Lexical Summary qali: Roasted grain, parched grain Original Word: קָלִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance parched corn Or qaliyi {kaw-lee'}; from qalah; roasted ears of grain -- parched corn. see HEBREW qalah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qalah Definition parched (grain) NASB Translation parched (2), roasted grain (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs קָלִי noun masculine1Samuel 17:17 parched grain, a common food (RobBR ii.50 AnderlindZPV ix. 3); — absolute ׳ק 1 Samuel 25:18; 2 Samuel 17:28a + 2 Samuel 17:28b (but dittograph, strike out ᵐ5 ᵑ6 and Comm.), Leviticus 23:14 (P), Ruth 2:14; = קָלִיא 1 Samuel 17:17. Topical Lexicon Agricultural Context Parched or roasted grain was a staple of Israel’s agrarian economy. The kernels of freshly harvested barley or wheat were quickly scorched on a heated stone or in a pan, halting germination, intensifying flavor, and rendering the grain immediately edible or easily ground. Because it required no lengthy preparation, קָלִי was ideal for field laborers, travelers, and soldiers. Its appearance alongside bread, beans, lentils, and figs (2 Samuel 17:28) situates it among the ordinary yet indispensable foodstuffs that sustained daily life in ancient Israel. Culinary Usage in Biblical Narrative 1. Field Fare (Ruth 2:14) – Boaz “offered her some roasted grain.” In a scene combining workplace charity with covenant loyalty, קָלִי becomes the tangible expression of grace extended to a vulnerable foreigner. Links to Festival Worship Leviticus 23:14 forbids the eating of “any bread or roasted grain or new grain until the very day you bring this offering to your God.” By withholding קָלִי until the firstfruits sheaf was presented, Israel acknowledged the LORD as the rightful owner of the harvest. The injunction safeguards the priority of worship over consumption, turning even a humble snack into a liturgical marker. Symbolic and Theological Considerations • Provision: Roasted grain repeatedly meets immediate hunger, mirroring the LORD’s prompt provision in the wilderness and foreshadowing Christ’s feeding of the multitudes. Chronological Spread of References From the Sinai legislation (Leviticus) to the time of the judges (Ruth) and the united monarchy (Samuel), קָלִי traces a line of continuity: one unassuming food binding worship, work, warfare, and hospitality across centuries. Practical Ministry Takeaways • Small Gifts, Great Impact: A handful of roasted grain fed Ruth, honored God, stabilized David’s army, and prevented bloodshed. The Lord multiplies modest resources offered in faith. Thus the six occurrences of קָלִי illustrate how an everyday provision becomes a vehicle for covenant fidelity, compassionate outreach, and the sustaining grace of God in every season of Israel’s history. Forms and Transliterations הַקָּלִיא֙ הקליא וְקָלִ֑י וְקָלִ֨י וְקָלִֽי׃ וקלי וקלי׃ קָלִ֔י קלי hakkaLi haq·qā·lî haqqālî kaLi qā·lî qālî vekaLi wə·qā·lî wəqālîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 23:14 HEB: וְלֶחֶם֩ וְקָלִ֨י וְכַרְמֶ֜ל לֹ֣א NAS: nor roasted grain nor KJV: neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, INT: bread roasted new neither Ruth 2:14 1 Samuel 17:17 1 Samuel 25:18 2 Samuel 17:28 2 Samuel 17:28 6 Occurrences |
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