### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **leqeṭ**, represented by `{{H3951}}`, refers to **the gleaning** of a harvest. It is derived from the root word `{{H3950}}`, which means "to gather." Though it appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, its usage is concentrated in a significant legal command regarding agricultural practice and social welfare.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Both occurrences of `{{H3951}}` are found in the book of Leviticus within nearly identical instructions for harvesting. The law specifies that when the people of Israel reap the harvest of their land, they are not to gather the **gleaning** [[Leviticus 23:22]]. This command is part of a broader instruction that also forbids making a "clean riddance" of the corners of the field [[Leviticus 23:22]]. Instead, what is left behind is to be for "the poor, and to the stranger," directly connecting the act of harvesting with the care for the vulnerable in the community.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of the context surrounding **gleaning**:
* `{{H3950}}` **lâqaṭ** (to gather): This is the primitive root from which **leqeṭ** is derived. Its definition is to pick up or **gather**. While it is used in the command not to **gather** the gleanings [[Leviticus 19:9]], it is also used more generally for activities like gathering stones [[Genesis 31:46]] or wood [[Jeremiah 7:18]].
* `{{H7105}}` **qâtsîyr** (harvest): This word defines the event during which gleaning occurs. It refers to the **harvest**, the crop, or the time of reaping. The law about leaving the **gleaning** is explicitly tied to the **harvest** of the land [[Leviticus 23:22]], and the word also appears in the foundational promise that "seedtime and **harvest**" will not cease [[Genesis 8:22]].
* `{{H6285}}` **pêʼâh** (corner): This term specifies a particular area of the field that must not be fully harvested. The command not to reap the **corners** of the field [[Leviticus 19:9]] is paired with the command to leave the gleanings, ensuring that a portion of the produce remains accessible.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3951}}` is centered on God's provision and justice.
* **Provision for the Vulnerable:** The explicit purpose of leaving the **gleaning** is to provide food for "the poor and to the stranger" [[Leviticus 23:22]], embedding a system of social care into Israel's economic life.
* **Stewardship over Ownership:** By commanding landowners not to "wholly reap" their fields [[Leviticus 19:9]], the law establishes that their claim to the land's produce is not absolute. A portion is divinely designated for the needy.
* **Reflection of Divine Character:** The instruction is grounded in God's own identity, concluding with the statement, "I am the LORD your God" [[Leviticus 23:22]]. This frames the act of leaving the **gleaning** as an act of obedience that reflects the character of God himself.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3951}}` is a term with a narrow but profound application. It signifies more than just leftover crops; it represents a divinely mandated principle of compassion and justice. Found within the legal codes of Leviticus, the command to leave the **gleaning** demonstrates that care for the poor and the stranger is not merely a suggestion but a foundational element of living in covenant with God, reminding the Israelites that the bounty of the land is a gift to be shared.
TRV