Lexical Summary chamits: Sour, leavened Original Word: חָמִיץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance clean From chamets; seasoned, i.e. Salt provender -- clean. see HEBREW chamets NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chamets Definition seasoned (with salt) NASB Translation salted (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חָמִיץ adjective seasoned (namely with salt, or a salt herb — Arabic  , Punic Ἀμουτ [ = חמוץ ֗֗֗ ] DlauZMG 1873, 522; see Thes — rendering it more tasty), of provender for cattle בְּלִיל חָמִיץ יאֹכֵ֑לוּ Isaiah 30:24. חֻמְצָה see I. חמץ Infinitive Topical Lexicon Meaning and ImageryChamits evokes food that has passed through a deliberate souring or fermenting process, producing a tangy, seasoned quality. It is not spoilage but enhancement—raw material matured into richer fare. Old Testament Occurrence Isaiah 30:24 is the sole occurrence: “The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and fork” (Berean Standard Bible). Chamits is that “salted fodder,” nestled in a prophecy of Judah’s post-repentance prosperity (Isaiah 30:23-26). Agricultural Context in Ancient Israel • Chamits required surplus grain, salt, time, and labor, indicating abundance beyond subsistence. Theological Significance in Isaiah’s Prophecy Isaiah 30 moves from denunciation of misplaced trust in Egypt to promise of divine restoration. Chamits becomes a prophetic emblem of: 1. Repentance rewarded with rain and harvest (Isaiah 30:23). Connection to Broader Biblical Themes Fermentation signals maturation and fullness elsewhere: • Wine that gladdens (Psalm 104:15). Chamits aligns with this motif: God transforms the ordinary into abundant blessing. Ministry Application 1. Confidence in God’s Provision—He cares for beasts with chamits; He will surely care for His people (Philippians 4:19). Summary Though appearing only once, chamits offers a vivid picture of covenant blessing: seasoned abundance so lavish that even work animals enjoy it. It underscores God’s power to turn scarcity into richness for His glory and His people’s good. Forms and Transliterations חָמִ֖יץ חמיץ chaMitz ḥā·mîṣ ḥāmîṣLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 30:24 HEB: הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה בְּלִ֥יל חָמִ֖יץ יֹאכֵ֑לוּ אֲשֶׁר־ NAS: will eat salted fodder, KJV: shall eat clean provender, INT: the ground fodder salted will eat which |
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