Lexical Summary soleth: Fine flour Original Word: סֹלֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fine flour, meal From an unused root meaning to strip; flour (as chipped off) -- (fine) flour, meal. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition fine flour NASB Translation fine (1), fine flour (51), fine...flour (1), flour* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סֹ֫לֶת53 noun feminineLeviticus 2:5 (compare on Gender AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 106) fine flour (ᵐ5 σεμίδαλις, ᵑ9 simila) (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic סוּלְתָּא; Arabic  a kind of barley without husks Lane1401; Assyrian sillatu, or šillatu, a kind of grain (?) Meissner-RostBAS iii, 361; also ¾ul¾a, ¾uruti, flour, as loan-word in Egyptian, Bondi84 WMMAs.u.Eur.101); — absolute ׳ס Genesis 18:6 +, construct ׳ס Exodus 29:9 +; suffix סָלְתָּהּ Leviticus 2:2; — fine flour, used in king's household 1 Kings 5:2 ("" קֵמַח), for honoured guests ׳קֶמַח ס Genesis 18:6 (J), a se'ah of it sold for a shekel in time of scarcity 2 Kings 7:1,16,18 (see Benz); luxurious food Ezekiel 16:13,19 (of Jerusalem under figure of woman); elsewhere only in offerings Ezekiel 46:14; 1 Chronicles 9:29; 1 Chronicles 23:29, and P; חִטִּים ׳ס Exodus 29:2, ׳ס Exodus 29:40, Leviticus 2:1 13t. Leviticus; Numbers 6:15 26t. Numbers. סַם see סמם. Topical Lexicon Culinary Staple and Symbol of Abundance The earliest appearance of סֹלֶת is in the hospitality scene of Genesis 18:6, where Sarah kneads “three seahs of fine flour” for Abraham’s divine visitors. The offering of the costlier, sifted flour rather than ordinary meal underscored generosity and honor. Similar language marks royal prosperity (1 Kings 4:22) and the predicted plenty that would end Samaria’s famine (2 Kings 7:1). Fine flour thus became shorthand for material blessing (cf. Ezekiel 16:13). Agricultural and Economic Dimensions Producing סֹלֶת demanded repeated sifting of ground grain, leaving only the purest particles. Its higher market value (2 Kings 7:1, 16) distinguished it from קֶמַח (“meal”) and gave it a place in taxation and tribute (1 Chronicles 9:29; Ezra 7:22). Temple administrators tracked it alongside wine and oil (2 Chronicles 31:5), showing its role in Judah’s wider economy. Central to the Grain (Minchah) Offering Leviticus devotes an entire chapter to grain offerings, and fine flour stands at the center: • Unleavened cakes mixed or anointed with oil (Leviticus 2:1–7). Because grain was basic sustenance, dedicating its finest form acknowledged God as Provider while expressing fellowship between worshiper and priest. Provision for the Poor in Sin Offerings In the sin offering hierarchy, those who could not afford an animal were permitted to bring “a tenth of an ephah of fine flour” (Leviticus 5:11). Even here the worshiper withheld oil and frankincense, retaining the humble character of repentance. The substitution maintained equal access to forgiveness without compromising holiness. Fine Flour in Ordination and Nazirite Rituals Priestly consecration included unleavened loaves and wafers of fine flour (Exodus 29:2). The Nazirite completing a vow presented “cakes of fine flour mixed with oil” (Numbers 6:15). These rites linked personal dedication to the purest produce of the land, visually uniting vocation and daily provision under divine lordship. Showbread and Perpetual Fellowship “Twelve loaves” baked from fine flour were arranged weekly on the table of showbread (Leviticus 24:5–9). Their uninterrupted presence near the Holy of Holies spoke of Israel’s continual covenant fellowship mediated through the priesthood. Chronicles notes Levites charged to weigh and prepare “fine flour” for this purpose (1 Chronicles 23:29; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 13:11). Prophetic Imagery of Misused Blessings Ezekiel rebuked Jerusalem for squandering gifts of “fine flour, oil, and honey” on idolatry (Ezekiel 16:19). Hosea employs parallel language when indicting Israel for crediting Baal with the harvest (Hosea 2:8). The prophets turn the symbol of God-given plenty into evidence of covenant breach—heightening the moral weight of everyday commodities. Foreshadowing the Bread of Life Fine flour’s qualities—purity, uniformity, and suitability for life-sustaining bread—find typological fulfillment in Jesus Christ. As the grain offering contained neither leaven (symbol of corruption) nor honey (self-indulgent sweetness), so the sinless Son offered Himself wholly to the Father (Hebrews 10:5–10). The perpetual showbread anticipates Christ’s self-designation: “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Believers who partake of the Lord’s Supper still echo the Old Testament rhythm of fellowship secured by a flawless offering. Ministry Implications Today 1. Worship that Withholds Nothing: Presenting the best in time, talent, and treasure honors the God who first supplies. Key Old Testament References Genesis 18:6; Exodus 29:2, 40; Leviticus 2:1–10; 5:11; 6:14–23; 23:13, 17; 24:5; Numbers 6:15–17; 15:4–9; 28:5–12; 1 Kings 4:22; 2 Kings 7:1, 16, 18; 1 Chronicles 23:29; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 13:11; Ezekiel 16:13, 19. Forms and Transliterations הַסֹּ֑לֶת הַסֹּ֙לֶת֙ הסלת וְסֹ֣לֶת וּלְסֹ֤לֶת ולסלת וסלת מִסָּלְתָּהּ֙ מִסֹּ֤לֶת מסלת מסלתה סֹ֔לֶת סֹ֖לֶת סֹ֙לֶת֙ סֹ֛לֶת סֹ֜לֶת סֹ֣לֶת סֹ֤לֶת סֹ֥לֶת סֹ֧לֶת סלת has·sō·leṯ hasSolet hassōleṯ mis·sā·lə·tāh mis·sō·leṯ missālətāh missalTah misSolet missōleṯ sō·leṯ Solet sōleṯ ū·lə·sō·leṯ uleSolet ūləsōleṯ veSolet wə·sō·leṯ wəsōleṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:6 HEB: סְאִים֙ קֶ֣מַח סֹ֔לֶת ל֖וּשִׁי וַעֲשִׂ֥י NAS: three measures of fine flour, knead KJV: three measures of fine meal, knead INT: measures meal of fine knead and make Exodus 29:2 Exodus 29:40 Leviticus 2:1 Leviticus 2:2 Leviticus 2:4 Leviticus 2:5 Leviticus 2:7 Leviticus 5:11 Leviticus 6:15 Leviticus 6:20 Leviticus 7:12 Leviticus 14:10 Leviticus 14:21 Leviticus 23:13 Leviticus 23:17 Leviticus 24:5 Numbers 6:15 Numbers 7:13 Numbers 7:19 Numbers 7:25 Numbers 7:31 Numbers 7:37 Numbers 7:43 Numbers 7:49 53 Occurrences |
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