Lexical Summary qamats: To grasp, to take a handful Original Word: קָמַץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance take an handful A primitive root; to grasp with the hand -- take an handful. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition enclose with the hand, grasp NASB Translation take (2), take a handful (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קָמַץ verb enclose with the hand, grasp (Late Hebrew id. = Biblical Hebrew; ᵑ7 קְמַץ; Assyrian ‡imƒu, kinƒu, is a part of the body occurring in pairs, MeissnSuppl. 84); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular consecutive וְקָמַץ Leviticus 2:2; Leviticus 5:12 (both with accusative מְלֹא קֻמְצוֺ + מִן of source), Numbers 5:26 (with accusative + מִן of source; all P). Topical Lexicon Literal Action in the Sanctuaryקָמַץ describes the priestly motion of closing the hand upon sacrificial grain, securing “a handful” for the altar. In Leviticus 2:2 the priest “shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil together with all its frankincense and burn this memorial portion on the altar”. The same rite appears in the purification offering (Leviticus 5:12) and in the ordeal of jealousy (Numbers 5:26). The verb therefore belongs exclusively to priestly procedure, never to ordinary labor or warfare. Each occurrence fixes attention on a single gesture that separates what is common from what is consecrated. Handful as Divine Portion The handful becomes the “memorial portion” (אַזְכָּרָה, askarah), a fragment that represents the whole gift before God. By limiting the burned amount to what one fist can contain, the Law affirms that YHWH needs no large payment; He receives the token as full acknowledgment of His ownership of the entire offering. The remaining flour falls to the priests for food (Leviticus 2:3), illustrating the principle that the worshiper gives to God, God gives to His servants, and no loss is suffered in true worship. Symbolism of Sufficiency and Substitution קָמַץ silently preaches sufficiency. In the sin offering of the poor (Leviticus 5:11-13) even a tenth of an ephah, once “hand-grasped,” satisfies divine justice. The handful signifies substitution: a small measure bears the guilt of the whole person. Thus the gesture anticipates the greater substitution accomplished by Christ, in whom “one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men” (Romans 5:18). Communal Memory and Accountability Because the handful is called a “memorial,” the smoke ascending from it serves both to remind the covenant people of God’s grace and to call God’s covenant faithfulness into immediate view. In Numbers 5:26 the act seals the solemn investigation of marital unfaithfulness; the priest publicly proclaims that final judgment rests with the Lord who sees the heart. קָמַץ therefore functions as a liturgical witness to divine omniscience and moral order within Israel’s community life. New Testament Echoes While the Greek Scriptures contain no direct lexical equivalent, the theology of the handful reappears in the widow’s two mites (Mark 12:41-44) and in the boy’s five loaves (John 6:9). In both cases a seemingly meager contribution, offered in faith, becomes sufficient in the hands of God. The earlier priestly fistful prepares the reader to trust that God values the motive of surrender over the magnitude of material. Application in Christian Ministry 1. Stewardship: Congregations may emulate the handful principle by encouraging cheerful giving that responds to grace rather than to human pressure (2 Corinthians 9:7). Theological Summary קָמַץ is more than a technical term for priestly motion. It pictures the proportional generosity of God, the efficacy of substitution, and the assurance that wholehearted but limited offerings, once placed under the covenant, become wholly acceptable. Every raising of a human fist in surrender finds its fullest meaning when opened again at Calvary, where the once-for-all offering validates the handfuls of faith brought by saints of every age. Forms and Transliterations וְקָמַ֣ץ וְקָמַ֨ץ וקמץ vekaMatz wə·qā·maṣ wəqāmaṣLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 2:2 HEB: אַהֲרֹן֮ הַכֹּהֲנִים֒ וְקָמַ֨ץ מִשָּׁ֜ם מְלֹ֣א NAS: the priests; and shall take from it his handful KJV: the priests: and he shall take thereout INT: to Aaron's the priests and shall take thereout all along Leviticus 5:12 Numbers 5:26 3 Occurrences |
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