Negative connotation to "reap what you sow"

[m***@hotmail.com]

I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.

Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is that
just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your earlier
work"?

- Matt

[c***@gmail.com]

Post by m***@hotmail.com
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is that
just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your earlier
work"?
- Matt
From my reading of books, I think the expression is almost always used

when a person experiences the result of a bad action on his or her
part.

I would be interested to know if there is any instance of its use in
agreeable circumstances.

Chaturvasi

[Stephen Calder]

Post by c***@gmail.com

Post by m***@hotmail.com
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is that
just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your earlier
work"?
- Matt
From my reading of books, I think the expression is almost always used

when a person experiences the result of a bad action on his or her
part.
I would be interested to know if there is any instance of its use in
agreeable circumstances.
Chaturvasi

Yes. The original biblical quotation, Galatians 6:7-8:

6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.

6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

[R H Draney]

Post by Stephen Calder

Post by c***@gmail.com

Post by m***@hotmail.com
From my reading of books, I think the expression is almost always used

when a person experiences the result of a bad action on his or her
part.
I would be interested to know if there is any instance of its use in
agreeable circumstances.

6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.
6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

At least that's a fairer deal than the bit about casting your bread upon the
waters and getting it back a thousandfold....r

[Jeffrey Turner]

Post by R H Draney

Post by Stephen Calder

Post by c***@gmail.com

Post by m***@hotmail.com
From my reading of books, I think the expression is almost always used

when a person experiences the result of a bad action on his or her
part.
I would be interested to know if there is any instance of its use in
agreeable circumstances.

6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.
6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

At least that's a fairer deal than the bit about casting your bread upon the
waters and getting it back a thousandfold....r

You don't want a thousand pieces of soggy bread?

--Jeff

[R H Draney]

Post by Jeffrey Turner

Post by R H Draney
At least that's a fairer deal than the bit about casting your bread upon the
waters and getting it back a thousandfold....r

You don't want a thousand pieces of soggy bread?

'course not...why do you think I threw the one piece away in the first
place?...r

[Don Phillipson]

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.

It is a famous phrase in the Bible (Galatians 6,7): "Be not
deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap."

Thus although this first appearance was a warning (of
consequences, good or bad) it does not look "sinister."
But, of course, the social understanding of words and
phrases can change over the centuries. . .

[Adrian Bailey]

Post by Don Phillipson

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.

It is a famous phrase in the Bible (Galatians 6,7): "Be not
deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap."

It's the motto of my high school: "Ut severis seges." As a motto for young
men and women to live by, it doesn't have any sinister connotations.

Adrian

[TOF]

Post by Don Phillipson

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.

It is a famous phrase in the Bible (Galatians 6,7): "Be not
deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap."

I don't dispute your quote of course, but I always remembered it as "As
you sow, so shall you reap".

I always heard it used to mean "you'll get what's comeing to you or
"what goes around,.comes around" -- in short -- the cocept of just
desert.

There's no reason why it might not be taken to mean that one will get
the benefit of wise or worthy acts, but I can't say I've ever heard
this connotation. This latter is generally conveyed by the phrase "good
things happen to good people".

TOF

[TOF]

Post by TOF

Post by Don Phillipson

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.

It is a famous phrase in the Bible (Galatians 6,7): "Be not
deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap."

I don't dispute your quote of course, but I always remembered it as "As
you sow, so shall you reap".
I always heard it used to mean "you'll get what's comeing to you or
"what goes around,.comes around" -- in short -- the cocept of just
desert.
There's no reason why it might not be taken to mean that one will get
the benefit of wise or worthy acts, but I can't say I've ever heard
this connotation. This latter is generally conveyed by the phrase "good
things happen to good people".
TOF

see also:



Which speaks of it in terms of apparently wise acts with unforessen and
uncontrollable consequences:

http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/chapel/sermon-2001-11-18.html

And then there's this one which also conveys a related idea:

Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the
whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal:
if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.



TOF

[Jeffrey Turner]

Post by TOF

Post by Don Phillipson

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.

It is a famous phrase in the Bible (Galatians 6,7): "Be not
deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap."

I don't dispute your quote of course, but I always remembered it as "As
you sow, so shall you reap".
I always heard it used to mean "you'll get what's comeing to you or
"what goes around,.comes around" -- in short -- the cocept of just
desert.
There's no reason why it might not be taken to mean that one will get
the benefit of wise or worthy acts, but I can't say I've ever heard
this connotation. This latter is generally conveyed by the phrase "good
things happen to good people".

And here I thought it was, "no good deed goes unpunished."

--Jeff

[Alan Jones]

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is
that just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your
earlier work"?

Yes, I think you're right. "Your bad actions will eventually produce results
harmful to you." The Biblical origin is, in context, a warning rather than
a promise.

Alan Jones

[Stephen Calder]

Post by Alan Jones

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is
that just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your
earlier work"?

Yes, I think you're right. "Your bad actions will eventually produce results
harmful to you." The Biblical origin is, in context, a warning rather than
a promise.
Alan Jones

It's both, as is made clear by the following verse.

[Stephen Calder]

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is that
just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your earlier
work"?
- Matt

It's a biblical quotation and implies that you get what you give,
whether positive or negative.

[Peacenik]

Post by Stephen Calder

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is that
just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your earlier
work"?
- Matt

It's a biblical quotation and implies that you get what you give,
whether positive or negative.

Karma!

[Stephen Calder]

Post by Peacenik

Post by Stephen Calder

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is that
just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your earlier
work"?
- Matt

It's a biblical quotation and implies that you get what you give,
whether positive or negative.

Karma!

It has been interpreted as a restatement of the law of karma, yes.

[Martin Ambuhl]

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is that
just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your earlier
work"?

The reference is to
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap.

There are a number of verses that speak of sowing and reaping different
things, but here are a few which lie behind the one in Galatians:

Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow
wickedness, reap the same.

Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of
his anger shall fail.

Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the
whirlwind: it hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it
yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up
your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and
rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have
eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the
multitude of thy mighty men.

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
[All of 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 speaks to this point]

(and the continuation from Galatians 6:7, echoing Romans)
Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap
life everlasting.

[tinwhistler]

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it.

There are lots of paraphrases of the basic law of karma, cause and
effect, all having an admonitory (to some, sinister) tone. Consider
that "chickens come home to roost" can be be found in US newspaper
archives as early as Aug. 16, 1843 (the Loraine Republican). A song
title, "What Goes Around Comes Around" (original) was written by Bob
Marley and released in 1968. But it seems likely that since Ismael
Reed's 1972 book, _Mumbo Jumbo_, has the phrase as AAVE-type dialog,
the phrase is older than 1968. (Reed is African American, born 1938 in
Chattanooga.)

[Dan]

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is that
just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your earlier
work"?
- Matt

I don't know about it having a nasty tone, necessarily, but I've always
interpreted it (and the many phrases which mean basically the same
thing) as cautionary. I can't think of a time when I've heard, "Wow,
you really did a good job on that. You'll be able to reap what you've
sown pretty soon!"

Dan

[Wordsmith]

Post by m***@hotmail.com
I'm just looking for confirmation that "reap what you sow" as a
stand-alone phrase ... say, the title of a pamphlet on the peripheral
benefits of gardening (stress relief, delightful hobby)... has a kind
of sinister ring to it. I'm only accustomed to the phrase being used
either before or along with some sort of ironic accident or tragedy or
something. Heroin dealer gets killed by a wild-eyed junkie, etc.
Does "reap what you sow" generally have a rather nasty edge, or is that
just my read of it and all it means is "be rewarded by your earlier
work"?
- Matt

Sow what?

W