לֶ֫קֶט (le.qet)
le.qet
gleaning
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun leqet refers to the act of gleaning or, more specifically, the stalks left behind in a field after the main harvest. It describes the small, scattered remnants that remain when workers have gathered the primary crop. This word captures both the action of collecting these leftovers and the physical produce itself.
Its theological significance is anchored in Leviticus 19:9-10, where God commands landowners not to reap the edges of their fields or gather every last stalk. These remnants were reserved for the poor and the foreigner. By leaving leqet behind, the community ensured that those without land could still find sustenance, turning an agricultural byproduct into a mechanism for social justice.
Though it appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, its presence is weighty. It transforms the concept of waste into provision. The word reminds readers that value exists in what is often overlooked, framing generosity not as surplus giving, but as intentional omission designed to feed the vulnerable.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word leqet describes the small stalks left behind after the main harvest, reserved specifically for the poor and the foreigner. This practice transforms what might be seen as agricultural waste into a structured mechanism for social justice. It reminds us that value often exists in what is overlooked, framing generosity not as giving away surplus, but as intentional omission designed to feed the vulnerable.
In your daily life, this concept invites you to look beyond the obvious or the abundant. Just as the field owner left space for others to gather, you can find ways to share resources that do not diminish your own needs but create room for dignity. It is a quiet reminder that true provision includes those on the margins.
When you encounter someone in need, consider how you might leave 'gleanings' of your time or attention. These small, intentional acts of care reflect a heart that values every person. May you find joy in providing for others, knowing that such generosity honors God and builds a more just community.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] remnant of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/לֶ֥קֶט2×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 19:9
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
This verse establishes the foundational command to leave gleanings behind, setting the boundary for how harvests should be managed to ensure provision for others.
-
Leviticus 23:22
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not wholly reap into the corners of your field. You must not gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.’”
Here the instruction is repeated with explicit identification of the recipients—the poor and the foreigner—linking the act of gleaning directly to God's identity as Yahweh.