קֶמַח
𐤒𐤌𐤇
qemach
H7058 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Finely ground grain, flour; refers specifically to wheat or barley flour that has been prepared by milling, typically used in food preparation and ritual offerings. The term denotes a refined state, emphasizing completeness and quality, and is often contrasted with less refined meal or coarse flour.
Semantic Range
flour, ground grain, meal (in some contexts), ingredient for bread, offering material
Root / Etymology
From a root (likely קמח) meaning 'to grind' or 'to crush,' although this root is not attested elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew. The word qemach refers to the product of grinding grain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קֶמַח is the general term for flour in the Hebrew Bible, commonly used in contexts of daily life, such as baking bread, as well as in ritual contexts, including offerings brought to the sanctuary (e.g., Leviticus 2:1). In contrast to סֹלֶת (solet), which specifically indicates 'fine flour,' קֶמַח may refer to less finely sifted flour but is still considered a refined product compared to meal (רְמִיחָה). During the monarchic period, qemach was both a staple food and a regular component of sacrificial rites. In post-exilic texts and later Jewish tradition, its usage continued but sometimes overlapped with solet, which came to dominate in ritual requirements. English translations generally render qemach as 'flour' or sometimes 'meal,' though 'meal' can also refer to coarser ground grain, potentially causing confusion. The word does not carry ethnic or geographic connotations; rather, it is strictly a term of culinary and sacrificial utility. There is no evidence that qemach was used for anything but ground cereal grain in the biblical period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root probably meaning to grind; flour; flour, meal.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קמח (q-m-ḥ) — to grind, to crush, to mill
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7058-03 |
קֶ֣מַח | qemach | HNcmsa |
of flour | milled flour | 9 | |
H7058-02 |
קָֽמַח | qamach | HNcmsa |
meal | ground-grain flour | 2 | |
H7058-01 |
הַ/קֶּ֨מַח֙ | haqemach | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the flour | the milled flour | 2 | |
H7058-04 |
וְ/קֶ֣מַח | veqemach | HC/Ncmsa |
and flour | finely-milled flour | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
14 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7058-03 |
Genesis 18:6 | קֶ֣מַח | qemach | HNcmsa |
fine flour | milled flour | |
H7058-03 |
Numbers 5:15 | קֶ֣מַח | qemach | HNcmsc |
barley meal | milled flour | |
H7058-03 |
Judges 6:19 | קֶ֣מַח | qemach | HNcmsc |
of flour | milled flour | |
H7058-03 |
1 Samuel 1:24 | קֶ֨מַח֙ | qemach | HNcmsa |
of flour | milled flour | |
H7058-03 |
1 Samuel 28:24 | קֶ֣מַח | qemach | HNcmsa |
flour | milled flour | |
H7058-04 |
2 Samuel 17:28 | וְ/קֶ֣מַח | veqemach | HC/Ncmsa |
and flour | finely-milled flour | |
H7058-02 |
1 Kings 5:2 | קָֽמַח | qamach | HNcmsa |
meal | ground-grain flour | |
H7058-03 |
1 Kings 17:12 | קֶ֨מַח֙ | qemach | HNcmsa |
of flour | milled flour | |
H7058-01 |
1 Kings 17:14 | הַ/קֶּ֨מַח֙ | haqemach | HTd/Ncmsa |
the-flour | the milled flour | |
H7058-01 |
1 Kings 17:16 | הַ/קֶּ֨מַח֙ | haqemach | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the flour | the milled flour |