from עָמַר; properly, a heap, i.e. a sheaf; also an omer, as a dry measure; omer, sheaf.
Transliteration:ʻômer
Pronunciation:o'-mer
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word עֹמֶר (ʻômer, `{{H6016}}`) is derived from the verbal root עָמַר (ʻāmar, `{{H6005}}`), which primarily conveys the sense of "to heap up" or "to bind sheaves." This etymological connection provides the foundation for its dual semantic range.
Firstly, ʻômer refers to a **sheaf**, specifically a bundle of reaped grain stalks tied together. This meaning emphasizes the act of gathering, collecting, and binding agricultural produce. It represents a tangible unit of harvest.
Secondly, ʻômer denotes a specific **dry measure**, equivalent to one-tenth of an ephah (`{{H374}}`). In this context, the idea of "heaping" or "collecting" is applied to a standardized quantity, making it a precise unit for measuring dry goods, most notably grain or manna.
Both meanings converge on the concept of a defined, gathered quantity, whether a physical bundle of grain or a measured volume.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word ʻômer appears predominantly in two distinct yet related contexts:
1. **As a Measure of Manna:** Its most frequent and theologically significant use is in the book of Exodus, describing the daily gathering of manna in the wilderness. The Lord commanded each person to gather "an omer for every man" ([[Exodus 16:16]]). This precise measurement ensured equitable distribution, preventing hoarding and fostering daily dependence on God's provision ([[Exodus 16:18]], [[Exodus 16:22]]). An omer of manna was also preserved in a jar as a perpetual memorial of God's faithfulness ([[Exodus 16:32-33]], [[Exodus 16:36]]).
2. **As a Sheaf of Grain:**
* In the context of the Mosaic Law, ʻômer appears in commands regarding the harvest. Notably, the "omer of the firstfruits" ([[Leviticus 23:10-11]], [[Leviticus 23:15]]) refers to the first sheaf of the barley harvest, which was to be waved before the Lord as an offering. This ritual marked the beginning of the harvest season and consecrated the entire yield to God.
* The Law also commanded that a forgotten "sheaf" in the field should not be retrieved but left for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow ([[Deuteronomy 24:19]]), demonstrating God's provision for the vulnerable and underscoring principles of social justice.
* In narrative literature, ʻômer describes the physical bundles of grain gathered during the harvest, as seen in the account of Ruth gleaning among the "sheaves" in Boaz's field ([[Ruth 2:7]], [[Ruth 2:15]]).
* Poetic and prophetic texts also employ ʻômer metaphorically. Job describes the poor carrying "sheaves" while suffering hunger ([[Job 24:10]]), highlighting their arduous labor and deprivation. Jeremiah uses the image of corpses falling like "sheaves" before the reaper, a vivid depiction of widespread death and judgment ([[Jeremiah 9:22]]).
Across these contexts, ʻômer functions as a practical agricultural term, a precise unit of measure, and a potent symbol in legal, narrative, and prophetic discourse.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding ʻômer is enhanced by examining its relationship to several other Hebrew terms and concepts:
* **עָמַר (ʻāmar, `{{H6005}}`):** The verbal root from which ʻômer is derived, meaning "to bind sheaves" or "to heap up." This root directly informs the core meaning of the noun.
* **אֵיפָה ('ephah, `{{H374}}`):** A larger dry measure, of which the ʻômer is precisely one-tenth. This relationship is crucial for understanding the scale of the ʻômer as a unit of measurement.
* **שִׁבֹּלֶת (shibbolet, `{{H7641}}`):** Refers to an "ear of grain" or "standing grain." While ʻômer is the bound bundle, shibbolet is the individual stalk or ear.
* **קָמָה (qamah, `{{H7054}}`):** Denotes "standing grain" in the field, before it is reaped and bundled into sheaves.
* **צֶבֶר (tseber, `{{H6652}}`):** A more general term for a "heap" or "pile," which shares the concept of a collected mass but is not specifically tied to grain like ʻômer.
* **Firstfruits:** The concept of the "omer of the firstfruits" links ʻômer to the broader theological principle of offering the initial and best portion of the harvest to God as an act of worship and acknowledgment of His sovereignty over all provision.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ʻômer is multifaceted:
* **Divine Provision and Sustenance:** The most prominent theological application of ʻômer is in the account of the manna. The daily gathering of an ʻômer per person underscored God's faithful, equitable, and sufficient provision for His people in the wilderness ([[Exodus 16:16]]). It taught Israel dependence on Yahweh, trust in His daily care, and the principle of gathering only what was needed, countering greed and fostering contentment. The preserved ʻômer of manna served as an enduring testimony to God's miraculous sustenance ([[Exodus 16:32-33]]).
* **Holiness and Consecration of Firstfruits:** The "omer of the firstfruits" ([[Leviticus 23:10-11]]) is central to the Feast of Firstfruits. Waving this first sheaf before the Lord was an act of consecration, dedicating the entire harvest to God. It expressed gratitude for current blessings and faith in future provision. This ritual foreshadows Christ as the "firstfruits of those who are asleep" ([[1 Corinthians 15:20]]), signifying His resurrection as the guarantee and beginning of the resurrection of all believers.
* **Social Justice and Compassion:** The commandment to leave the forgotten ʻômer in the field for the poor, the sojourner, and the fatherless ([[Deuteronomy 24:19]]) reveals God's deep concern for the marginalized. It is a practical embodiment of covenant love and justice, ensuring that even the most vulnerable in society have access to sustenance from the land. This highlights the ethical demands embedded within the Law and reflects God's compassionate character.
* **Mortality and Judgment:** In poetic and prophetic contexts, the ʻômer can serve as a stark symbol. The image of corpses falling like sheaves ([[Jeremiah 9:22]]) powerfully conveys the devastating reality of divine judgment and the fragility of human life, likening humanity to harvested grain destined for the reaper.
### Summary
The Hebrew word ʻômer (`{{H6016}}`) is a rich term, encompassing both a "sheaf" of grain and a precise dry "measure" (one-tenth of an ephah). Derived from the root meaning "to heap up" or "to bind," it consistently refers to a collected, defined quantity. Its biblical usage reveals profound theological significance: it symbolizes God's faithful and equitable daily provision for His people through the manna in the wilderness. Furthermore, the "omer of the firstfruits" in Leviticus 23 underscores the principle of consecrating the harvest to the Lord, acknowledging His sovereignty and anticipating future blessings, a concept that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ as the firstfruits of the resurrection. Beyond its ritual and providential aspects, ʻômer also appears in contexts emphasizing social justice, where forgotten sheaves are left for the poor, and in vivid poetic imagery depicting the realities of labor, poverty, or the finality of divine judgment. Thus, ʻômer is a versatile term, embodying themes of divine sustenance, worship, social ethics, and the cycles of life and death.
TRV