### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mᵉlêʼâh**, represented by `{{H4395}}`, is a term for **abundance or fulness**, particularly of produce. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. Its definition describes something that is fulfilled, such as the "first of ripe" fruit or the general abundance of a harvest.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H4395}}` is used in specific agricultural and legal contexts. It is commanded as a required offering to God, with the instruction, "Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits" [[Exodus 22:29]]. It also appears in a law prohibiting the mixing of seeds in a vineyard, warning that the "fruit" of the seed would be defiled [[Deuteronomy 22:9]]. Finally, it is used to characterize the value of an offering, which is to be reckoned "as the fulness of the winepress" [[Numbers 18:27]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the agricultural and religious context of abundance:
* `{{H309}}` **ʼâchar** (to loiter... delay, hinder, be late): This verb is used to command against procrastinating in the offering of **mᵉlêʼâh**, highlighting the urgency and importance of giving the firstfruits to God promptly [[Exodus 22:29]].
* `{{H1831}}` **demaʻ** (a tear; figuratively, juice; liquor): This term for liquid offerings appears directly with **mᵉlêʼâh** in [[Exodus 22:29]], specifying that both the solid "ripe fruits" and the liquid "liquors" from the harvest must be offered.
* `{{H1715}}` **dâgân** (increase, i.e. grain; corn): Used in parallel with **mᵉlêʼâh**, this word for grain helps illustrate the completeness of an offering, which is compared to both the **corn** of the threshingfloor and the **fulness** of the winepress [[Numbers 18:27]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4395}}` centers on the principles of offering and consecration.
* **The Law of Firstfruits:** The use of **mᵉlêʼâh** in [[Exodus 22:29]] establishes the principle of giving the first and best of God's provision back to Him without delay. It represents the acknowledgment that all abundance comes from God.
* **Agricultural Purity:** In [[Deuteronomy 22:9]], the "fruit" of the field is subject to laws of purity. The potential for the **mᵉlêʼâh** to be defiled connects the physical harvest to the spiritual concept of holiness and separation.
* **Symbolic Abundance:** The term is used to establish the value of a heave offering, which is counted "as" the fulness of the winepress [[Numbers 18:27]]. This shows that a dedicated portion can symbolically represent the entirety of the harvest's blessing.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4395}}` signifies more than just a plentiful harvest. It is a cornerstone of the Old Testament sacrificial system, defining the believer's responsibility to honor God with the first and best of their increase. It illustrates how a word for agricultural abundance can convey deep theological concepts of priority, purity, and the symbolic nature of giving.
TRV