Wheat
the well-known valuable cereal, cultivated from the earliest times, is first mentioned in ((Genesis 30:14) in the account of Jacob’s sojourn with Laban in Mesopotamia. Egypt in ancient times was celebrated for the growth of its wheat; the best quality was all bearded; and the same varieties existed in ancient as in modern times, among which may be mentioned the seven-eared quality described in Pharaoh’s dream.
(Genesis 41:22) Babylonia was also noted for the excellence of its wheat and other cereals. Syria and Palestine produced wheat of fine quality and in large quantities. (Psalms 81:16; 147:14) etc. There appear to be two or three kinds of wheat at present grown in Palestine, the Triticum vulgare, the T. spelta, and another variety of bearded wheat which appears to be the same as the Egyptian kind, the T. compositum .
In the parable of the sower our Lord alludes to grains of wheat which in good ground produce a hundred-fold. (Matthew 13:8) The common Triticum vulgare will sometimes produce one hundred grains in the ear.
Wheat is reaped to ward the end of April, in May, and in June, according to the differences of soil and position; it was sown either broadcast and then ploughed in or trampled in by cattle, (Isaiah 32:20) or in rows, if we rightly understand (Isaiah 28:25) which seems to imply that the seeds were planted apart in order to insure larger and fuller ears.
The wheat was put into the ground in the winter, and some time after the barley; in the Egyptian plague of hail, consequently, the barley suffered, but the wheat had not appeared, and so escaped injury.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Wheat
Wheat hwet ((1) chiTTah, the specific word for wheat (Ge 30:14; Ex 34:22, etc.), with puros (Judith 3:3; Sirach 39:26); (2) bar, or bar (Jer 23:28; Joe 2:24; Am 5:11; 8:6); in other passages translated "grain" or "corn"; (3) sitos (Mt 3:12; 13:25,29-30; Lu 3:17; 16:7; 22:31, etc.) (for other words translated occasionally "wheat" in the King James Version see CORN; FOOD)): Wheat, usually the bearded variety, is cultivated all over Palestine, though less so than barley. The great plain of the Hauran is a vast expanse of wheat fields in the spring; considerable quantities are exported via Beirut, Haifa, and Gaza. The "wheat harvest" was in olden times one of the regular divisions of the year (Ex 34:22; Jg 15:1; 1Sa 12:17); it follows the barley harvest (Ex 9:31-32), occurring in April, May or June, according to the altitude. ⇒See a list of verses on WHEAT in the Bible. E. W. G. Masterman ⇒See the definition of wheat in the KJV Dictionary ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Wheat
The following Heb. words are used for ' wheat.' 1. 1; bar, 12 Mr (Arab, burr), is most frequently tr. 'corn' (Gn 41«-« 423- «, Ps 6o»- >* 7211.16, Pr U--*). In four places (Jer 23^, Jl 2", Am 5" 8") ' wheat ' is the more correct rendering. 2. [jn daghan. This is generic for cereals (see Corn). It is, however, twice tr. in AV 'wheat' (Nu 18>^ .ler 31'-; RV 'corn'). 'Corn' (generic) is undoubtedly correct. 3. ms"? riphfAh. Once (2 S 17'") tr. in AV ' ground corn,' RV ' bruised com,' and once (Pr 27") AV ' wheat,' RV ' bmised corn.' The Arabs have two ways of preparing this substance, (a) The wheat is boiled, dried in the sun, and then cracked under a wheel or in a mortar. So prepared it is called hurghul. The fragments are exceedingly hard, and resist the action of weevils and other insects, (b) The wlieat is cracked under a hand millstone, without previous boiling. This preparation is called jerish. It is quite similar iu appearance and properties to our wheaten grits. 'Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle' (Pr 27--), may refer to the preparation of…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Wheat
The wheat harvest (usually in the end of May) in Palestine is mentioned as early as Reuben (Gen 30:14), compare Isaac's hundred fold increase (Gen 26:12). The crops are now thin and light, no manure being used and the same grain grown on the same soil year by year. Three varieties are grown, all bearded. The sickle was in use for cutting grain as well as sometimes for the vintage (Rev 14:18-19). Generally, the ears only were cut off, the long straw being left in the ground.
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia