חִנְטָה (chin.tah)
chin.tah
wheat
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun chin.tah refers simply to wheat, the grain used for bread. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in Ezra 6:9, where Persian officials order provisions for the temple sacrifices.
This word is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew chittah (H2406). Its limited usage reflects the specific context of official imperial correspondence rather than daily agricultural description. The term highlights the practical needs of the rebuilt sanctuary, emphasizing the material support provided by foreign rulers for Jewish worship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we think of faith, we often focus on spiritual truths or grand miracles. Yet Scripture reminds us that God cares about the practical details of our lives too. In Ezra, Persian officials provided wheat for the temple sacrifices. This shows that worship involves both spirit and substance, and that God uses earthly resources to sustain His people.
This word appears in official decrees, highlighting how God orchestrates history through human systems. The provision of grain was not just food; it was an act of obedience to divine instruction. It reminds us that our daily needs are held within a larger plan, where even imperial orders serve a sacred purpose.
We can find comfort in knowing that the God who provided for ancient worshipers also provides for us today. Whether through community support or personal provision, He meets our needs so we can focus on what truly matters: honoring Him with our lives and resources.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wheat<s>2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חִנְטִין֙1×
- חִנְטִ֞ין1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 6:9
That which they have need of, including young bulls, rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail,
This verse specifies wheat as a daily provision for temple sacrifices, showing God's care for worship practices through imperial decree.
-
Ezra 7:22
up to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred cors of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
Here wheat is listed among generous royal gifts, demonstrating how foreign rulers supported Jewish religious restoration without restriction.