snow falling to water the earth and cause it to sprout. Why it lands — The text commands sowing near abundant waters and releasing the ox and donkey to range freely. It requires the reader to maintain practical preparation and stewardship while awaiting the outcome of the sown seed.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
Cross-references
- Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
- Isaiah 30:23 Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures.
- Isaiah 55:10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,
- Isaiah 19:5 The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty.
- Acts 2:41 Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
- Acts 4:4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
- Acts 5:14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
- 1 Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?
- James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.