Husbandman

Husbandman - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

One whose business it is to cultivate the ground. It was one of the first occupations, and was esteemed most honourable (Gen. 9:20; 26:12, 14; 37:7, etc.). All the Hebrews, except those engaged in religious services, were husbandmen. (See [289]AGRICULTURE.)

Husbandman - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

HUS'BANDMAN, n. A farmer; a cultivator or tiller of the ground; one who labors in tillage. In America, where men generally own the land on which they labor,the proprietor of a farm is also a laborer or husbandman; but the word includes the lessee and the owner.

1. The master of a family. [Not in use in America.]

Husbandry - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

HUS'BANDRY, n. The business of a farmer, comprehending agriculture or tillage of the ground, the raising, managing and fattening of cattle and other domestic animals, the management of the dairy and whatever the land produces.

1. Frugality; domestic economy; good management; thrift. But in this sense we generally prefix good; as good husbandry.

2. Care of domestic affairs.

huz'-band-man, huz'-band-ri: Husbandman, originally a "householder" or "master of the house," is now limited in its meaning to "farmer" or "tiller of the soil." In this sense it is the correct translation of the various Biblical words: ish 'adahamah, literally, "man of the soil" (Ge 9:20); 'ikkar, literally, "digger," "a farmer" (2Ch 26:10; Jer 31:24; 51:23; Am 5:16; Joe 1:11); gubh, "to dig" (2Ki 25:12); yaghabh, "to dig" (Jer 52:16); georgos, "cultivator" (Mt 21:33 ff; Joh 15:1; Jas 5:7).

See AGRICULTURE.

It is a common practice in Palestine and Syria today for a rich man to own lands in many different parts of the country. He sets farmers over these different tracts who, with the helpers, do the plowing, planting, reaping, etc.; or he lets out his lands to farmers who pay him an annual rental or return to him a certain percentage of the crop. Much of the plain of Esdraelon, for example, was until recently owned by Beirut proprietors and farmed in this way. The writer while riding on the plain near ancient Dan, was surprised to overtake an acquaintance from Beirut (3 days' journey away), who had just dismounted at one of his farms to inspect it and to receive the annual account of his farmer. The pride with which the husbandman pointed out the abundant harvest will not be forgotten. All the difficulties of the owner with his husbandmen described by Jesus are often repeated today.

Figurative: Jesus said "I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman" (Joh 15:1). He sows, cultivates, prunes and expects fruits from His church. In the parable of the Householder (Mt 21:33), the wicked husbandmen were the Jews. The church is referred to as "God's husbandry" in 1Co 3:9 (m "tilled land").

James A. Patch