### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H5995 (עָמִיר, ʻâmîyr) denotes a "bunch of grain," a "handful," or a "sheaf." Its etymological root is derived from `{{H6014}}` (עָמַר, ʻamar), which carries the primary meaning "to bind," "to heap up," or "to gather." This root connection is crucial, as H5995 specifically refers to grain that has been cut and subsequently gathered or bound together into a bundle. The semantic range is quite focused, consistently pointing to the tangible product of the harvest – the stalks of grain collected after reaping, distinct from standing grain or loose kernels. It represents the immediate outcome of agricultural labor, ready for threshing or storage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H5995 appears in three distinct contexts within the Hebrew Bible, each shedding light on its practical and symbolic significance:
1. **[[Ruth 2:16]]**: In this pivotal narrative of provision and gleaning, Boaz instructs his young men concerning Ruth: "and also pull out some for her from the bundles of grain [עָמִיר] and leave them so that she may glean, and do not rebuke her." Here, H5995 refers to the bundles or sheaves that are intentionally left by the reapers for the poor and the sojourner to glean, embodying the Mosaic law concerning gleaning ([[Leviticus 19:9]], [[Deuteronomy 24:19]]). This context emphasizes generosity, compassion, and the practical means by which the vulnerable were sustained through the harvest.
2. **[[Job 24:10]]**: In Job's lament concerning the injustice prevalent in the world, he describes the plight of the oppressed: "They go about naked, without clothing, and hungry they carry the sheaves [עָמִיר]." This verse paints a stark picture of exploitation, where the poor are forced to labor, carrying the very sheaves that represent sustenance, yet they themselves remain hungry and unclothed. Here, H5995 symbolizes the fruit of labor that is unjustly withheld from those who produce it, highlighting profound social inequity and suffering.
3. **[[Psalms 129:7]]**: This psalm, a lament and prayer against Israel's oppressors, uses agricultural imagery to describe the futility of the wicked's efforts: "with which the reaper fills not his hand, nor he who binds sheaves [עָמִיר] his bosom." In this context, the inability to gather H5995 signifies a lack of success, a barren effort, and ultimately, divine judgment upon those who oppose God's people. The sheaf here represents the expected reward of labor, and its absence denotes frustration and sterility.
Across these occurrences, H5995 consistently refers to gathered grain, but its contextual usage varies, highlighting themes of divine provision, social justice, and the consequences of human actions.
### Related Words & Concepts
The term H5995 (עָמִיר, ʻâmîyr) is intimately connected to the agricultural practices of ancient Israel, particularly the harvest. Its direct etymological root is `{{H6014}}` (עָמַר, ʻamar), which functions as both a verb meaning "to bind" or "to gather" and a noun referring to a "sheaf" or a specific dry measure (e.g., the omer of manna in [[Exodus 16:16]]). This close relationship underscores the act of bundling or collecting the grain.
Other related Hebrew terms and concepts include:
* **`{{H7105}}` (קָצִיר, qatsir)**: "harvest," referring to the season or the reaped crop itself.
* **`{{H6973}}` (קָצַר, qatsar)**: The verb "to reap" or "to harvest."
* **`{{H2243}}` (חָבַשׁ, chabash)**: "to bind," often used in the context of binding sheaves.
* **Gleaning**: The practice of leaving portions of the harvest for the poor, as mandated in the Law and exemplified in the book of Ruth. This concept is directly tied to the "sheaf" as the tangible item left behind.
* **Firstfruits**: The offering of the first and best of the harvest to God, a concept that underscores divine ownership and provision, with sheaves being the physical representation of the harvest.
These terms and concepts collectively paint a picture of the agricultural cycle, the labor involved, and the social and ethical responsibilities tied to the land's produce.
### Theological Significance
The ʻâmîyr, or sheaf of grain, carries significant theological weight within the biblical narrative, extending beyond its simple agricultural definition:
1. **Divine Provision and Blessing**: The very existence of sheaves is a testament to God's faithfulness in providing for His creation. The regular cycle of sowing and reaping, culminating in the gathering of sheaves, is a foundational promise ([[Genesis 8:22]]) and a visible sign of divine blessing ([[Deuteronomy 11:14]]). Abundant sheaves symbolize God's favor and the sustenance necessary for life.
2. **Social Justice and Compassion**: The command to leave sheaves for the poor and the sojourner ([[Leviticus 19:9]], [[Deuteronomy 24:19]]) transforms the ʻâmîyr into a tangible symbol of God's heart for the vulnerable. The story of Ruth and Boaz ([[Ruth 2:16]]) beautifully illustrates the practical outworking of this law, where the leaving of sheaves ensures the dignity and survival of the marginalized. Conversely, the image in [[Job 24:10]] of the hungry carrying sheaves they cannot eat serves as a powerful indictment of social injustice and the exploitation of labor, highlighting a perversion of God's intended order.
3. **Labor and Reward**: The ʻâmîyr represents the fruit of diligent labor. The expectation is that those who sow and reap will gather sheaves as their reward. The futility expressed in [[Psalms 129:7]], where no hand is filled with sheaves, speaks to the ultimate barrenness of wicked efforts and the frustration of labor without divine blessing or justice. It underscores the principle that true prosperity, both material and spiritual, is ultimately from the Lord.
4. **Spiritual Metaphor**: While H5995 itself is not directly used in explicit spiritual metaphors, the broader concept of "harvest" (`{{H7105}}`) is often employed to describe spiritual ingathering, judgment, or the culmination of God's redemptive plan (e.g., Jesus speaking of the harvest of souls in [[Matthew 9:37-38]]). The physical act of gathering sheaves thus serves as an earthly shadow of divine processes.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H5995 (עָמִיר, ʻâmîyr) refers to a "sheaf" or "bunch of grain," derived from the root meaning "to bind" or "to gather." Its usage in the biblical text is limited but profoundly significant. In [[Ruth 2:16]], it highlights divine provision and the ethical responsibility of generosity towards the poor through gleaning. In [[Job 24:10]], it powerfully symbolizes the injustice and exploitation faced by the oppressed who labor without reward. Lastly, in [[Psalms 129:7]], the absence of gathered sheaves signifies futility and judgment upon the wicked. Theologically, ʻâmîyr serves as a potent symbol of God's faithful provision, the imperative of social justice and compassion, and the principle of labor yielding its just reward. It grounds abstract theological concepts in the tangible reality of daily sustenance and agricultural life.
TRV