לֶקֶשׁ
𐤋𐤒𐤔
leqesh
H3954 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Late crop; specifically, a second or subsequent growth of grass or plants after the initial harvest, typically referring to the regrowth resulting from late rains. In biblical usage, particularly in relation to crop cycles in the Levant, it refers to the additional forage or hay for livestock produced by rains arriving near the end of the wet season.
Semantic Range
latter growth, aftergrowth, second crop of grass, late regrowth, fodder produced by late rain
Root / Etymology
From the root לקשׁ (ל-ק-ש), which is rare and possibly relates to 'to gather' or 'to collect after scarceness.' The noun לֶקֶשׁ is formed as a substantive denoting what is gathered late in the year, especially regarding agricultural produce.
Historical & Contextual Notes
לֶקֶשׁ appears in biblical texts where seasonal agriculture is significant, such as Amos 7:1, where it describes the regrowth of grass provided for the flocks after the king’s mowings—i.e., the crop that comes in after an initial harvest and is especially dependent on the timing of spring or latter rains. This term captures the importance of climate and rainfall patterns for ancient Israelite agrarian life; distinct from other terms for 'grain' (e.g., דגן, תבואה), לֶקֶשׁ specifically highlights regrowth and the agricultural reliance on seasonal phenomena. English translations often render it as 'latter growth,' 'second crop,' or sometimes 'aftergrowth,' but such phrases risk obscuring its specific context within the biblical agricultural cycle. The term is rare and not present in later Hebrew sources, likely due to its connection with ancient agricultural practices tied closely to Levantine rainfall patterns.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from לָקַשׁ; the after crop; latter growth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לקשׁ (l-q-sh) — gather, collect, collect late
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3954-01 |
הַ/לָּ֑קֶשׁ | halaqesh | HTd/Ncmsa |
the-late-harvest | the late regrowth | 1 |
H3954-02 |
לֶ֔קֶשׁ | leqesh | HNcmsa |
late-harvest | late aftergrowth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences