ἰκμ-άς G2429
moisture, dampness; liquid content or humidity in soil or organic matter
The noun ἰκμάς denotes moisture or dampness—liquid present in soil, plants, or bodies. Classical authors used it for bodily fluids (sweat, blood), plant sap, and soil moisture. Luke 8:6 uses it in the parable of the sower: seed falling on rock "withered away because it had no moisture" (ἰκμάδα). The lack of moisture in the shallow soil prevented the plant from surviving. The word emphasizes the essential liquid content needed for life and growth. Ancient agricultural and medical texts frequently used ἰκμάς for moisture or fluid. Translations render it "moisture" (English), "humedad" (Spanish), "humidité" (French), the straightforward liquid content.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The parable's seed on rocky ground withers διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἰκμάδα—for lack of moisture (Luke 8:6). The noun denotes dampness or liquid content, here soil moisture essential for plant growth. Classical usage applies ἰκμάς to bodily humors (sweat, blood), plant juices (sap, resin), and soil dampness. The parable's agricultural context emphasizes the necessity of sustained moisture: without it, initial growth fails. All translations converge on "moisture," "humedad," "humidité," the liquid component critical for life. The image illustrates shallow reception of the word without the depth needed to sustain faith under trial. 1×
AR["رُطوبَةٌ"]·ben["আর্দ্রতা"]·DE["ἰκμάδα"]·EN["moisture"]·FR["humidité"]·heb["לַחוּת"]·HI["नमी"]·ID["kelembapan"]·IT["ikmada"]·jav["tèlès"]·KO["수분을"]·PT["umidade"]·RU["влаги"]·ES["humedad"]·SW["unyevu"]·TR["nem;"]·urd["نمی"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἰκμ-άς, άδος, ἡ, moisture, e.g. of oily leather, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἀνιεὶς ἐκ τοῦ σώματος ἰκμάδα, of a corpse exposed to the sun, Refs 5th c.BC+ of moisture in the soil, NT; also θανόντων ἰσὶν οὐκ ἔνεστ᾽ ἰκμάς no blood, Refs 4th c.BC+; of the bodily humours, Refs 5th c.BC+; of all kinds of animal juices or moist secretions, τὸ περίττωμα τῆς ὑγρᾶς ἰ. ὃν καλοῦμεν ἱδρῶτα Refs 4th c.BC+; ἡ τῶν καταμηνίων ἰ. Refs 5th c.BC+; ἰ. Βάκχου, i.e. wine, Refs 3rd c.BC+