לָקַשׁ (la.qash)
la.qash
to glean
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb laqash appears only once in Scripture, in Job 24:6. In this context, it describes a harsh act of taking the aftermath—the leftover stalks and grain remaining after the initial harvest. While similar to gleaning, which often implies a legal right for the poor to gather food, here the term carries a heavier weight. The sources indicate it means to strip or despoil completely, leaving nothing behind.
This single occurrence highlights a stark contrast in how resources are handled. Instead of allowing the vulnerable to gather what is left, the subject of the verse removes every last bit. It paints a picture of ruthless efficiency and lack of compassion, turning a practice meant for sustenance into an act of total deprivation. The word underscores the severity of the injustice described in Job’s lament.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word laqash appears only once in the Bible, in Job 24:6. It describes taking the leftover grain from a field, but with a harsh edge. In ancient Israel, leaving some harvest for the poor was a law of compassion. Here, however, the act feels like stripping the land bare. It shows how quickly kindness can turn into greed when people ignore the vulnerable.
Job uses this image to cry out against injustice. He sees those with power taking everything, leaving nothing for those who need it most. This word reminds us that faith is not just about belief, but about how we treat others. When we hold tightly to our resources, we may be missing the point of God’s care for the least among us.
It invites us to look at our own fields—our time, money, and energy. Are we leaving room for others to gather? Or are we taking it all? The text challenges us to consider if our actions reflect God’s heart for justice and mercy in a broken world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they glean1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְלַקֵּֽשׁוּ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Job 24:6
They cut their food in the field. They glean the vineyard of the wicked.
This verse uses the word to describe an act of taking the vineyard's aftermath, highlighting a violation of social norms rather than lawful gleaning.