Welcome to this exploration of the theme of seeds in the Bible. Seeds symbolize growth, potential, and new beginnings through numerous parables and teachings. In both the Old and New Testaments, seeds often represent faith, life, and the Kingdom of God. Let’s delve into the Scriptures to uncover the profound significance of seeds in our spiritual journey.
Bible Verses About Seeds
1. Genesis 1:29 – God’s Provision through Seeds
“Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.’” – Genesis 1:29
Cross-References
Genesis 9:3 – “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
Psalm 104:14 – “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth.”
2. Matthew 13:31-32 – The Parable of the Mustard Seed
“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’” – Matthew 13:31-32
Cross-References
Mark 4:30-32 – “Again he said, ‘What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.”
Luke 13:18-19 – “Then Jesus asked, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden.'”
3. 1 Corinthians 15:37 – The Seed of Resurrection
“When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.” – 1 Corinthians 15:37
Cross-References
1 Corinthians 15:42 – “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable.”
John 12:24 – “Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
Philippians 3:21 – “Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
4. Mark 4:26-29 – The Parable of the Growing Seed
“He also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.’” – Mark 4:26-29
Cross-References
Isaiah 55:11 – “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
James 5:7 – “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.”
Ecclesiastes 11:5 – “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”
5. Galatians 6:7 – The Principle of Sowing and Reaping
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7
Cross-References
Hosea 10:12 – “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.”
6. Hosea 2:23 – Sowing and Mercy
“I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” – Hosea 2:23
Cross-References
Romans 9:26 – “And, ‘In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.””
1 Peter 2:10 – “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Isaiah 62:4 – “No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married.”
7. Matthew 13:24-30 – The Parable of the Weeds
“Jesus told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” – Matthew 13:24-30
Cross-References
Matthew 13:36-43 – “Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.'”
Revelation 14:15 – “Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.'”
Joel 3:13 – “Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness!”
8. Ecclesiastes 11:6 – Sowing in the Morning
“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” – Ecclesiastes 11:6
Cross-References
Proverbs 20:4 – “Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.”
Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
9. Matthew 13:37-39 – The Explanation of the Weeds
“He answered, ‘The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.’” – Matthew 13:37-39
Cross-References
Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
10. Luke 8:11 – The Seed is the Word of God
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.” – Luke 8:11
Cross-References
Romans 10:17 – “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
James 1:21 – “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
11. Isaiah 55:10-11 – The Word that Brings Forth Seed
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:10-11
Cross-References
Jeremiah 23:29 – “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
12. James 3:18 – Peacemakers Who Sow
“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” – James 3:18
Cross-References
Proverbs 11:18 – “A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.”
Philippians 1:11 – “Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
13. 2 Corinthians 9:10 – God Supplies Seed to the Sower
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” – 2 Corinthians 9:10
Cross-References
Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
While you’re here, why not explore our latest article on: Bible verses about Growth
14. Psalm 126:5 – Sowing in Tears
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” – Psalm 126:5
Cross-References
Jeremiah 31:9 – “They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.”
Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Revelation 7:17 – “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
15. Galatians 6:8 – Sowing to Please the Spirit
“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” – Galatians 6:8
Cross-References
Romans 8:13 – “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
John 6:63 – “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 – “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
16. Matthew 13:23 – The Seed on Good Soil
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.” – Matthew 13:23
Cross-References
James 1:22 – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Luke 8:15 – “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
Colossians 1:6 – “that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.”
17. Amos 9:14 – Planting Vineyards
“And I will bring my people Israel back from exile. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.” – Amos 9:14
Cross-References
Ezekiel 36:8 – “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home.'”
Isaiah 65:21 – “They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.”
18. Mark 4:14 – The Sower and the Seed
“The farmer sows the word.” – Mark 4:14
Cross-References
Matthew 13:4 – “As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.”
Luke 8:5 – “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.”
