Why is the Grim Reaper always depicted with a scythe?

Question

In all of the stories about a personified Death that I've heard and read, it was never really mentioned what the scythe was used for. Or why he carried it.

Answer 1

Well, ask yourself -- what does "reap" mean? A scythe is used to reap grain in the field (cut it down). The Grim Reaper has the "grim" task of reaping your life and soul, "cutting" your life down with his scythe. If he didn't have the scythe, he'd just be the Grim Guy Standing Around Looking Like Death.

Answer 2

The Scythe is use to harvest or Reap to souls of man therefore the Grim Reaper

Answer 3

Scythes were originally for farming to cut grain during the harvest season. So if death has it then that might symbolize that it is time to go.

Answer 4

The Scythe is a universal symbol of death

Answer 5

Also, it might symbolically mean to use it as a weapon to "sever" the soul from the body.



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Answer 6

it was used to harvest the damned souls