חִטָּה (chit.tah)
chit.tah
wheat
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 22 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chit-tah refers specifically to wheat, encompassing both the growing plant and its harvested grain. In the Old Testament, it appears twenty-two times, often serving as a marker of agricultural abundance or divine judgment. For instance, Exodus 9:32 notes that flax and barley were struck by hail because they were in the flower, whereas wheat was in the ear, highlighting the crop’s distinct growth cycle.
The word carries significant cultural weight as a staple food source. Deuteronomy 8:8 lists it alongside honey and oil as part of the land’s bounty, while Judges 6:11 describes an angel finding Gideon threshing wheat to hide it from the Midianites. Its value is further emphasized in passages like Psalm 81:17, where God promises satisfaction with "the fat of wheat," a phrase denoting the finest, most nutritious part of the grain.
Etymologically, the word’s origin is uncertain, though it likely relates to Semitic roots for yellow or golden color, reflecting the ripe stalks. Unlike general terms for grain, chit-tah points to this specific cereal that required careful processing into flour for bread. Its consistent use across historical and poetic books underscores its central role in ancient Israelite diet and economy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Wheat was far more than a staple crop in ancient Israel; it represented the very essence of God’s provision. When Deuteronomy describes the Promised Land as flowing with wheat, barley, and oil, it paints a picture of a place where life is sustained by divine generosity. This grain required careful tending, from sowing to threshing, mirroring how God nurtures our spiritual lives through seasons of growth and harvest.
Even in times of fear or judgment, wheat remained a symbol of hope and sustenance. Gideon threshed his wheat in secret, hiding from enemies, yet God met him there in the midst of his labor. Similarly, Psalm 147 celebrates how God fills His people with the finest wheat, reminding us that our daily bread is a gift of peace and security. Whether in abundance or scarcity, this grain points to the One who provides for our needs.
Reflecting on wheat invites gratitude for the simple, essential blessings in life. It encourages trust that God cares for the details of our existence, from the fields to the table. As you consider your own daily provisions, may you find comfort in knowing that the Creator of the harvest is also your faithful provider.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 22 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wheat<s>12×
- wheat4×
- the/ wheat<s>1×
- and/ wheat<s>1×
- and/ the/ wheat<s>1×
- and/ the/ wheat1×
- [the] wheat1×
- <of> wheat<s>1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חִטִּים֙3×
- חִטִּ֗ים2×
- חִטִּ֖ים2×
- חִטִּ֔ים2×
- חִטָּה֙1×
- חִטָּ֨ה\׀1×
- חִטָּ֤ה1×
- חִטָּ֖ה1×
- חִטָּ֑ה1×
- חִטִּֽים\׃1×
- חִטִּ֥ים1×
- חִטִּ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 8:8
a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey;
This verse lists wheat as a defining characteristic of the Promised Land, highlighting its role as a primary marker of divine blessing and agricultural abundance.
-
Judges 6:11
Yahweh’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
Gideon threshing wheat in a wine press reveals how this staple food became central to his hidden obedience and God’s subsequent call to deliver Israel.
-
Psalms 147:14
He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.
Here, God filling the people with the finest wheat serves as a metaphor for His provision of peace and satisfaction within their borders.
-
Jeremiah 12:13
They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns. They have exhausted themselves, and profit nothing. You will be ashamed of your fruits, because of Yahweh’s fierce anger.”
The image of sowing wheat but reaping thorns powerfully illustrates the futility and shame resulting from disobedience and divine judgment.