קֹמֶץ
a grasp, i.e. handful
Definition
The Hebrew noun קֹמֶץ (qômets) refers specifically to a handful, a quantity that can be grasped in a closed hand. It is a precise measurement used in the context of grain offerings in the Mosaic Law, as seen in Leviticus 2:2 and Leviticus 6:15, where a 'handful' of fine flour and oil is taken as the memorial portion to be burned on the altar. In its other occurrences, it describes a handful of grain in the narrative of Joseph's time in Egypt (Genesis 41:47) and a handful of incense in a sin offering (Leviticus 5:12). The meaning is consistently concrete, denoting a specific, grasped amount.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in priestly and ritual contexts within the Pentateuch. Three of its four occurrences are in Leviticus, detailing the procedures for grain and sin offerings (Leviticus 2:2, 5:12, 6:15). The single non-ritual use is in the historical account of the seven years of abundance in Egypt, where the earth produced grain 'by the handfuls' (Genesis 41:47), emphasizing extraordinary abundance. The pattern shows it is a technical term for a measured portion in worship and a vivid descriptor of plenty.
Etymology
קֹמֶץ is a noun derived from the root verb קָמַץ (qāmats, H7061), which means 'to grasp' or 'to close the hand.' The noun form directly denotes the product of that action—what is held in a closed fist. This root connection emphasizes the physical act of taking a specific, contained measure.
Semantic Range
As a prescribed measurement in the sacrificial system, קֹמֶץ highlights the concepts of portion, representation, and sufficiency in worship. The 'handful' taken from a larger offering (Leviticus 2:2) was the part wholly dedicated to God, symbolizing that the entire offering was accepted through this representative portion. It teaches that God requires and honors a specific, devoted share from what He has provided, which is both sufficient and significant. Understanding this term enriches reading by clarifying the precision and intentionality of Old Testament worship.
In its ritual use, a 'handful' was a practical, person-based measurement, not an abstract volume. It represented an amount directly taken and handled by the priest, making the offering a tangible, personal act. This differs from modern standardized measurements, as it was relative to the individual's hand, yet it was a recognized and repeatable unit within the ceremonial system.
חֹפֶן (chōphen, H4393) — also 'handful,' but used more generally; קֹמֶץ is the specific ritual term. כַּף (kaph, H3709) — 'palm' or 'hand,' a broader term for the body part, not a measured quantity.
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.
Full methodology & sources →