H3698 H3698
spelt, a hardy grain similar to wheat (Triticum spelta)
An ancient grain variety, hardier and more drought-resistant than common wheat, cultivated in Egypt and Israel. Spelt ripens later than barley and wheat, which explains why it survived the seventh plague of hail in Exodus while earlier crops were destroyed. Isaiah mentions it among grains planted in ordered rows, illustrating the farmer's wisdom in crop management—a metaphor for God's purposeful governance.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Exodus 9:32 notes that spelt (כֻּסֶּמֶת) and wheat escaped the hail plague because they ripen late (אֲפִילֹת הֵנָּה). Isaiah 28:25 includes it in a list of carefully planted grains, each sown in its proper place. Ezekiel 4:9 prescribes spelt among grains for siege bread. The term's agricultural specificity is preserved across languages: Spanish 'espelta,' French 'épeautre,' German 'spelt'—all designating this distinct grain variety, still cultivated in specialty markets today. 3×
AR["وَ-الْكُرْسَنَّةَ", "وَ-كُرْسَنَّةً", "وَالحِنْطَةُ"]·ben["আর-কাউন-গম", "এবং-বেদে", "ও-বর্গগম"]·DE["[וכסמים]", "[וכסמת]", "und-der-spelt"]·EN["and-spelt", "and-the-spelt"]·FR["[וכסמת]", "et-le-spelt", "et-épeautre"]·heb["ו-ה-כוסמת", "ו-כוסמים", "ו-כוסמת"]·HI["और-जई", "और-जवार", "और-वज्ज्र"]·ID["dan-sekoi"]·IT["[וכסמים]", "[וכסמת]", "e-il-spelt"]·jav["lan-gandum-kasar", "lan-gandum-spelt", "lan-spèlt"]·KO["그리고-그-스펠트", "그리고-쌀보리를"]·PT["e-a-espelta", "e-espelta"]·RU["и-полба", "и-полбу"]·ES["y-espelta", "y-la-espelta"]·SW["na-mtama", "na-ngano-nyeusi"]·TR["ve-bogday-cinsi", "ve-kızıl-buğday", "ve-kızılca"]·urd["اور-باجرہ", "اور-جوار", "و-کُسمیت"]
Related Senses
H3754 1. vineyard, cultivated grape plot (92×)H0730 1. cedar tree or wood (73×)H1612 1. vine, grapevine (55×)H3293a 1. forest, wood, thicket (55×)H5560 1. fine flour (53×)H5193 1. plant vegetation (48×)H2232 1. sow seed, plant crops (41×)H1715 1. grain, cereal crop (40×)H7114b 1. reap, harvest grain (36×)H2132 1. olive tree (34×)H8184 1. barley (34×)H2406 1. wheat (grain crop) (30×)H7070 1. reed, cane (plant) (30×)H7848 1. acacia (28×)H8328 1. root of a plant (28×)H8384 1. fig tree (25×)H5488 1. reeds, rushes (in 'Sea of Reeds') (24×)G0290 1. a vineyard (23×)G2325 1. reap, harvest a crop (21×)G4687 1. sow seed, plant (21×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† כֻּסֶּ֫מֶת n.f. 1. spelt, triticum spelta (NH pl. כוּסְמִין, cf. 𝔗 𝔖 כונתא, ܟܽܘܢܬܳܐ; cf. Löwp. 104 ff. Di Ex 9:23 NowArch. i, 111);—abs. כ׳ Ex 9:32 Is 28:25 pl. כֻּסְּמִים Ez 4:9 (in all disting. from wheat, barley, etc.)