Wordxplr

The meaning and origin of interesting English phrases

Reap what you sow

Meaning

You will eventually experience the consequences, good or bad, of your actions.

Origin

The vivid imagery of "reaping what you sow" strikes at the heart of an ancient agricultural truth: every seed planted dictates the harvest received. This profound metaphor, reflecting the inescapable cycle of cause and effect, became a cornerstone of ancient wisdom, particularly within biblical texts. Passages like Galatians 6:7 emphatically declare, "A man reaps what he sows," transforming a simple farming principle into a moral and spiritual law. This powerful concept—that one's actions inevitably determine their outcomes, whether good fruit or bitter weeds—permeated early societies, embedding itself deeply into language as a timeless warning and a promise of justice.

Examples

  • After years of neglecting his health, he began to reap what he sowed in the form of various ailments.
  • She was always kind and helpful to others, and now that she needed support, she started to reap what she sowed as friends rallied around her.
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