Meaning
A reaper is a person who cuts and gathers a crop during harvest.
Biblical Usage
Reapers worked in agricultural fields to cut and gather crops during harvest. In Ruth, the reapers worked in the fields of Boaz while Ruth gathered what remained behind them.
The Bible also uses reaping and reapers in figurative descriptions of gathering and judgment. The agricultural meaning remains the basis of these figurative uses.
Key References
- Ruth 2:3-21
- Ruth 3:2
- Psalm 126:5-6
- Isaiah 17:5-6
- Joel 3:13
- Matthew 13:30
- Matthew 13:39
- Revelation 14:14-16
Related Terms
- Glean
- Gleaning
- Harvest
- Barley
- Wheat