In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand—the Hebrew zera (זֶרַע, seed) functions both literally (agricultural seed) and metaphorically (works, investments, efforts). The command to sow both morning and evening creates a merism expressing continuous, diligent labor without hesitation. The rationale follows: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that (כִּי אֵינְךָ יוֹדֵעַ אֵי זֶה יִכְשָׁר). Human beings cannot predict which efforts will succeed—the verb kasher (כָּשַׁר, prosper/succeed) indicates favorable outcome. This verse teaches industrious stewardship under uncertainty.
The Preacher's counsel balances wisdom and faith: work diligently because outcomes are unpredictable, not because success is guaranteed. This anticipates Jesus's parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23) where seed falls on various soils with different results. Paul echoes this: 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase' (1 Corinthians 3:6). Believers labor faithfully, trusting God's sovereignty over results. The verse forbids both presumptuous sloth (assuming effort is pointless) and anxious calculation (attempting to guarantee outcomes). Faithful stewardship sows generously despite uncertainty.
Historical Context
Ancient Israel's agricultural economy made seed-sowing vivid imagery. Farmers sowed in both early rains (October-November, 'morning') and later rains (March-April, 'evening'), maximizing harvest potential despite uncertain weather. Crop failure from drought, locusts, or disease was common, making diversified planting prudent. Solomon's wisdom literature frequently used agricultural metaphors (Proverbs 11:18, 22:8). The post-exilic community, rebuilding after Babylonian captivity, faced agricultural and economic uncertainty—Haggai rebuked those who withheld effort (Haggai 1:6-11). This verse provided wisdom for uncertain times: keep working faithfully despite unpredictable outcomes.
Questions for Reflection
What 'seeds' (investments of time, energy, resources) are you hesitant to sow due to fear of failure or uncertain outcomes?
How does trusting God's sovereignty over results free you to work diligently without anxiety about which efforts will 'prosper'?
Analysis & Commentary
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand—the Hebrew zera (זֶרַע, seed) functions both literally (agricultural seed) and metaphorically (works, investments, efforts). The command to sow both morning and evening creates a merism expressing continuous, diligent labor without hesitation. The rationale follows: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that (כִּי אֵינְךָ יוֹדֵעַ אֵי זֶה יִכְשָׁר). Human beings cannot predict which efforts will succeed—the verb kasher (כָּשַׁר, prosper/succeed) indicates favorable outcome. This verse teaches industrious stewardship under uncertainty.
The Preacher's counsel balances wisdom and faith: work diligently because outcomes are unpredictable, not because success is guaranteed. This anticipates Jesus's parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23) where seed falls on various soils with different results. Paul echoes this: 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase' (1 Corinthians 3:6). Believers labor faithfully, trusting God's sovereignty over results. The verse forbids both presumptuous sloth (assuming effort is pointless) and anxious calculation (attempting to guarantee outcomes). Faithful stewardship sows generously despite uncertainty.