FALLOW (GROUND) (נִיר֙, H5776, from the verb to break up, freshly till). Land that is left idle for a season after plowing and harrowing, so that weeds and insects are killed while the soil regains its fertility. נִיר֙, H5776, occurs in Jeremiah 4:3 and Hosea 10:12 as a cognate accusative, meaning “break up your fallow ground.” Exhortation to seek God and become active spiritually is implied in the figure. In Proverbs 13:23, נִיר֙, H5776, apparently refers to fallow ground which God will bless.

Exodus 23:11 discusses the law of the sabbatical year, prescribing one year of rest every seven years for cultivated soil. Here, the verb נָטַשׁ, H5759, “leave, forsake,” is tr. “lie fallow.” Such a custom was practiced by other nations as well. Evidently Israel failed to obey this dictum during much of its history (Lev 26:34, 35).