from כֶּרֶם; a planted field (garden, orchard, vineyard or park); by implication, garden produce; full (green) ears (of corn), fruitful field (place), plentiful (field).
Transliteration:karmel
Pronunciation:kar-mel'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word `{{H3759}}` (karmel), derived from `{{H3754}}` (kerem, "vineyard"), primarily signifies a "planted field," a "garden," "orchard," "vineyard," or "park." It denotes a place of cultivation, fertility, and abundance, emphasizing the richness of agricultural land. By implication, `{{H3759}}` can also refer to the "produce" of such a field, specifically "full (green) ears of corn" or "fresh grain." Its semantic range thus encompasses both the fertile ground itself and the bountiful yield it produces, consistently pointing to a state of prosperity and fruitfulness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H3759}}` appears in various biblical contexts, often highlighting fertility, abundance, or their absence.
Most famously, it is the name of Mount Carmel, a region renowned for its lush vegetation and fertility, as seen in prophetic imagery where its beauty and majesty are invoked ([[Isaiah 35:2]], [[Jeremiah 46:18]], [[Amos 1:2]], [[Nahum 1:4]]). The mountain's very name underscores its natural fruitfulness.
In [[Leviticus 2:14]], `{{H3759}}` refers to "green ears of corn" or "fresh grain" offered as firstfruits, illustrating its use for the actual produce of the field. This usage is also seen in [[2 Kings 4:42]], where Elisha receives "fresh ears of grain" (karmel) as a gift.
The word frequently describes a "fruitful field" or "plentiful place" provided by God. For instance, [[Jeremiah 2:7]] speaks of God bringing Israel into a "fruitful land" (karmel) to enjoy its produce, emphasizing divine provision.
Conversely, `{{H3759}}` can be used in contexts of judgment and desolation, where the "fruitful field" is laid waste or consumed, symbolizing divine wrath or the consequences of human sin. [[Isaiah 10:18]] depicts the glory of the forest and the fruitful field being consumed by fire, signifying destruction. Similarly, [[Isaiah 16:10]] laments the taking away of joy and gladness from the "fruitful field," indicating sorrow and loss.
Intriguingly, in [[Isaiah 29:17]] and [[Isaiah 32:15]], `{{H3759}}` is used in prophecies of transformation, where Lebanon (known for its forests) will become a "fruitful field," and the fruitful field will be considered a forest, signifying a radical reversal and a new, divinely orchestrated reality.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for `{{H3759}}` is its root, `{{H3754}}` (kerem), meaning "vineyard," which further solidifies its association with cultivated, productive land. Other related terms include:
* `{{H7704}}` (sadeh): A more general term for "field" or "countryside," which can be cultivated or wild. `{{H3759}}` specifies a *cultivated* and *fruitful* field.
* `{{H1870}}` (dagan): "Grain" or "corn," referring to the staple agricultural produce, often found alongside `{{H3759}}` when the latter denotes "ears of grain."
* `{{H6529}}` (perî): "Fruit" or "produce," a broader term for the yield of the land or trees.
* Concepts associated with `{{H3759}}` include fertility, abundance, prosperity, divine blessing, agricultural yield, and the contrast between cultivated land and wilderness.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H3759}}` is multi-layered:
1. **Divine Provision and Blessing:** `{{H3759}}` often serves as a powerful symbol of God's gracious provision for His people. Bringing Israel into a "fruitful land" (karmel) highlights God's covenant faithfulness and His desire to bless His people with abundance and sustenance ([[Jeremiah 2:7]]).
2. **Barometer of Blessing and Judgment:** The state of the "karmel" frequently reflects the spiritual condition of the people and the corresponding divine response. A flourishing "fruitful field" indicates God's favor and blessing, while its desolation signifies judgment, the withdrawal of divine favor, or the consequences of disobedience ([[Isaiah 10:18]]).
3. **Hope of Transformation and Restoration:** Prophetic passages utilize `{{H3759}}` to convey the radical transformation that God will bring about in the future. The imagery of a "fruitful field" becoming a forest, or a forest becoming a fruitful field ([[Isaiah 29:17]], [[Isaiah 32:15]]), speaks to God's sovereign power to reverse fortunes, bring life out of desolation, and establish a new, abundant reality for His people in the eschatological age.
4. **Worship and Thanksgiving:** The use of `{{H3759}}` to describe "green ears of grain" offered as firstfruits ([[Leviticus 2:14]]) underscores the biblical principle of acknowledging God as the ultimate source of all provision. It emphasizes the importance of offering the first and best of one's harvest back to the Lord in worship and gratitude.
5. **Beauty and Majesty:** Mount Carmel, named from this word, often serves as an emblem of natural beauty and majesty, reflecting the glory and power of the Creator ([[Song of Solomon 7:5]], [[Jeremiah 46:18]]).
### Summary
`{{H3759}}` (karmel) is a rich Hebrew term signifying a "planted field," "garden," or "fruitful place," inherently linked to cultivation, fertility, and abundance. It can also refer to the "produce" itself, particularly "green ears of grain." Biblically, `{{H3759}}` describes actual fertile regions, such as Mount Carmel, and metaphorically represents prosperity, divine blessing, or, conversely, desolation as a consequence of judgment. Theologically, `{{H3759}}` powerfully articulates God's generous provision for His people, serves as an indicator of divine blessing or judgment, and points to the hope of future transformation and restoration. Its appearance in sacrificial contexts further highlights the grateful offering of God's bounty back to Him.
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