from an unused root meaning to store up or preserve; 'cummin' (from its use as a condiment); cummin.
Transliteration:kammôn
Pronunciation:kam-mone'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H3646}}` (kammôn) refers specifically to "cummin," a small, aromatic seed used as a spice. Botanically, it is *Cuminum cyminum*, a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. The Strong's definition notes its derivation "from an unused root meaning to store up or preserve," suggesting a potential etymological connection to the practice of preserving its seeds or its use as a condiment to preserve food. Its core meaning is therefore a literal botanical item, a common agricultural crop and culinary ingredient in the ancient Near East, known for its distinct pungent flavor and aromatic properties. Semantically, it is tightly constrained to this specific plant, without broader metaphorical applications inherent in the word itself, beyond what its agricultural context or use might imply.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H3646}}` appears exclusively in the book of Isaiah, specifically in chapter 28, which is a passage rich in agricultural metaphors used to illustrate God's wisdom, order, and precise judgment.
* **[[Isaiah 28:25]]**: "Does he not level its surface and sow dill and scatter cummin, and plant wheat in rows and barley in its appointed place, and spelt in its border?" Here, `{{H3646}}` is listed alongside other cultivated crops—dill, wheat, barley, and spelt—as part of the divinely ordained agricultural process. This verse highlights the farmer's knowledge and skill, which are presented as gifts from God, demonstrating God's wisdom in ordering the natural world and human labor. The inclusion of cummin emphasizes the meticulous detail and variety in God's creation and instruction.
* **[[Isaiah 28:27]]**: "For dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cummin; but dill is beaten out with a rod, and cummin with a stick." This verse provides a crucial insight into the specific processing of cummin. Unlike coarser grains that require heavy threshing sledges or cart wheels, cummin, being a delicate seed, is threshed with a lighter implement—a "stick" or "rod." This distinction is not merely an agricultural observation but serves as a profound metaphor for God's precise and appropriate method of discipline and judgment. Just as the farmer applies the right tool for each crop, God applies the appropriate measure of discipline to His people, tailored to their needs, ensuring refinement rather than destruction.
### Related Words & Concepts
While `{{H3646}}` itself is limited in its direct occurrences, its context and the broader biblical narrative connect it to several important concepts and related terms:
* **Agricultural Terms**: `{{H3646}}` is often found alongside other terms for cultivated plants (e.g., `{{H7088}}` *qetsach* "dill/black cummin," `{{H2406}}` *chitah* "wheat," `{{H8184}}` *se'orah* "barley") and agricultural practices (e.g., sowing, threshing). This places it within the biblical understanding of creation, sustenance, and human labor.
* **Divine Wisdom (`{{H2451}}` *chokmah*)**: The agricultural wisdom described in [[Isaiah 28:23-29]] is attributed directly to God, who "instructs" and "teaches" the farmer. The careful handling of cummin exemplifies this divine wisdom, which applies appropriate means to achieve desired ends.
* **Discipline and Judgment**: The manner of threshing cummin with a rod, as opposed to a heavy sledge, links it to God's measured and precise discipline. This concept is often expressed through words like `{{H3256}}` *yasar* (to discipline, instruct) or `{{H4941}}` *mishpat* (judgment, justice), emphasizing that God's actions are always just and proportionate.
* **Tithing**: Although `{{H3646}}` is a Hebrew word, the plant cummin (Greek: `{{G25}}` *kyminon*) features prominently in the New Testament in the context of tithing. In [[Matthew 23:23]], Jesus condemns the Pharisees for meticulously tithing "mint and dill and cummin" while neglecting "the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness." This highlights a contrast between external, ritualistic adherence to the law and genuine, internal righteousness. While not a direct occurrence of `{{H3646}}`, the plant and its symbolic use in this passage are directly relevant.
* **Preservation**: The proposed unused root meaning "to store up or preserve" for `{{H3646}}` could subtly connect to its function as a spice, which historically aided in food preservation, and metaphorically to God's preservation of His people through His measured discipline.
### Theological Significance
The seemingly humble spice, cummin, carries significant theological weight within its biblical contexts:
1. **Divine Order and Wisdom in Creation**: The detailed description of agricultural practices, including the cultivation and processing of cummin in [[Isaiah 28]], underscores God's meticulous design and ordering of the natural world. It reveals His profound wisdom, not only in grand cosmic acts but also in the practicalities of daily human life and sustenance. God is portrayed as the ultimate Teacher, imparting wisdom even for farming techniques, demonstrating His sovereignty over all aspects of creation.
2. **God's Measured and Purposeful Discipline**: The most profound theological insight derived from `{{H3646}}` comes from the metaphor of its threshing in [[Isaiah 28:27]]. God's discipline is not indiscriminate or crushing, like a heavy threshing sledge, but precise, appropriate, and restorative, like the light rod used for cummin. This illustrates that God's judgments are always tailored to the specific needs of His people, designed to refine and purify rather than destroy. It speaks to God's patience, discernment, and ultimate desire for His people's restoration.
3. **The Nature of True Righteousness (via NT connection)**: Through its Greek equivalent, cummin becomes a symbol in the New Testament for the potential for religious hypocrisy. The meticulous tithing of small, inexpensive herbs like cummin, while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness, serves as a stark warning against external religiosity devoid of internal transformation and genuine love for God and neighbor. It emphasizes that God values the "weightier matters" of the law over superficial adherence to minor regulations.
### Summary
`{{H3646}}` (kammôn), or "cummin," is a small but biblically significant spice. Its primary appearances in [[Isaiah 28:25]] and [[Isaiah 28:27]] reveal its role in demonstrating God's intricate wisdom in ordering creation and His precise, measured approach to discipline. The delicate handling required for threshing cummin serves as a powerful metaphor for God's restorative and non-destructive judgment. Furthermore, when considered alongside its Greek New Testament equivalent `{{G25}}`, cummin highlights the contrast between superficial religious observance and true righteousness, underscoring the importance of justice, mercy, and faithfulness over mere ritual. Thus, this seemingly minor plant embodies profound theological truths concerning divine wisdom, appropriate discipline, and the essence of genuine piety.
TRV