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.
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
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קום (q-w-m) — 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 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7054-05 |
קָמָ֖ה | qamah | HNcfsa |
standing grain | standing grain-stalk | 5 |
H7054-01 |
בַּ/קָּמָ֔ה | baqamah | HRd/Ncfsa |
to the standing grain | standing grain-stalk | 1 |
H7054-04 |
הַ/קָּמָ֖ה | haqamah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the standing grain | the standing stalk | 1 |
H7054-06 |
קָמַ֥ת | qamat | HNcfsc |
standing grain | standing stalk of | 1 |
H7054-02 |
בְּ/קָמַ֣ת | beqamat | HR/Ncfsc |
into the standing grain | in the standing-stalk of | 1 |
H7054-03 |
בְּ/קָמ֣וֹת | beqamot | HR/Ncfpc |
into standing grain | in standing grain-stalks | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7054-04 |
Exodus 22:5 | הַ/קָּמָ֖ה | haqamah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the standing grain | the standing stalk |
H7054-01 |
Deuteronomy 16:9 | בַּ/קָּמָ֔ה | baqamah | HRd/Ncfsa |
to the standing grain | standing grain-stalk |
H7054-02 |
Deuteronomy 23:26 | בְּ/קָמַ֣ת | beqamat | HR/Ncfsc |
into the standing grain | in the standing-stalk of |
H7054-06 |
Deuteronomy 23:26 | קָמַ֥ת | qamat | HNcfsc |
standing grain | standing stalk of |
H7054-03 |
Judges 15:5 | בְּ/קָמ֣וֹת | beqamot | HR/Ncfpc |
into standing grain | in standing grain-stalks |
H7054-05 |
Judges 15:5 | קָמָ֖ה | qamah | HNcfsa |
standing grain | standing grain-stalk |
H7054-05 |
2 Kings 19:26 | קָמָֽה | qamah | HNcfsa |
it-grows-up | standing grain-stalk |
H7054-05 |
Isaiah 17:5 | קָמָ֔ה | qamah | HNcfsa |
standing | standing grain-stalk |
H7054-05 |
Isaiah 37:27 | קָמָֽה | qamah | HNcfsa |
it-is-grown-up | standing grain-stalk |
H7054-05 |
Hosea 8:7 | קָמָ֣ה | qamah | HNcfsa |
standing grain | standing grain-stalk |