19. Leviticus 26:3-4 – The Promise of Rain and Harvest
“‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.’” – Leviticus 26:3-4
Cross-References
Deuteronomy 11:14 – “Then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil.”
Joel 2:23 – “Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”
Psalm 67:6 – “The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.”
20. 1 Peter 1:23 – Born of Imperishable Seed
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” – 1 Peter 1:23
Cross-References
John 1:13 – “children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
James 1:18 – “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
1 John 3:9 – “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”
21. Matthew 13:38 – The Good Seed and the Weeds
“The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,” – Matthew 13:38
Cross-References
John 8:44 – “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.”
1 John 3:10 – “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.”
Revelation 12:9 – “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
22. Deuteronomy 22:9 – Mixing Seeds
“Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.” – Deuteronomy 22:9
Cross-References
Leviticus 19:19 – “Keep my decrees. Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.”
Matthew 9:16 – “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.”
2 Corinthians 6:14 – “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
23. Exodus 23:16 – The Festival of Harvest
“Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.” – Exodus 23:16
Cross-References
Leviticus 23:39 – “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest.”
Deuteronomy 16:13-15 – “Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress.”
Numbers 28:26 – “‘On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.”
24. Proverbs 11:24-25 – Generous Sowing and Blessings
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” – Proverbs 11:24-25
Cross-References
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Matthew 7:2 – “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
25. Hosea 8:7 – Sowing and Reaping Trouble
“They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.” – Hosea 8:7
Cross-References
Proverbs 22:8 – “Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.”
26. Isaiah 40:24 – Blown Away Like Seeds
“No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.” – Isaiah 40:24
Cross-References
Job 38:13 – “that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?”
Psalm 1:4 – “Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.”
Hosea 13:3 – “Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window.”
27. Jeremiah 31:27 – Planting the Seed of People
“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals.’” – Jeremiah 31:27
Cross-References
Jeremiah 42:10 – “‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning the disaster I have inflicted on you.”
Ezekiel 36:9 – “‘I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown.”
Amos 9:15 – “I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.”
28. Psalm 107:37 – Planting and Harvesting
“They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest;” – Psalm 107:37
Cross-References
Genesis 26:12 – “Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.”
Leviticus 26:5 – “Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.”
Jeremiah 31:5 – “Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit.”
29. Hosea 10:13 – Plowing Wickedness
“But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,” – Hosea 10:13
Cross-References
Job 4:8 – “As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.”
30. John 4:36 – A Harvest for Eternal Life
“Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” – John 4:36
Cross-References
Romans 6:22 – “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
1 Corinthians 3:8 – “The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.”
Matthew 19:29 – “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
31. Genesis 8:22 – Seedtime and Harvest
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” – Genesis 8:22
Cross-References
Psalms 74:17 – “It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:”
Jeremiah 33:20-21 – “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken.”
32. Luke 17:6 – Faith as a Mustard Seed
“He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.’” – Luke 17:6
Cross-References
Matthew 17:20 – “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'”
Mark 11:23 – “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”
1 Corinthians 13:2 – “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Also check out this article on: Bible verses about Childbirth (With Cross-References)
Final Thought
In reflecting upon these Scriptures, we see seeds as a potent metaphor for spiritual truths. Seeds symbolize the potential for faith and the Kingdom of God to grow within us. The imagery of seeds throughout the Bible encourages believers to nurture and sow the Word of God into their hearts and actions, yielding fruits of righteousness, wisdom, and love.
The principle of sowing and reaping is deeply ingrained in both the physical and spiritual realms, reminding us that our actions in faith impact our lives and the lives of others. We are inspired to find assurance in God’s providence and to trust His timing, just as the farmer trusts the cycles of seedtime and harvest. Faith, though small as a mustard seed, can move mountains if grounded in Christ’s love and promises. This call to embrace spiritual planting and sowing challenges us to rely on the divine potential planted within us, cultivating a legacy that reflects God’s eternal love and righteousness.