Lexical Summary leqet: Gleanings Original Word: לֶקֶט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gleaning From laqat; the gleaning -- gleaning. see HEBREW laqat NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom laqat Definition a gleaning NASB Translation gleaning (1), gleanings (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs לֶ֫קֶט noun [masculine] gleaning, i.e. what is or may be gleaned, only construct קְצִירְךָ ׳ל, as accusative of congnate meaning with verb לקט Pi`el, (q. v.) Leviticus 19:9 = Leviticus 23:22 (H). Topical Lexicon Definition and Concept לֶקֶט refers to the scattered stalks or heads of grain that remain on the field after the main harvest. Scripture treats these leftover sheaves not as agricultural waste but as a divinely mandated provision for the needy—a tangible sign that the land and its produce ultimately belong to the LORD (Psalm 24:1). Occurrences in Scripture 1. Leviticus 19:9: “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.” Covenantal and Social Implications The gleaning law demonstrates covenantal ethics in action. Israel’s ownership of land was never absolute; it was stewardship under covenant (Leviticus 25:23). By leaving לֶקֶט, landowners imitated the LORD’s generosity, ensuring that widows, orphans, and foreigners experienced His covenant care firsthand. These statutes thus formed Israel’s earliest social-welfare system, built not on taxation but on voluntary obedience to divine command. Historical and Cultural Background In the agrarian economy of ancient Israel, harvest time was labor-intensive and joyful. Fields were cut with sickles, and sheaves were bundled for transport. Small fragments inevitably fell. Rather than allowing the wealthy to maximize yield, God legislated restraint: harvesters must overlook the fallen grain. Archaeological parallels in surrounding cultures show no similar legal requirement, underscoring the distinctiveness of biblical compassion. Illustrative Narrative of Ruth Although the word לֶקֶט does not appear in the Book of Ruth, the practice saturates the narrative. Ruth 2:2 records her request to “glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” Boaz’s compliance illustrates how Levitical gleaning laws fostered righteous character, interracial grace (Ruth was a Moabite), and ultimately the messianic lineage (Matthew 1:5). Theological Insights 1. Divine Ownership: לֶקֶט reflects that “every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). Typological and Prophetic Dimensions The leaving of gleanings foreshadows God’s inclusion of the “remnant” among the nations (Isaiah 11:11). Just as scattered grain was gathered into the covenant community, so scattered sinners are gathered into the body of Christ (John 11:52). The apostle Paul echoes the imagery when he speaks of Gentile “ingrafting” (Romans 11:17). New Testament Parallels 1. Jesus and His disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8) reveals the continued expectation that fields remain accessible to the hungry. Practical Ministry Application Modern believers can honor the spirit of לֶקֶט by budgeting “margins” for benevolence, avoiding tightfisted stewardship that leaves nothing for the vulnerable. Churches may create gleaning-style ministries—food banks, job training, and hospitality to immigrants—thereby displaying Gospel compassion. Lessons for the Church Today • Leave space in calendars and bank accounts for acts of mercy. Conclusion לֶקֶט stands as a concise yet profound expression of God’s heart for justice, mercy, and community wholeness. By embracing its principles, the contemporary church both obeys Scripture and proclaims the character of the Redeemer who “though He was rich, yet for your sake became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Forms and Transliterations וְלֶ֥קֶט ולקט veLeket wə·le·qeṭ wəleqeṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 19:9 HEB: שָׂדְךָ֖ לִקְצֹ֑ר וְלֶ֥קֶט קְצִֽירְךָ֖ לֹ֥א NAS: shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. KJV: neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. INT: of your field Sheba the gleanings of your harvest nor Leviticus 23:22 2 Occurrences |
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