חִנְטָא
𐤇𐤍𐤈𐤀
chinṭâʼ
H2591 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cereal grain, wheat; refers to the cultivated plant (Triticum species) or its grain, commonly used as food in the ancient Near East. In texts, typically designates wheat as a staple agricultural product or item of provision.
Semantic Range
wheat (as plant); wheat grain; wheat as a commodity or provision
Root / Etymology
From the root חנט in Aramaic, related to Hebrew חִטָּה (ḥittâ), meaning 'wheat'; ultimately of Semitic origin, with cognates throughout Northwest Semitic languages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חִנְטָא appears in Biblical Aramaic, notably in the book of Daniel (e.g., Daniel 2:35; 2:38), always in the context of agricultural produce or imagery, referencing wheat as the primary cultivated grain. Like its Hebrew counterpart חִטָּה, it is distinct from other cereals such as barley (שְׂעוֹרָה). There is no evidence of theological or ritual significance attached to the term itself; its use reflects economic and daily life realities of the Israelite and broader ancient Near Eastern societies. In English translations, 'wheat' accurately conveys the sense, but may underrepresent its economic centrality in ancient contexts. The word is attested only in Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible, and its usage does not shift significantly across the biblical Aramaic period. In post-biblical Aramaic, the term continues in similar agricultural contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to חִטָּה; wheat; wheat.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חנט (ḥ-n-ṭ) — to swell, to ripen (of grain)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2590 | חָנַט | she embalmed |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2591-01 |
חִנְטִ֞ין | chinetin | ANcfpa |
wheat | wheat-grains | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences