Lexical Summary ikmas: Moisture, dampness Original Word: ἰκμάς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance moisture. Of uncertain affinity; dampness -- moisture. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition moisture NASB Translation moisture (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2429: ἰκμάςἰκμάς, ἰκμαδος, ἡ, moisture: Luke 8:6. (the Sept. Jeremiah 17:8; Homer, Iliad 17, 392; Josephus, Antiquities 3, 1, 3, and often in other authors.) Topical Lexicon Reference Overview Strong’s Greek 2429 appears once in the New Testament, in Luke 8:6, where Jesus employs it in the Parable of the Sower to describe the “moisture” that the rocky soil lacks. Although a single occurrence, the word opens a rich doorway into biblical themes of life-giving refreshment versus deadly aridity. Context in Luke 8:6 “Other seed fell on rock, and when it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.” (Luke 8:6) In the interpretation that follows (Luke 8:13), the Lord explains that this soil pictures hearers who “receive the word with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away.” The absence of moisture thus symbolizes the absence of sustaining depth. Initial enthusiasm cannot compensate for the lack of inward resources that alone sustain true, lasting faith. Agricultural Background First-century Galilean agriculture rested on the cyclical rains of autumn and spring (Deuteronomy 11:14; Joel 2:23). Scant rainfall left the thin, limestone-covered topsoil sun-baked by late spring. Seed germinated during the first warm days but, without penetrating moisture, quickly withered. Dew, another crucial source of moisture (Job 29:19; Hosea 14:5), likewise failed to reach roots hindered by stone. Jesus’ audience—farmers, fishermen, and villagers—knew from experience how vital sustained moisture was for any harvest. Theological Significance 1. Dependence upon God’s ongoing provision. As rain and dew keep crops alive, so divine grace nourishes believers (Psalm 65:9-10; Isaiah 44:3). Connections with Old Testament Imagery • Psalm 1:3 contrasts the blessed man, “like a tree planted by streams of water,” with the chaff blown away—echoing Luke 8:6’s withering. Collectively, these passages frame moisture as an emblem of the Spirit-empowered word supplying vitality to God’s people. Practical Ministry Applications • Discipleship: Cultivate depth, not momentary enthusiasm. Encourage meditation, prayer, and obedience that sink roots into the word. Homiletical Insights • Illustration: A seed sprouting in a crack of sun-beaten concrete—green for a day, brown the next—captures the parable’s warning. Christological Perspective Jesus embodies the very nourishment He describes. He is the “living water” (John 4:10-14) and the “rain” God sends “from heaven” (Psalm 72:6) to make righteousness sprout. The Parable of the Sower therefore calls hearers not merely to receive information but to receive Christ Himself, in whom alone true moisture is found. Recommended Further Study • Psalm 65; Isaiah 44; Jeremiah 17 for Old Testament foundations. Forms and Transliterations ικμαδα ικμάδα ἰκμάδα ikmada ikmádaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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