# harvest #

## Definition: ##

The term "harvest" refers to the gathering in of ripe fruits or vegetables from the plants on which they were growing.

* The harvest time normally happens at the end of a growing season.
* The Israelites held a "Festival of Harvest" or "Festival of Ingathering" to celebrate the reaping of the food crops. God commanded them to offer the first fruits of these crops as a sacrifice to him.
* In a figurative sense, the word "harvest" can refer to people coming to believe in Jesus or can describe a person's spiritual growth.
* The idea of a harvest of spiritual crops fits with the figurative image of fruits being a picture of godly character qualities.

## Translation Suggestions: ##

* It is best to translate this term with the word that is commonly used in the language to refer to the harvesting of crops.
* The event of harvesting could be translated as, "time of gathering in" or "crop gathering time" or "fruit picking time."
* The verb "to harvest" could be translated as, "to gather in" or "to pick up" or "to collect."

(See: [firstfruit](../kt/firstfruit.md), [festival](../other/festival.md))

## Bible References: ##

* [1 Corinthians 09:9-11](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/1co/09/09)
* [2 Samuel 21:7-9](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/2sa/21/07)
* [Galatians 06:9-10](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/gal/06/09)
* [Isaiah 17:10-11](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/isa/17/10)
* [James 05:7-8](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/jas/05/07)
* [Leviticus 19:9-10](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/lev/19/09)
* [Matthew 09:37-38](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/mat/09/37)
* [Ruth 01:22](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/rut/01/22)