קָלִי
𐤒𐤋𐤉
qâlîy
H7039 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Edible grain (typically barley or wheat) that has been roasted or parched, often by direct exposure to fire or heat. The term denotes a basic staple food in ancient times, particularly consisting of ears of grain that were harvested while still soft (in the dough stage) and then roasted, or occasionally fully ripened grain that was parched. In biblical contexts, qâlîy refers specifically to this traditional preparation, distinct from flour or baked bread.
Semantic Range
parched grain; roasted grain; toasted ears of grain; food prepared by roasting harvested grain in fire or on heated surfaces
Root / Etymology
From the root קלה (qalāh), meaning 'to roast' or 'to parch.' The noun קָלִי is derived as a term for that which has been roasted or parched, specifically in reference to grains.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קָלִי appears in narrative and ritual contexts relating to agricultural practices and food customs of the ancient Israelites. It is mentioned as an offering in Leviticus 2:14, indicating its role in firstfruits rituals, and as a readily consumed field food during harvest in Joshua 5:11 and Ruth 2:14. The custom of eating parched grain directly from the fields (either freshly plucked or after basic processing) was common in the Iron Age Levant. Most English translations render קָלִי as 'parched grain,' 'roasted grain,' or 'parched corn,' but 'corn' represents any grain, typically barley or wheat, rather than maize. The term differs from other grain foods such as לֶחֶם (leḥem, bread), בָּר (bar, grain), and קֶמַח (qemaḥ, flour), as it denotes a specific preparation method rather than the raw or processed grain product. The meaning and use of קָלִי did not change significantly over biblical periods but may have declined as other grain processing methods became more common.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or קָלִיא; from קָלָה; roasted ears of grain; parched corn.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קלה (q-l-h) — to roast, scorch, parch, toast
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7022 | קִיקָלוֹן | intense disgrace |
| H7033 | קָלָה | one being roasted |
| H7034 | קָלָה | one who makes light of |
| H7036 | קָלוֹן | in disgrace |
| H7041 | קֵלָיָה | and Yah has dishonored |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7039-03 |
וְ/קָלִ֨י | veqali | HC/Ncmsa |
and parched grain | and roasted grain | 3 |
H7039-02 |
קָלִ֔י | qali | HNcmsa |
parched grain | roasted grain | 2 |
H7039-01 |
הַ/קָּלִיא֙ | haqali | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the roasted grain | the roasted grain | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7039-03 |
Leviticus 23:14 | וְ/קָלִ֨י | veqali | HC/Ncmsa |
and roasted grain | and roasted grain |
H7039-01 |
1 Samuel 17:17 | הַ/קָּלִיא֙ | haqali | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the roasted grain | the roasted grain |
H7039-02 |
1 Samuel 25:18 | קָלִ֔י | qali | HNcmsa |
roasted grain | roasted grain |
H7039-03 |
2 Samuel 17:28 | וְ/קָלִ֑י | veqali | HC/Ncmsa |
and parched grain | and roasted grain |
H7039-03 |
2 Samuel 17:28 | וְ/קָלִֽי | veqali-2 | HC/Ncmsa |
and parched seeds | and roasted grain |
H7039-02 |
Ruth 2:14 | קָלִ֔י | qali | HNcmsa |
parched grain | roasted grain |