What’s the origin of the phrase ‘As you sow so shall you reap’?
From the Bible, Galatians VI (King James Version):
Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
See also: the List of Proverbs.
Meaning
As you sow so shall you reap
The meaning of the phrase
Your deeds, good or bad, will repay you in kind.
Historical trend
“sow so shall you reap” in printed material over time
Source: Google Books Ngrams (1800–2020).
- sow so shall you reap
Cited as a source
Referenced by 1 trusted source for this phrase
Backlink data verified June 2026 via Ahrefs (live index). These sources cite Phrase Finder as a reference for the meaning and origin of this expression.