### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼâphîyl**, represented by `{{H648}}`, means **unripe** or **not grown up**. Derived from a root suggesting weakness, this term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. Its singular usage provides a specific and vivid agricultural image within a narrative of divine judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H648}}` is in the account of the plague of hail upon Egypt. The scripture states, "But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were **not grown up**" [[Exodus 9:32]]. In this context, the word describes the immature state of these two crops. Because they were still late in their growing season and had not yet matured, their flexibility or low profile allowed them to survive the destructive force of the hail that destroyed other, more developed plants.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{H648}}` is clarified by the words used in its immediate context:
* `{{H2406}}` **chiṭṭâh** (wheat): This is one of the two crops described as being **ʼâphîyl**. As a staple grain, its preservation was significant, as seen in passages that describe it as a blessing [[Psalms 81:16]].
* `{{H3698}}` **kuççemeth** (rie): The second crop that was **ʼâphîyl**. It is often mentioned alongside other grains like wheat [[Ezekiel 4:9]] and was spared destruction due to its unripe state [[Exodus 9:32]].
* `{{H5221}}` **nâkâh** (to strike): This is the action that the wheat and rie avoided because they were **not grown up**. The word is frequently used for divine judgment, such as smiting the earth [[Malachi 4:6]] or a shepherd [[Zechariah 13:7]], underscoring the severity of the plague they were spared.
### Theological Significance
While not a major theological term, the concept conveyed by `{{H648}}` carries significant implications within its narrative.
* **Providential Distinction:** The word highlights the selective nature of the plague. The survival of the unripe crops demonstrates that the destruction was not indiscriminate but operated according to the state and timing of the natural world.
* **Weakness as Preservation:** The definition of `{{H648}}` includes the idea of "weakness." In the context of [[Exodus 9:32]], this very state of immaturity and weakness is what preserved the crops from the "smiting" force of the hail, turning a vulnerability into a means of survival.
* **Agricultural Timing:** The term is fundamentally tied to the agricultural cycle. It marks a specific, temporary phase of development before maturity and harvest, illustrating that a thing's readiness and timing are critical.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H648}}` **ʼâphîyl** offers a precise snapshot of a moment within one of the Bible's most dramatic events. Though used only once, it vividly portrays the concept of being **unripe** or **not grown up**. Its role in [[Exodus 9:32]] is crucial for understanding how the wheat and rie were providentially spared from a devastating plague, illustrating that even a state of immaturity or weakness can serve a divine purpose in a specific time and context.
TRV