2 Timothy 2:6
“The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Like the hardworking farmer who has first share of the crop, faithful labor in God's work brings its own reward.
What Does 2 Timothy 2:6 Mean?
The third image is the farmer. The one who labors in the field has the first right to enjoy the harvest. Honest, patient work and its reward belong together.
Farming teaches patience and toil. Crops do not spring up overnight; they require steady labor through long seasons before any harvest comes. Paul holds this up to Timothy: the faithful worker will share in the fruit of his labor. There is encouragement here for those whose work in the kingdom feels slow and unseen. The harvest may be delayed, but it is real, and those who labor faithfully will taste its goodness. For the reader, the soldier, athlete, and farmer together teach endurance, discipline, and patient hope in the service of Christ.