or שְׂעוֹרָה (feminine meaning the plant); and (masculine meaning the grain); also שְׂעֹר; or שְׂעוֹר; from שָׂעַר in the sense of roughness; barley (as villose); barley.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **śᵉʻôrâh**, represented by `{{H8184}}`, is the term for **barley**. It appears 34 times across 32 unique verses. The name derives from a sense of roughness, referring to both the plant and its grain. As a foundational crop, it is frequently mentioned in contexts of agriculture, sustenance, and economics in the Old Testament.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8184}}` is a staple of daily life. It is listed as one of the key agricultural blessings of the promised land, alongside wheat and oil [[Deuteronomy 8:8]]. Its economic importance is highlighted when the prophet Elisha declares that two measures of **barley** will be sold for a shekel, signaling the end of a famine [[2 Kings 7:1]]. The grain serves as basic sustenance, as when twenty loaves of **barley** are brought to feed a group of people [[2 Kings 4:42]]. The "barley harvest" is a significant marker of time, indicating the season for events like Ruth's arrival in Bethlehem [[Ruth 1:22]] and the execution of Saul's sons [[2 Samuel 21:9]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the agricultural and economic world in which **barley** is found:
* `{{H2406}}` **chiṭṭâh** (wheat): This grain is consistently mentioned with **barley** as a pair of essential crops for food and tribute ([[Joel 1:11]], [[2 Chronicles 27:5]]). The end of the **barley** harvest often precedes the wheat harvest [[Ruth 2:23]].
* `{{H7105}}` **qâtsîyr** (harvest): This term is directly linked to **barley**, with the phrase "barley harvest" appearing multiple times to denote a specific season of the agricultural year ([[Ruth 2:23]], [[2 Samuel 21:9]]).
* `{{H3899}}` **lechem** (bread): As a primary grain, **barley** was often ground and made into **bread**. It is seen in the form of loaves [[2 Kings 4:42]] and as a symbolic "cake of barley bread" in a dream [[Judges 7:13]].
* `{{H7058}}` **qemach** (flour, meal): **Barley** was processed into **meal** for specific uses, most notably as the "barley meal" required for the offering of jealousy [[Numbers 5:15]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8184}}` is often tied to its status as a common or humble grain.
* **An Offering of Humility:** For the ritual of a suspected unfaithful wife, the offering is specifically **barley** meal, upon which no oil is poured. It is called an "offering of jealousy, bringing iniquity to remembrance," suggesting a stark and solemn purpose [[Numbers 5:15]].
* **A Symbol of Judgment:** False prophets are condemned for profaning God for mere "handfuls of **barley**" [[Ezekiel 13:19]]. As a sign of judgment, Ezekiel is commanded to bake and eat **barley** cakes in an unclean manner [[Ezekiel 4:12]].
* **Divine Provision and Power:** Despite its humble nature, **barley** is a sign of God's blessing in the land [[Deuteronomy 8:8]]. God uses **barley** loaves for a miraculous feeding [[2 Kings 4:42]], and a dream of a simple **barley** cake tumbling into the camp of Midian symbolizes God's power to use the lowly to defeat the mighty [[Judges 7:13]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8184}}` is more than just an agricultural product. It is a cornerstone of the ancient Israelite economy and diet, marking seasons and providing daily sustenance. Symbolically, it carries a dual meaning, representing judgment and humility on one hand, and God's faithful provision and surprising power on the other. From the fields of Boaz to the prophetic signs of Ezekiel, **barley** is a fundamental element in the fabric of biblical life and theology.
TRV