לֶ֫תֶךְ (le.tekh)
le.tekh
lethek
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun letekh refers specifically to a barley measure, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at Hosea 3:2. While the exact volume remains uncertain among scholars, it is generally understood to represent half an homer, or approximately five ephahs of grain.
This single occurrence places the word in a poignant context where Hosea buys back his unfaithful wife using silver and barley. The use of a standard agricultural unit for barley rather than wheat highlights the humble, everyday nature of the transaction, grounding the prophet’s symbolic act in the tangible reality of food and survival.
Because it is so rare, letekh offers no broader semantic range or common synonyms to distinguish it from other measures. Its significance lies entirely in its specific historical setting, serving as a concrete detail that emphasizes the cost and commitment involved in Hosea’s obedience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word lethek appears just once in Scripture, marking a specific measure of barley used in Hosea’s life. This detail grounds the prophet’s symbolic act in the tangible reality of daily survival. It was not an abstract gesture but a transaction involving real food and silver.
When Hosea purchased his wife back, he paid with fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. The use of this humble grain measure reminds us that God’s love often works through ordinary means. It shows that redemption is costly and requires genuine commitment from those who seek it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ a lethech of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/לֵ֥תֶךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley.
This verse records the specific quantity of barley used in Hosea’s purchase, highlighting the tangible cost of his obedience.
-
Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley.
The mention of lethek alongside silver emphasizes that restoring broken relationships requires both material sacrifice and steadfast love.
-
Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley.
By specifying a barley measure, the text underscores the humility and everyday nature of God’s redemptive work through human agents.