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קָמָה

𐤒𐤌𐤄

qâmâh

H7054 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A stalk or stem that stands upright; especially the standing stalk of a cereal plant such as wheat or barley—an individual or representative specimen of ripened grain while still affixed to the plant. By extension, 'stalk' may designate the physical growth and visible outcome of cultivated cereals before harvest.

Semantic Range

standing stalk of grain, stalk (in the sense of the plant’s upright shaft), standing grain still in the field, (by extension) representative growth of a cereal plant

Root / Etymology

From the root קום (QWM), 'to arise, stand, stand up.' The noun קָמָה is a feminine form derived from this root, originally denoting that which stands or has grown upright. Over time, it became specialized as the term for a standing stalk of grain in the field.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, קָמָה always refers to the stalk(s) of grain—particularly in the context of harvest, vision, or metaphor (e.g., Joseph's dream in Genesis 37:7). This sense is distinct from general terms for 'grain' (דָּגן dagan) or 'ears of grain' (שִׁבֹּלֶת shibbolet), focusing instead on the visible, upright portion of the plant. The usage is limited to agricultural settings and does not convey processed grain or harvested bundles. English translations often render קָמָה as 'stalk' or 'standing grain,' but these can obscure the inherent idea of upright growth emphasized by the Hebrew. The semantic boundary is agricultural and botanical, rarely if ever extending to figurative usage beyond agricultural metaphor. The term persisted as standard agricultural vocabulary but retained its original, concrete reference throughout ancient Israelite literature.

Translation Consistency

primary "stalk" 6 occurrences

The lemma denotes the upright shaft of a cereal plant — an individual standing stalk of grain. "Stalk" is the natural, common English noun that captures that sense. "Standing" is an adjective/participle rather than a base noun; alternatives like "sheaf," "ear," or "stem" are either too specific (bundled/seed head) or less idiomatic for grain in the field. "Stalk" ensures consistent, simple rendering across all forms.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"standing grain" (3x) "standing grain-stalks" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of active participle of קוּם; something that rises, i.e. a stalk of grain; (standing) corn, grown up, stalk.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קום (q-w-m) — to rise, to stand, to come to stand, to establish

Root קום to rise, to stand, to come to stand, to establish
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3079 יְהוֹיָקִים to YHWH-raises-up
H3113 יוֹיָקִים and Yahweh-establishes
H3137 יוֹקִים and YHWH establishes
H3351 יְקוּם the enduring substance
H3356 יָקִים to He-Will-Establish

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7054-05 קָמָ֖ה qamah HNcfsa standing grain standing grain-stalk stalking grain-stalk 5
H7054-01 בַּ/קָּמָ֔ה baqamah HRd/Ncfsa to the standing grain standing grain-stalk in the standing grain 1
H7054-04 הַ/קָּמָ֖ה haqamah HTd/Ncfsa the standing grain the standing stalk the standing stalk 1
H7054-06 קָמַ֥ת qamat HNcfsc standing grain standing stalk of standing grain 1
H7054-02 בְּ/קָמַ֣ת beqamat HR/Ncfsc into the standing grain in the standing-stalk of into the standing grain 1
H7054-03 בְּ/קָמ֣וֹת beqamot HR/Ncfpc into standing grain in standing grain-stalks in standing grain-stalks 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7054-04 Exodus 22:5 הַ/קָּמָ֖ה haqamah HTd/Ncfsa the standing grain the standing stalk the standing stalk
H7054-01 Deuteronomy 16:9 בַּ/קָּמָ֔ה baqamah HRd/Ncfsa to the standing grain standing grain-stalk in the standing grain
H7054-02 Deuteronomy 23:26 בְּ/קָמַ֣ת beqamat HR/Ncfsc into the standing grain in the standing-stalk of into the standing grain
H7054-06 Deuteronomy 23:26 קָמַ֥ת qamat HNcfsc standing grain standing stalk of standing grain
H7054-03 Judges 15:5 בְּ/קָמ֣וֹת beqamot HR/Ncfpc into standing grain in standing grain-stalks in standing grain-stalks
H7054-05 Judges 15:5 קָמָ֖ה qamah HNcfsa standing grain standing grain-stalk stalking grain-stalk
H7054-05 2 Kings 19:26 קָמָֽה qamah HNcfsa it-grows-up standing grain-stalk stalking grain-stalk
H7054-05 Isaiah 17:5 קָמָ֔ה qamah HNcfsa standing standing grain-stalk stalking grain-stalk
H7054-05 Isaiah 37:27 קָמָֽה qamah HNcfsa it-is-grown-up standing grain-stalk stalking grain-stalk
H7054-05 Hosea 8:7 קָמָ֣ה qamah HNcfsa standing grain standing grain-stalk stalking grain-stalk
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