קָמָה
something that rises, i.e. a stalk of grain
Definition
The Hebrew noun קָמָה (qâmâh) refers primarily to standing grain, specifically the mature stalks of cereal crops like wheat or barley that are ready for harvest. It describes grain that has 'risen' or grown to its full height, as seen in laws about gleaning (Deuteronomy 23:25) and agricultural damage (Exodus 22:6). In a few prophetic passages, it is used metaphorically to represent something flourishing but vulnerable to sudden judgment, such as a field of grain being reaped (Isaiah 17:5, Hosea 8:7). The word consistently conveys the image of cultivated crops in the field, not cut sheaves.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in agricultural and metaphorical contexts across the Pentateuch, Historical Books, and Prophets. In legal texts, it regulates human interaction with standing crops (Exodus 22:6, Deuteronomy 16:9, 23:25). In narrative, it appears in Samson's act of tying torches to foxes' tails to burn the Philistines' grain (Judges 15:5). Prophetic books use it symbolically: in Isaiah 17:5 and 37:27 (parallel to 2 Kings 19:26), it illustrates the fragility of human pride before God, and in Hosea 8:7, it represents Israel's futile, easily destroyed prosperity.
Etymology
Derived from the root קוּם (qûm, H6965), meaning 'to rise, arise, stand up.' קָמָה is the feminine form of the active participle (קָם, 'one who rises'), functioning as a noun. It literally means 'that which has risen' or 'a standing thing,' specialized for grain. This connects the word's core idea to growth and vertical stature.
Semantic Range
While primarily an agricultural term, קָמָה gains theological weight in its metaphorical uses. It illustrates the principle of divine judgment on human arrogance and self-sufficiency. In Isaiah and 2 Kings, the 'grain before the harvest' symbolizes nations or plans that appear strong but are completely at God's mercy to be cut down. In Hosea, it underscores the futility of prosperity not rooted in covenant faithfulness. Understanding this metaphor enriches reading by connecting God's sovereignty over nature to His judgment on human pride.
In ancient Israel's agrarian society, standing grain (qâmâh) represented food security, wealth, and the culmination of a season's labor. Its vulnerability to fire (Judges 15:5) or weather made it a potent symbol of risk. The legal protections around a neighbor's standing grain (Exodus 22:6) highlight its vital economic importance. The modern reader, often disconnected from agriculture, may miss the visceral sense of loss or hope this term carried.
דָּגָן (dāgān, H1715) — a broader term for grain as a category or produce. שִׁבֹּלֶת (šibbōleṯ, H7641) — specifically an ear or head of grain, a part of the קָמָה.
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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