“Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.”
My Notes
What Does Isaiah 32:20 Mean?
"Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass." After the judgment and restoration passages, Isaiah pronounces a blessing on those who plant faithfully wherever water is found. The 'sowing beside all waters' means planting in every available place — not selecting only the best ground but using every irrigated opportunity. The ox and ass sent forth represent diligent labor using every available tool.
The phrase "sow beside all waters" (zorei al kol mayim — those who sow upon/alongside every water source) describes comprehensive, generous planting: the blessed farmer doesn't hoard seed for the best fields only. They plant beside EVERY water source — every stream, every irrigation channel, every moist plot. The generosity of the sowing matches the abundance of the water.
The "send forth the feet of the ox and the ass" (meshalchei regel hashor veha'chamor — those who let loose the foot of the ox and the donkey) describes free-range agriculture: the animals are released to graze and work freely. The ox plows. The donkey carries. Both are sent out to work the well-watered ground. The labor is thorough, using every resource available.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Are you sowing beside every water source — or waiting for perfect conditions?
- 2.What does 'all waters' (not just the best streams) teach about generous, comprehensive effort?
- 3.How does sending forth every resource (ox and ass) model full deployment of your gifts?
- 4.What field near water are you neglecting to plant — and what blessing might it produce?
Devotional
Blessed are the ones who plant everywhere there's water. Blessed are the ones who send their ox and donkey to work every available field. The blessing is for the comprehensive sower — the person who doesn't hold back, who plants beside EVERY water source, who uses EVERY resource to cultivate EVERY opportunity.
The 'sow beside all waters' is generous, wide-spread planting: not selective, not cautious, not limited to the most promising fields. Beside ALL waters. Every stream gets seeds. Every irrigated plot gets planted. The sowing is as generous as the water supply. The farmer who sows beside all waters trusts that water-proximity will produce a harvest. The planting is everywhere the water is.
The ox and the ass sent forth represent full deployment of resources: you don't just plant. You send everything you have to work the ground. The ox plows. The donkey carries. Both are released — not held back in the barn but sent to the field. The blessed person uses every tool, every resource, every capacity to maximize the planting beside the water.
The verse blesses the FAITHFUL laborer after the judgment passages (chapters 30-32): after the devastation, after the restoration, the blessed person is the one who plants. Not the one who waits. Not the one who mourns the past. The one who SOWS — beside every water, with every tool, in every available place. The future belongs to the sower.
Are you sowing beside all waters — or hoarding your seed for conditions that may never be perfect?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture