לָקַט
properly, to pick up, i.e. (generally) to gather; specifically, to glean
Definition
The Hebrew verb לָקַט (lâqaṭ) fundamentally means 'to pick up' or 'to gather' items that are scattered or lying on the ground. Its most common usage is for the physical gathering of objects, such as stones (Genesis 31:46) or money (Genesis 47:14). A specific and significant sense of the word is 'to glean,' referring to the agricultural practice of gathering leftover grain or produce from a field after the main harvest, as seen in the laws for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10, Ruth 2). In the wilderness narrative, it describes the Israelites gathering manna, a divinely provided food (Exodus 16).
Biblical Usage
לָקַט is used 34 times across the Pentateuch, historical books, and wisdom literature. It frequently appears in agricultural and sustenance contexts. Key patterns include: 1) Gathering provisions, especially manna (Exodus 16:4-5, 16-18, 21), 2) Gleaning as a social/legal practice for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10, Ruth 2:2-3, 7-8), and 3) General gathering of physical items like stones or money (Genesis 31:46, 47:14). The word emphasizes a deliberate, often repeated, action of collecting what is available.
Etymology
לָקַט is a primitive root verb. Its core meaning relates to picking up or collecting. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, with similar meanings of 'gathering' or 'collecting.' The Hebrew meaning developed from the basic physical action to include specific cultural and legal practices like gleaning.
Semantic Range
לָקַט is theologically significant as it is central to the narrative of God's daily provision of manna in Exodus 16, illustrating dependence on God and his faithfulness. It also underpins the gleaning laws in Leviticus 19 and 23, which reveal God's character as a protector of the poor and marginalized, mandating that society's leftovers be made available to them. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting God's miraculous provision in the wilderness with his commanded provision through social justice in the Promised Land.
In its agricultural context, 'gleaning' (a key sense of לָקַט) was a vital economic practice and legal right for the poor, foreigners, orphans, and widows in ancient Israel. Landowners were forbidden from harvesting the edges of their fields or gathering fallen produce a second time, leaving it to be collected (לָקַט) by those in need (Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22). This differs from modern charity, as it was a legally enforceable right that preserved the dignity of the poor, who worked to gather their own food.
אָסַף (ʼâṣaph, H622) — a broader term for gathering or collecting, often into an assembly or storehouse. כָּנַס (kânas, H3664) — to gather or assemble, often people. אָלַף (ʼâlaph, H502) — to learn or gather knowledge; a different conceptual gathering.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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